Internet Explorer 9 is not compatible with Windows XP, but if you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, I highly recommend you download it and give it a spin. Even if you are an avid Firefox or Chrome user, there is no harm in installing IE9 and testing it out.

Internet Explorer 9 shifts the browser from a separate app to an integral part of the desktop experience. It is a culture shift from the traditional role of the browser. As PCWorld’s Mark Sullivan puts it, “the main idea behind the IE9 is to get the browser out of the way of the content.”

Check it out. And, don’t just install it and surf to websites like you normally do. Really explore what IE9 can do and how it integrates with the OS. Pin some sites to your taskbar. Dig in and see what makes IE9 different, then let me know what you like about it, what you don’t like about it, and whether you plan to stick with it, or whether you prefer a different browser–even if it’s a prior version of Internet Explorer.