That's done on purpose. Metro version doesn't allow plugins for security reasons. This is really no different than iPad. The UI is optimized for touch.

>Thank you very much. I found a page online that describes how to make Windows 8.1 start into the Desktop. Maybe this is how I will set it up. It is strange (or odd to me) that the IE that you bring from the Metro desktop is very different than IE in the Desktop mode.