So the loud and clear message from Microsoft is: deploy Windows 7 right now with IE8 because there's a smooth transition to IE9 waiting for you in 2011. It's also a big, intimidating jump for such businesses still languishing on XP and IE6 to leapfrog two OS generations and three browser generations. And a Microsoft customer do nothing is bad for business. If businesses start thinking they have to wait to deploy a service pack just to install a new version of IE or wait for IE9's release to implement Windows 7 at all, they may just find it easier to stay with Windows XP. Just keep on truckin' with those Windows 7 deployments! Why not just come out and say it? Because it could complicate things and Microsoft needed to finesse its message.Īnd that message is: Embrace IE9 because it's revolutionary but don't worry about it now. Reynolds never says explicitly that installation of IE9 will require Windows 7 SP1.

He also offers guidance for deploying Internet Explorer but does some tap dancing around the subject of IE9 and Windows 7. Slideshow: Internet Explorer 9: A Visual Tour Slideshow: Windows 7 Hardware in Pictures: The Latest and Greatest Laptops Slideshow: Seven New Windows 7 Tablets: In Pictures

Internet explorer 9 windows xp