Internet Explorer has never complied with W3C web standards, making it the least liked browser of web designers (and often of internet users as well). Internet Explorer 8 will be released soon, and although it claims to be fully W3C compatible, internet pundits fear it will fail the Acid test.

W3C is the international standard of web design that is designed to make web sites look the same, or as close as possible, in all browsers. Internet Explorer has long refused to be W3C complaint. This means that even though it still holds the largest user share of any browser thanks solely to its packaging with Windows operating systems, users are frequently left out in the cold when it comes to see the web like everyone else.

The Acid test is a web page compiled of complex codes that are designed to help a web developer or site designer know if their site will look the same in various browsers. It helps ensure W3C compatibility, and helps most users see the same thing when they look at a site. According to our source, who predicts that Internet Explorer 8 will try one of three cheats to pass Acid2, meaning that it won’t be complaint after all:

A third scenario could be to hard-code the Web address of Acid2 into IE 8. This way, the page is given special treatment to make it look like the browser is passing the test. It should be obvious that this breaks the spirit of the test and doesn’t warrant a passing grade.

Microsoft needs to let go of its proprietary clutch on IE 8 and design it to fit the new internet world, not keep holding its users back by giving them a sub par product. Meanwhile, if you use Internet Explorer and are unhappy with it, you can try FireFox or Safari for free, as well as several other free browsers.