# Goddam Internet Explorer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 29, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497 "2011-11-29T21:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/1 "2011-11-29T21:18:01Z")
I’m visiting family and using their computers. Which means I’m stuck using Internet Explorer. I just wrote a long post and when I tried to post it, I found that IE had lost my sign in. And when I signed back in, they lost my post. I’ve already had to put up with the lack of spellcheck, inability to link to URLs, constant update pop-ups, and other annoyances. Goddam Microshit products. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/2 "2011-11-29T21:47:37Z")
Buy a laptop, ya looser! ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/3 "2011-11-29T21:50:32Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve already had to put up with the lack of spellcheck, inability to link to URLs, constant update pop-ups, and other annoyances. I use IE and can do all of the above (and don’t get nagged by either updates or popups). You just have to know how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/4 "2011-11-29T21:57:42Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Buy a laptop, ya looser! Pssh, the cool kids are using their tablets these days. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/5 "2011-11-29T22:09:38Z")
Sure, but the cool kids only tweet 15 words at a time. The old fogey OP is writing a tome and would only be back bitching about a touchscreen keypad if he had a tablet. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/6 "2011-11-29T22:46:07Z")
I was just putting the finishing touches on a very nice letter, when my tablet cracked right in half! I mean Damn! Stupid tablets these days are made of crappy material like pressed stones. In my day, tablets were good solid 1 inch granite slabs that could really take a chiselling. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/7 "2011-11-29T22:49:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Goddam Microshit products. Internet explorer has all of that. Unless you’re years out of date or have your settings screwed up completely, it’s not IE, and even then it isn’t exactly IE’s fault that you haven’t updated since 2005. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/8 "2011-11-29T23:54:33Z")
it sure is a problem when you are used to it and might not have the latest version. it isn’t as easy a browser to step into as some others. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/9 "2011-11-29T23:58:53Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Internet explorer has all of that. Unless you’re years out of date or have your settings screwed up completely, it’s not IE, and even then it isn’t exactly IE’s fault that you haven’t updated since 2005. You’d think people would thank me when I visit their house and revise their computers for them. But somehow it doesn’t work out that way. ---
**Author:** ![Dolomite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Dolomite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dolomite)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/10 "2011-11-30T02:55:15Z")
Using IE in the year of our lord 2011 is just plain dumb. IE9 is closest they’ve been to a usable browser, but still miles behind the others. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/11 "2011-11-30T04:00:17Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I was just putting the finishing touches on a very nice letter, when my tablet cracked right in half! I mean Damn! > > Stupid tablets these days are made of crappy material like pressed stones. In my day, tablets were good solid 1 inch granite slabs that could really take a chiselling. _You’re still chiselling? You have GOT to try this new “Lithography” stuff…_ But, seriously, Microsoft! You employ more than a few programmers, and you have a few nickels to rub together. Why not make an effort to MAKE YOUR SOFTWARE WORK? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/12 "2011-11-30T04:30:29Z")
Internet Explorer: The world’s #1 web browser for downloading a better web browser. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/13 "2011-11-30T04:44:41Z")
Honestly, I see no difference whatsoever between IE and Firefox anymore. They have similar functionality and speed. I use both and find switching between them cmpletely seamless. In fact, I now use IE for high-security stuff, and Firefox for more low-security. IE has a slight edge there, while Firefox is a hair faster. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/14 "2011-11-30T05:04:59Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Internet explorer has all of that. Unless you’re years out of date or have your settings screwed up completely, it’s not IE, and even then it isn’t exactly IE’s fault that you haven’t updated since 2005. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You’d think people would thank me when I visit their house and revise their computers for them. But somehow it doesn’t work out that way. Assuming you’re still there, would you consider it a terrible invasion of their privacy if you were to check the “About Internet Explorer” pull-down, and share with us what version they have installed? Also, composing in MSWord (or WordPad or NotePad if they don’t have MSWord) might be a good habit to get into. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/15 "2011-11-30T05:27:19Z")
$5 flash drive, [Chrome Portable](http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/google_chrome_portable), stop yer whining. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/16 "2011-11-30T06:13:25Z")
Being forced to use IE would certainly be a horrendous fate, but I don’t quite understand what is preventing the OP from simply downloading/installing a good browser on his family’s computer. It doesn’t sound like they are the type who would care or even have a clue. ETA: and yeah, like **jjimm** said you could just put it on a flash drive. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/17 "2011-11-30T06:22:34Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Honestly, I see no difference whatsoever between IE and Firefox anymore. I’ve seen this expressed here before. I guess I’m doing it wrong (a strong possibility) but IE never seems to work that well for me. In fact it seems like dinosaur tech. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/18 "2011-11-30T14:43:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Assuming you’re still there, would you consider it a terrible invasion of their privacy if you were to check the “About Internet Explorer” pull-down, and share with us what version they have installed? They’ve got version 8. I don’t know how current the updates are. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/19 "2011-11-30T14:44:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > They’ve got version 8. I don’t know how current the updates are. That could be a problem. In the last few years browsers have changed radically. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497/20 "2011-11-30T14:46:57Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Being forced to use IE would certainly be a horrendous fate, but I don’t quite understand what is preventing the OP from simply downloading/installing a good browser on his family’s computer. I can’t imagine downloading and installing new programs on somebody else’s computer without their knowledge. If somebody ever did that on my computer, they’d certainly lose computer use privileges forever. They’d be lucky if I even let them back inside my house. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddam-internet-explorer/604497.md?page=2)