Internet Explorer 4

Free and easy

Any evaluation of IE is dominated by one fact: it's free. With version 4, Microsoft hasn't become mean and slapped on a price tag, so the undeniable fact remains that this is a very powerful Internet suite that won't cost you anything beyond the download cost. Arguably, it means that choosing IE 4 is a no-brainer, even if you do have a high IT buying budget; after all, no-one minds saving money.

But there are other reasons to choose IE 4. First and foremost, if you're sticking with Windows and intend to move forward when the next iteration is finally released, it makes some sense to upgrade to IE 4 now. It introduces a way of working that's different enough from Windows, at least in conceptual terms, that you'll need some time to adjust before the next version of Windows hits. The problem with IE 4's Windows integration is that there's a very real chance it will make things more unstable, and reports of crashes and system level problems are already rife. However, during my month long testing I had very few crashes that could be directly attributed to IE 4. You may also, like me, find the changes to Windows very helpful in your daily work, especially if you're sitting on a permanent Internet connection.

That preference for a constant Internet connection is probably IE 4's main problem. With it, you're totally Web-enabled. Without it, you'll be dialling your ISP more often. Certainly, there are plenty of off-line options, and commendable work has been done in Web site subscriptions and Channel delivery by alternate means, but it doesn't change the fact that IE 4 works better on a permanent connection. Until ISDN or leased lines become cheaper and more prevalent, this could frustrate a lot of users.

This is only a slight dent in IE 4's armoury, and doesn't obscure the fact that it is a very powerful Internet suite. With this release, Microsoft has taken another step towards the very real possibility of having Internet Explorer on every Desktop.

Author: Stephen Reid