Google to Stop Supporting IE8 and Windows XP

[arizonawarrior]

I'm posting this as a member., not as a moderator.

In mid-November Google will flip a switch and Google applications including web search and Gmail will only run on IE9 or IE10, and those only operate on Windows 7 or 8. The trouble is that an amazing ~42% of desktop computers still run Windows XP, and XP can only run up to IE8. But in an arbitrary business decision IE8 will no longer be supported by Google. Not for search, not for Gmail, not for any Google application. So some members will need to make changes very fast and there's nothing the forum can do to help us: its Google's doing.

Again, Google applications including Search and Gmail will only run in IE9 and IE10 as of mid-November, just a few days away. As a side note for now: Windows Vista might be able to run IE9 meaning that some Vista computers might still run Google stuff. But Vista is reportedly next on the chopping block.

The options seem to be:

Switch to Google Chrome (which seems to be what Google is strong-arming for).

Switch to Firefox 15 or 16 (both are supported).

Get a Windows 7 or 8 computer system (most XP's cannot run 7 and probably none can run 8).

Run only from mobile apps (has limitations and difficulties compared to desktops and laptops).


Notes:

Remember that Firefox still has some trouble with viewing images in forum posts (sometimes just a red 'x' appears).

Chrome seems to work better now that its been tweaked but imo Google has a bad reputation when it comes to keeping user information confidential and secure. Google very recently integrated its apps together and loosened-up its privacy protections, therefore many won't use Chrome or Gmail or Google Search. I use 'em all sometimes. Chrome is not as friendly as IE8.


Other:

There is plenty of 'ink' online about this, read-up and decide what is best for you. But in less than two weeks anyone with XP will need a new browser to use Google anything.

Click: Let me google that for you
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[SiRaDuDe]

IE9 should run on Vista just fine.... http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=16792

I use BING! instead of google now...

and all my email is done through IMAP/MAPI connections via Outlook.

I see no need to use the web based email portals like gmail/hotmail/etc... when you have OUTLOOK or similar programs that can read all my 10+ email addresses at once.

Even the new WinPhones have or will have IE10 now...

But yes, there are still lots of Win XP boxes out there,

While ending SUPPORT really does not mean that google will not run on IE8 or less, just that future changes will not be fully tested on thoes browser.
I'm sure IE8 and lower will run Google search and other google sites just fine for a long time to come.
And most of their affected systems will be Google Apps, which many just do not use. (Google Search) is not a google apps.

I use Google Apps for a few Domains of some of my clients or personal domains and even then, I mainly use them just to get the Google mail backend,
I also use Windows Live Domain services, which are just as good as Google APPs...

[active1951]

thanks for the info.
I have relatives/friends/customers runnin all sorts of combos, so they look to the smartest person around to help um, dat be me .......
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[gchalifo]

like Apple, it's and "i" world.....
with google, it's a "g" world..........

IE* is generally speaking the worst browser on the planet (IMO). Full of back door wholes, maybe by design,. so the guy in office #1 can write the worms and trojans and hacks, and the buy in office #2 can write the fixes.....it's a whole conspiracy thing!!! (IMO)

Go Google, Go Chrome!, or go home (IMO)

G ....oh...

[SiRaDuDe]

Originally Posted by gchalifo

like Apple, it's and "i" world.....
with google, it's a "g" world..........

IE* is generally speaking the worst browser on the planet (IMO). Full of back door wholes, maybe by design,. so the guy in office #1 can write the worms and trojans and hacks, and the buy in office #2 can write the fixes.....it's a whole conspiracy thing!!! (IMO)

Go Google, Go Chrome!, or go home (IMO)

G ....oh...

I think IE is the BEST browser... It's just attacked by all hackers, while the little guys have way more holes but nobody is interested in bringing them down. Virus developers ONLY attack Microsoft, its a Haters thing...
If the same effort was used to attack Linux, MAC, or any other 3rd party browser, theay all would have gone down long ago, due to lack of resources to keep up with hackers...

1. quick example... Use IE, Chrome, safari or Mozilla in ebay... report back with which has more search options and a nicer interface...

All pages are first designed in IE then backward tested for 3rd parties, its a fact!, other example is Facebook, has reported display problems in Mozilla and Chrome!

Everybody hates the BIG MAN, but thats just jealousy.

[shoban]

[QUOTE=SiRaDuDe;2343150]I think IE is the BEST browser... It's just attacked by all hackers, while the little guys have way more holes but nobody is interested in bringing them down.

1. quick example... Use IE, Chrome, safari or Mozilla in ebay... report back with which has more search options and a nicer interface...


Huh...

I was thinking the same about IE, but also wondered if it was just familiarity that has me enamored. Been using it so long, getting used to anything else will take time. Google has been trying to force Chrome on me for several years. While Chrome is one of my favorite colors, its not really my favorite browser.

[SiRaDuDe]

I always have and always use IE...

Ofcourse I've treid and used all others I have to!
When developing web pages you must test all, and you quickly find what their limitations or quirks are.

A well tuned PC running IE9 will be much faster than any other browser.. now if you let bloatware install it self (toolbars, search bars, 3rd party addons) of course you will slow down IE. But IE knows this and has tools to let you know an addon is making your browsing experience slow...

Keep your IE free of addons and junk, its hard, because everybody wants to install crap on IE, you just have to be smart when browsing.