Internet Explorer 10 Editor's Review

Browse the internet with ease with Microsoft's premier browser for Windows 8 and Windows RT.

Windows is perhaps the most widely used operating system in the history of computing. In the enterprise, you can literally accept no substitute. Most people find it a must have in the work place. With more and more applications for both home and work use shifting to mobile, online and touch-enabled applications, I'm glad that Windows' default web browser, Internet Explorer is keeping pace. Its perhaps one of the most widely used Windows-based web browsers around.

With the implementation of Windows 8 and Windows RT, Microsoft has taken a different tact to computing. They're embracing a new, clean and uncomplicated interface, and IE is following suite. IE gets out of the way when you browse. Its controls appear when you need them and vanish when you don’t, giving you full screen browsing, allowing you to see the web, not IE. When you need the controls, an easy flick of your finger can bring them back.

Speaking of fingers, all of IE's tabs are finger sized. You won't have to fumble with on screen elements that aren't tablet-centric or meant for interaction with a mouse. IE 10 is meant to be touched and interacted with. For example, IE automatically detects which page is next so it's easy to swipe from page to page with your finger. IE 10 is fast. The browser is quicker to start and to render pages than previous versions.

With security being such a hot topic, especially for Microsoft, IE 10 has security measures built in. It uses the leading malware protection, blocking up to 40% more malware than other, similar apps. If privacy is a major concern, IE 10 also supports Do Not Track as well as implementing SmartScreen filtering that helps keep your personal information hidden from the public.

App Pro’s: Fast, more secure that previous versions of IE, touch intuitive

App Con’s: Full screen mode may be difficult for some to get used to. New Metro version breaks previous Window paradigms

Conclusion: The windowed version of IE 10 is decent. The MetroUI version that comes with Windows RT is a bit difficult for some to get used to. Unfortunately, the full screen or tablet version of IE 10 breaks Microsoft's previous Window paradigm, requiring most everyone to get used to a different way of viewing the web. While Microsoft may tout this as one of its newer features, not everyone is going to see it as a value add. The app's web rendering engine though is pretty awesome; and its performance may help you push aside its UI or presentation layer and just concentrate on the web as opposed to how it displays it.