Oh, Internet Explorer. So many users have abandoned it in favor of faster, less-buggy Web browsing experiences such as with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and for Mac users, even Safari. IE has sort of become one of those preloaded browsers that no one seems to use. It just sits there on the screen waiting to be clicked. Now, Microsoft is giving the masses a reason to use the latest version of their Web browser, and the buzz is pretty positive.

Arriving just under two years after IE 8, Windows Internet Explorer 9 looks nothing like its previous versions. Borrowing loosely from Chrome as far as its interface is concerned, the controls are compiled into a neat single-strip toolbar of icons and tabs.

Relying on HTML 5, the latest in Web language, IE 9 is designed to run applications within the browser more quickly while adding more privacy options than Google offers. IE 9 is Microsoft’s answer to its last browser which was touted as sluggish and more difficult to use due to its inability to operate fast., particularly when it came to apps.

“The vast, overwhelming majority of new apps that are developed today are developed to run in browsers -- they are not native Windows applications,” said David Smith, analyst at Gartner, Inc. as reported by Bloomberg. “Any vendor has to have a very competitive offering there.”

IE9 only works on the newer Windows Vista and Windows 7, so XP users, beware.

Unlike its predecessors, IE9 takes advantage of 100 percent of the computer’s processing power to tap into graphics processors through Windows.

“IE9 will be the best browser in both capability and protection,” said Kim James Woo, country manager of Microsoft Korea. “This is the third time for me to see the launch of Internet Explorers, and I am more proud and confident than ever.”

Microsoft said the new browser also has a simpler interface. It combined the address bar and search box into one box, and the whole frame is slimmer. As the browser take less screen real estate, users can look at more things they want to online. Microsoft launched a beta version of the browser last September, and this recorded over 40 million downloads worldwide.

The newest browser is available for download over at Microsoft’s test drive site.