I suppose you need IE to update your Windows OS periodically, but other than that, why would someone use IE for anything else?

Because the masses do not care if there are better things out there as long as what they have works.

you do not need IE to do your updates, Update is in the control panel of IE and Vista.

IE can even be disabled by using windows features in Windows 7

do a system restore

Fixed 

Good

I stopped using IE since version 7 (the last version I used).  Didn't like IE8.  I thought it was a bunch of unnecessary bulk.  I've been using the not-so-popular Maxthon 2 ever since.  Hint:  The less popular the browser (or any software for that matter), the less likely it'll be exploited for vulnerabilites and attacks.  Maxthon serves my needs & purposes. And unlike IE, it's skinnable!  Without Windowblinds or 3rd party MS Styles, unlike IE.  I already know that Firefox has themes.

I was kinda hoping that IE9 was gonna change some of that, but it's still gonna be a huge target for hackers. Always has, always will.  Just like Firefox and now the increasingly popular Chrome Browser. 

MS is still supporting and producing updates for XP. MS extended the end of life for XP until 2015 if memory serves.

It is my understanding that due to the new technologies included with IE9, Windows Xp is simply not capable of running it, That is something MS cannot fix. Surely it is time for some of you to face the facts tha Xp is over ten years old and is yesterdays technology and it is time to put it out to pasture. Windows 7 is the best version of the OS that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My experience does not go back as far as others but I started out with Win 95 and have had them all from there foreward. XP was a good system but it just isn't equiped to deal with the newer aspects of computing. Firefox is slow as a stone for me. It takes more than 9 minutes to load WC. Maxthon runs off of IE's browser. I used it for a long time but don't anymore.

Seriously...people really need to put "this" to rest.

Not everyone can afford to upgrade...and with the economy the way it is now it's not only even harder for some people it's just not a priority. And as far as vulnerabilities...if you use your head you can protect yourself. I started off with XP about 8 years ago as my first PC and never once did I get a virus of any kind nor did anyone ever take over my PC. Just use your head and ask lots of questions and you'll be just fine.

And another thing...not everyone jumps on the upgrade bandwagon every time a new OS comes out. Just look at what happened with the Vista bandwagon. Vista was hyped to be the next best thing to sliced bread and then as soon as it came out it turned out to be nothing like all the hype said it would be.

And in my opinion even Windows 7 isn't as good as XP in many ways. Yeah...it's all purdy and flashy...but there are some things on it that make no sense at all as far as getting things done. In fact it some cases it takes longer to get some things done...in other cases it's very tedious trying to get things done to the point that it has even slowed me down.

So can we once and for all give this XP bashing a rest already. If it works for you...use it. If you can afford to switch...by all means knock yourself out. Not everyone's a lemming.

And if it weren't for a generous friend providing Windows 7 for me I'd still be on XP as my main OS. In fact I'm re-installing XP on a partition just so I...in my opinion...can have a decent OS to work with and can actually get things done faster.

No offense Jim. Newer isn't always better!

Reminds me of a funny story. Shortly after XP came out, my son drove to Denver from Wyoming to install XP on my system. I was using Windows Me at the time. He was not gone two hours before I rolled my system back because I was not comfortable with all of the changes. It was pretty near a year before I finally decided that I wanted to upgrade back to XP and this time I had to go out and buy the disk myself because he was fed up with me and my back wards ways. I was forced into Vista when poor old Nellie just could not keep up with things anymore and I was not going to pay extra to purchase a machine with Xp on it. Having heard all of the bad about Vista, as soon as the pre ordering of Win 7 was offered at the discount price, I ordered it. That was in the good old days before I lost my job and became a pauper. I can understand that some cannot afford it and I have never been the one to "jump on the bandwagon". Just ask my son!

Already installed IE9 and uninstalled Chrome on all my systems.

I don't know why anyone cares who sticks with XP.  They can install a different browser.  I don't see why this is even an issue.

Must be your hardware or connection. WC loads quick for me on Firefox. I've been using Firefox for years with WC. Yes there are times when WC loads slow but never that slow. Minute at the most.

If that were the case than IE would be just as slow!

have no issues with IE9..but i dont use it anyway