Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is in the beginning stages of testing their Internet Explorer 9 web browser for a probable final release in 2011.
Just for a hoot I decided to download the pre-beta version to get a glimpse of what may be in the cards for the latest and, ah, greatest release from Mr. Softie.
If you haven’t yet recognized my distaste for Internet Explorer versions Five through Eight, let me elaborate in detail… I think they suck. Especially IE Seven. It crashes too much and pops up the useless “send error report” message. It forces the Bing toolbar on you like there was a gun to your head. It clutters the Favorites folder with pre-loaded links. It is so slow that you can go get a hair cut in the time it takes to load a page (I’ve done it), and installing version 7.0 or 8.0 on Windows XP holds every poor soul hostage to the constant “Security Warning” tool bar pop ups, making any sane person want to fly out to Redmond and punch someone in the nose.
BUT, I am also a person who tries not to let the past get in the way of keeping an open mind. Just because all previous versions of Explorer were a thorn in our side doesn’t mean that version 9 won’t be good. Of course, the pre-beta release is just a shell preview and there isn’t anything notable except the increase in speed. The JavaScript engine has been improved to compete with the likes of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Chrome (my personal favorite) and the ever popular Firefox by using the core of a PC’s second CPU to run Java in parallel. While this may give IE 9 a boost, it still does not surpass the SunSpider open source Java platform used by the others. Yes, IE 9 is considerably faster than all of Microsoft’s previous versions and is finally equal in speed to Firefox, but it is still 2.5 times slower than Opera, and 2 times slower than Chrome.
Microsoft has a bad habit of taking so much time to release updated software that they make it easy for competitors to stay ahead of the game. And let’s not forget the continual damage it is taking from open source platforms in other areas. Sun Microsystem’s (NASDAQ:JAVA) clone of Microsoft Office, aptly named Open Office, is not only a virtual replica of almost every Microsoft Office program, it allows you to save files in Microsoft Office format including Word, Excel, and Power Point. This allows anyone to read the files no matter which platform they have. I dare you to find a significant difference in the two programs that warrants paying $200.00 instead of using a free download.
-The Charts-
Short and sweet. Microsoft has been in a 15 point channel since 2001 and because Windows 7 is just a corrective version of Vista, I don’t see the stock threatening to make a major move in the future. It’s an option trader’s Call Spread dream. Thanks Bill for the status quo. Keep it coming.
Quote by Gino… “Yes, IE 9 is considerably faster than all of Microsoft’s previous versions and is finally equal in speed to Firefox, [b]but it is still 2.5 times slower than Opera[/b], and 2 times slower than Chrome.”
Opera user here for years. I love the speed and security of the Opera browser and I trade using it also.