Google to drop support for IE8 on Nov. 15

Ron Czapala · 2012-10-11 03:48

[h=2]The move will have a significant impact on Windows XP, which cannot run IE9 or the upcoming IE10[/h]
Google will drop support for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) for its online apps and services in mid-November, effectively ending support for many users of Windows XP.
"Internet Explorer 10 launches on 10/26/2012, and as a result, we will discontinue support for Internet Explorer 8 shortly afterwards, on 11/15/2012," the company wrote on a blog post. "After this date, users accessing Google Apps services using Internet Explorer 8 will see a message recommending that they upgrade their browser."

http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/google-drop-support-ie8-nov-15-202474
Also, Microsoft will end the extended support of XP on April 8, 2014

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/lifecycle

Heater. · 2012-10-11 04:38

Who cares? Everyone I know who still uses XP is using Firefox or Chrome now.

We will continue to use XP in a virtual machine under Linux for those occasions where we really, really need to run a legacy Windows app.

skylight · 2012-10-11 04:50

To be honest its a pain as I've used and preferred IE over chrome,firefox and others (yes I know i'm weird) as it seems to be the fastest on my laptop believe it or not, also IE supports my password manager better and the page zoom function is a godsend, I don't even know where to find that on chrome.

I cannot afford to upgrade my laptop so it looks like I will be forced to "comply" and use another browser

mindrobots · 2012-10-11 05:04

......chirp......chirp.....chirp.....

Another Micro-centric event that will go unnoticed in my household.........unless the crickets find it disturbing.

......chirp........chirp.........chirp.......

RDL2004 · 2012-10-11 05:26

It says a lot that IE9 and 10 won't run on Windows XP while Firefox 15 runs just fine.

Martin_H · 2012-10-11 06:27

RDL2004 wrote: »

It says a lot that IE9 and 10 won't run on Windows XP while Firefox 15 runs just fine.

Yes, it says to me that MS would really prefer if we all ran Chrome or Firefox.

LoopyByteloose · 2012-10-11 07:29

There is always Linux for old machines. Laptops are problematic, but desktops are quite generic and well-supported as Linux is the ONLY OS that doesn't try to pull the plug on legacy hardware that is still in good working condition.

(Okay, maybe not the ONLY as there is FreeDOS and a few other Unix derivatives out their, but Linux is the leading choice for widely used services and large user populations).

dmagnus · 2012-10-11 07:49

So, who needs Google anyway?

frank freedman · 2012-10-11 08:01

dmagnus wrote: »

So, who needs Google anyway?

Lots of people. For in-house service on proprietary imaging systems, for software install problems, for good vietnamese recipes, for.........

Remember, Google is your friend. It's free and generally works.

bill190 · 2012-10-11 08:01

Many moons ago, Coca-Cola came out with "New Coke" and many people did not like it...

So they decided to let the consumer decide what they wanted and came out with Coke Classic, New Coke, Cherry Coke, etc.

I was thinking Microsoft should do the same. Offer "classic" XP style and traditional office software. And the new stuff.

Dave Hein · 2012-10-11 08:04

My copy of IE7 has been working fine under XP for 3 years, except for a problem or two on some sites. Oh, and I don't have any issues with my copy of Office 97 either. That's right, I said 97, as in 1997.

Peter KG6LSE · 2012-10-11 08:06

Both are a moot point,,, last used IE back in 2003 .

as far as google ..... I dont use them for any thing really .. UNI in Iowa used them and i was not please as I hate how there persistent log-ins are .

Heater. · 2012-10-11 08:31

skylight,

You mean page zoom as in Ctrl-+ and Ctrl--. Works fine in Firefox and Chrome.

NWCCTV · 2012-10-11 09:43

I smell lawsuit somewhere here!! Would this not be an attempt at making XP users move to Chrome. Or a concerted effort by MS and Google together to get people to Windows 7/8????

I have 2 systems in my network that still run XP. Fortunately they have no need to be on the Internet so it does not matter.

rod1963 · 2012-10-11 11:48

Extending support of XP tells me their corporate clients think the later versions of Windows stinks and they're happy with what they have.

And the latest versions do reek. The upgrades were nothing but glossy, bloated gimmicks to increase cash flow into the company.

You'd have to be a total loser to upgrade to them. I plan to keep XP for a long time.

