Look, I know it is fashionable to knock Internet Explorer. It is an easy target, and I will admit to aiming my own fair of kicks over the years. But when Beta software gets slated for having some bugs, well isn't that just taking things a little too far?

That was my impression when I first saw some of the reports breaking online, but as I dug deeper I realised there was more to this story than meets the eye.

The problems go further than just the usual software bugs, it would seem, and instead look like they could actually be with Microsoft services instead. Indeed, some reports are saying that Microsoft has acknowledged at least some of these service issues.

First there was the revelation from Microsoft itself that if you had upgraded to IE8 on Windows XP SP3 then there was no returning to IE7 without first uninstalling the service pack. Which is a bit harsh, don't you think? Might have been nice to let us know earlier in the day.

Then there are the user reports coming in about ClearType and difficulties in cleanly leaving Windows Live Mail without it crashing and burning. It is even being reported that IE8 Beta 2 is not being recognised as a supported browser by, well, err, Windows Live Meeting.

Whoops.