In aim to manipulate more easily various images on client side with Javascript, I wrote a function on server side (in VB 2010) to convert a file into a base64 string that I
IE8 can only do Base64 URI images up to 32kb in size. It's a marginally annoying limitation, but you can still get by with icons/etc. Keep in mind that Base64 encoded images are on average 33% more data sent down the pipe anyway, so it's... eh, y'know, use your judgement.
For anyone interested, it's also possible to make these work in IE6/7 (without, I might add, that 32kb limit...): http://venodesigns.net/2010/06/17/you-got-your-base64-in-my-css/