function getInternetExplorerVersion()
// Returns the version of Internet Explorer or a -1
// (indicating the use of another browser).
{
  var rv = -1; // Return value assumes failure.
  if (navigator.appName == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer')
  {
    var ua = navigator.userAgent;
    var re  = new RegExp("MSIE ([0-9]{1,}[\.0-9]{0,})");
    if (re.exec(ua) != null)
      rv = parseFloat( RegExp.$1 );
  }
  return rv;
}





var _browser_ie = false;
if (-[1,]) {
	// do non IE-specific things
} else {
	// do IE-specific things
	_browser_ie = true;
}

if( getInternetExplorerVersion() != -1 ) {
	_browser_ie = true;
}