As expected, Microsoft Monday released Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) Release Candidate 1 (RC1) to the public. You can grab the download from the Microsoft Download Center: for Vista and Server 2008 32-bit, for Vista and Server 2008 64-bit, for XP 32-bit, for Server 2003 SP2 32-bit, and for Server 2003 SP2 64-bit and XP 64-bit. At time of publishing, the release notes have not yet been updated (but should be soon), though the Technology Overview for Developers is available. Please note that this build is newer than the one in Windows 7 build 7000 and cannot be installed over top of that version of IE8. Testers using Windows 7 will have to wait for a new build of the operating system.

Microsoft already gave testers an RC1 build (8.0.6001.18343) last month and then updated the build number 8.0.6001.18344 that same week, due to an out-of-band security update for the browser. The software giant gave the public IE8 Beta 2 in August 2008 and Beta 1 in March 2008.

Full Story: IE8 RC1 released to the public - Ars Technica

its definalty a lot more stable. Also feels a bit quicker at loading web pages.

Doesnt mess up the help & support like the previous partner rc build

All we need now is for people to get on board the x64 train

IE8 x64 RC1 will not let you install Google toolbar. There is also problems with Skype and other applications. Until MS get their act together as far as these applications are concerned, I for one, will not go near that version.

That is a crying shame!

^ I'm not saying it is, but that could easily be a Google problem.

Have a look at this

Windows Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 release notes