XP is probably the most robust version of Windows they ever created and quite reliable. Plus it's not a resource pig like the later versions. Whats not to like.

NWCCTV · 2012-10-11 12:35

rod1963 wrote: »

XP is probably the most robust version of Windows they ever created and quite reliable. Plus it's not a resource pig like the later versions. Whats not to like.

I agree. I only upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit due to the fact that several of my clients wanted it for their graphics hungry CAD programs that seem to run much better on it. I figured I better have at least one system with it so I could troubleshoot as needed. I do like Windows 7 64 bit after making several adjustments so I am not bithered with security warnings, but I still like good Ol XP. I do not like that Windows 8 is gearing everything towards cloud computing.

Heater. · 2012-10-11 12:58

NWCCTV,

I do not like that Windows 8 is gearing everything towards cloud computing.

Sounds like Windows is commiting suicide then. If ll the computing and storage is in the "cloud", most of which does not run on a WindowS OS. And if all you need in the client is a browser, which need not be running on Windows. Then Windows is dead.

About time to:)

Of course the rest of us who quite like our "personal computing" will have Linux and such to get on with.

A win all around I'd say.

mindrobots · 2012-10-11 13:04

Did you say cloud computing or clown computing??

skylight · 2012-10-11 13:18

Heater. wrote: »

skylight,

You mean page zoom as in Ctrl-+ and Ctrl--. Works fine in Firefox and Chrome.

Thanks Heater, that's one of the main things I need with my eyesight not getting any better.

Heater. · 2012-10-11 13:35

mindrobots,

That looks like just a little exchange in our ongoing programming language debates:)

skylight,

Me too.

GordonMcComb · 2012-10-11 15:55

These are Google apps, not Google search. Hate to break it to Google, but the vast majority of its users don't even know about the apps.

-- Gordon

Circuitsoft · 2012-10-11 16:29

I don't actually blame them for dropping support for older IE versions; the CSS support has been downright awful up until IE9. By dropping pre-IE9 support, they're severely simplifying the codebase of all their software.

Dave Hein wrote: »

My copy of IE7 has been working fine under XP for 3 years, except for a problem or two on some sites. Oh, and I don't have any issues with my copy of Office 97 either. That's right, I said 97, as in 1997.

Love Office 97. Open Excel, Go to X97:L97, hit Tab, Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift, click Chart Wizard button...

Dr_Acula · 2012-10-11 17:31

heater said

Who cares? Everyone I know who still uses XP is using Firefox or Chrome now.

+1 to that.

We are still installing XP on all new machines in our corporate network.

I'm still not sure about browsers. Opera hangs from time to time, but it has email integrated. Firefox has decided not to play most youtube videos any more. Haven't used internet explorer for years. Chrome is getting more use at the moment.

I like to have one browser for surfing and a different one for online banking.

XP hopefully has more years left in it. Too many times I have installed a new operating system and found it did less than the older one. I have a Windows ME CD if anyone wants one...

idbruce · 2012-10-11 17:46

I have personally messed with every Windows OS since 3.1, and in my opinion, XP is the best. They can keep their newer versions, because I don't like them. Of course I will be forced to change my viewpoint in the near future. I also liked 98 way back when and I was forced to change then also. I am sure they will eventually make a future OS that I will be satisfied with.

EDIT: IE 8 attached

Heater. · 2012-10-11 23:06

Dr A,

That's odd. Recently I have been using Firefox on XP a lot whilst staying with friends and I must have viewed hundreds of YouTube videos, I don't recall any that would not play. Do you have a link to an example that does not play?

Cluso99 · 2012-10-12 05:19

Dave Hein wrote: »

My copy of IE7 has been working fine under XP for 3 years, except for a problem or two on some sites. Oh, and I don't have any issues with my copy of Office 97 either. That's right, I said 97, as in 1997.

My dev laptop is still XP, IE7 or 8, and Office97 SP1 (5 licenses not tied to a pc).

I have only just (4 months ago) upgraded my main laptop to Windows 7, IE9, and Office 2010. I still find office 2010 a pain as I can never find where they moved the basic menus!

Of course google want to force more users to Chrome. Sounds like an IE v Netscape repeat.

Firefox here I come. I already had it loaded, just don't use it much.

Google to drop support for IE8 on Nov. 15

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