IE8 coming to Windows Automatic Updates

Dustin Sier (MiracleManS)

April 14, 2009 10:49 AM ET in News, , , , , , ,

iexplorer8In a move that should finally begin the deprecation of IE6 and IE7 in earnest, Microsoft is preparing to automatically upgrade users to IE8 through the Windows Update service. Users will have the option to decline, but one has to wonder how many people will actually realize that they have the option.

IE Lead Program Manager Eric Hebenstreit provided some details about the deployment plan:

“Starting on or about the third week of April, users still running IE6 or IE7 on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2008 will get a notification through Automatic Update about IE8. This rollout will start with a narrow audience and expand over time to the entire user base. On Windows XP and Server 2003, the update will be High-Priority. On Windows Vista and Server 2008 it will be Important,” he said.

12 Comments:

  1. Its about time.

  2. I think this is some of the best news ever. I know plenty of people who just do the windows updates with "high" priority and that's it. They make no other attempt at staying up to date.

    I'm certain Lincoln will be pleased with this as well.

  3. Except all the poor bastards (workstations?) running Win 2k are SOL. Still.

  4. Egad. Microsoft got a clue.

  5. holy crap, this is a red letter day.

  6. (ps, automatic updates was on the roadmap since RTM).

  7. Thrax, I'm sure you'll be the first to admit hat being on the roadmap and ACTUALLY happening are two different things with MS usually.

  8. !!!!!!!!!!!

    a beautiful day

  9. Thrax, I'm sure you'll be the first to admit hat being on the roadmap and ACTUALLY happening are two different things with MS usually.

    The IE team isn't the same as the OS team. The IE team is usually right on time and right on target with its roadmaps.

  10. Intrepid cartographers that they are!

  11. Intrepid cartographers that they are!

    I think I saw this roadmap. Wasn't Vista labeled with "here there be dragons?"

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