Internet Explorer 10 Finally Arrives on Windows 7

Windows 7 users can download Internet Explorer 10, the default browser that launched with Windows 8, as Microsoft aims to reclaim browser market share lost to Google Chrome.

Microsoft is finally letting Windows 7 users experience Internet Explorer 10 (IE10), months after it was officially released with Windows 8 on Oct. 26, by opening up the download floodgates. The browser was released worldwide on Feb. 26 in 95 languages for both the 32- and 64-bit versions of the popular desktop OS.

Although the browser has taken a back seat to Windows 8's new tiled interface, touch-enabled features and new app store, IE10 is nonetheless one of the operating system's most critical features as it represents Microsoft's attempt to reclaim its lead in the browser wars.

Last May, Google achieved the once-daunting goal of unseating IE. According to StatCounter, a Web metrics firm, Chrome surpassed IE during that month, effectively becoming the world's most popular browser.

With IE10, Microsoft is keen to turn the tide. Last month, the company attempted to reconnect with Generation Y by releasing a nostalgia-filled YouTube video called "Child of the 90s" that became a viral hit. The 1990s-themed video has amassed more than 13 million views to date.

Today, the software maker is hoping that Windows 7's massive user base will give IE10 the momentum it needs to put some distance between it and Google Chrome—and to a lesser extent, Mozilla Firefox. The way to fend off the competition is to make big strides in browser performance.

In an MSDN Blog post, Internet Explorer group program manager Rob Mauceri, spelled out what Windows 7 users can expect from the not-so-new browser. "As with Windows 8, IE10 on Windows 7 improves performance across the board with faster page loading, faster interactivity and faster JavaScript performance, while reducing CPU usage and improving battery life on mobile PCs," he wrote.

:story: eWEEK