Microsoft Preps IE8 for Automatic Update

Internet Explorer 8 is about to come to Windows Update, although you won't be forced into an upgrade. According to an IEBlog post, it will roll out gradually to users via Windows Update starting in week 3 in April, although last week Microsoft released IE8 via Automatic Update to users running pre-release versions of IE8.

On Windows XP and Server 2003, the update will be High-Priority. On Windows Vista and Server 2008 it will be Important.

Users must opt-in to install IE8. Users will see a Welcome screen that offers choices: Ask Later, Install, or Don’t Install (as above).

IE8 is more standards-compliant than previous versions of Internet Explorer, which is both a boon and a curse, as it breaks some websites, which must run in Compatibility View. However, at the same time it has some nice new features, including Private Browsing, Accelerators, and Web Slices.

Windows 7 will have its own version of IE8, but users will also be able to remove it if they desire.