I'm not so sure. Actually, I am sure -- that I won't ever be using IE9. Why? Four very powerful reasons.

1. The Treadmill

It's no secret that I am a fan, but I recognize that the majority of the world still uses . I myself dual-boot, in fact, so I am no stranger to Microsoft's dominant operating system.

But to exclude Windows XP, which according to Net Applications still accounts for more than half of the operating system market? That reeks of a hard sales tactic and fits right in with Microsoft's characteristic strategy of enforced, perpetual upgrades--the "treadmill," as it's called.

Haven't paid the Microsoft tax recently? Well then no IE9 for you. Microsoft may say the move was necessary for functionality reasons, but the reality--as usual--is simply that you must pay out or shove off.