Microsoft has published a list of websites that are not compatible with its new browser product Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate and nearly all Chinese mainstream websites are included in the list.
The list covers more than 2,400 foreign and Chinese websites that are not fully compatible with IE 8 and those from China include Sina.com, Sohu.com, NetEase.com, Tencent.com, Baidu.com, Xinhuanet.com, CCTV.com, Ccidnet.com, Xunlei.com, Taobao.com, Tudou.com, Tianya.cn, Tom.com, Zol.com, Pconline.com.cn, Ku6.com, Youku.com, Pcpop.com, IT168.com, Ppstream.com, Rising.com.cn, Chinaren.com, Qihoo.com, Verycd.com, 126.com, 360.cn, Hexun.com, Sogou.com, Xiaonei.com, Hao123.com and Yesky.com.
In addition, even Microsoft's own websites, Microsoft.com and Msn.com.cn reportedly cannot run perfectly with IE 8.
Browsers are the windows to the Internet, and Microsoft has long had problems conforming to generally accepted standards for the use and rendering of javascript, cascading style sheets, and markup languages in its browsers. Alternatively, browser products like Firefox, Opera, and Google's Chrome tend to adhere best to online browser safety and display standards.