Internet Explorer 6 is 7 years old today!
Internet Explorer 6 is 7 years old today!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008 22:00
Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) was launched 7 years ago on August 27th 2001. This shouldn't really be of that much interest any more as Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) has been available for over 2 years, giving internet explorer users plenty of time to upgrade, right? - apparently not!
It looks like IE6 is still the most popular browser in the world with about a 35% market share, putting it just in front of IE7. www.counter.com
This is bad news.
IE6 was a poor improvement on it's predecessor (IE5.5) with major security issues being one serious issue, but most apparent from a developers point of view was it's lack of acceptance/adherence to web standards.
As every good developer will know, this means that having gone to the trouble to code a website to meet web standards as recommended by the World Wide Website Consortium www.w3.org (the controlling body for the internet), it is necessary to 'hack' the code to get the website to display and function acceptably on IE6.
IE7 still has not met the same level of standards that other browsers such as firefox and opera meet (yes there is an alternative to internet explorer - try one you might like it!) but it has got a bit nearer.
There is now increasing talk in the web development world of dropping support for IE6 in an effort to force users to upgrade and with Internet Explorer version 8 which is already in beta testing and promising to be the first ever standard compliant web browser from Microsoft - joy of joys! this would seem to make sense.
In simple terms this means not bothering to 'hack' the code and leaving the website to display with all its shortcomings as a way to force users to make the change.
Dropping support for IE6 may force users to upgrade, but I feel it may prove detrimental to our clients success.
It is easy to say 'if the user does not update his system what should he expect' until you consider that the user may not be aware that there system is the reason for your websites poor appearance or the reason why they can't make an online purchase or complete a contact form enquiry.
Generating business is why you have a website. Like it or not, first impressions count, so it makes sense to look good to the widest audience and if you have a product to sell online you will want to take every chance you get to sell it.
This means that whilst IE6 remains so popular, we have to reluctanly continue bastardising good websites so they work for the masses.
It looks like IE6 is still the most popular browser in the world with about a 35% market share, putting it just in front of IE7. www.counter.com
This is bad news.
IE6 was a poor improvement on it's predecessor (IE5.5) with major security issues being one serious issue, but most apparent from a developers point of view was it's lack of acceptance/adherence to web standards.
As every good developer will know, this means that having gone to the trouble to code a website to meet web standards as recommended by the World Wide Website Consortium www.w3.org (the controlling body for the internet), it is necessary to 'hack' the code to get the website to display and function acceptably on IE6.
IE7 still has not met the same level of standards that other browsers such as firefox and opera meet (yes there is an alternative to internet explorer - try one you might like it!) but it has got a bit nearer.
There is now increasing talk in the web development world of dropping support for IE6 in an effort to force users to upgrade and with Internet Explorer version 8 which is already in beta testing and promising to be the first ever standard compliant web browser from Microsoft - joy of joys! this would seem to make sense.
In simple terms this means not bothering to 'hack' the code and leaving the website to display with all its shortcomings as a way to force users to make the change.
Dropping support for IE6 may force users to upgrade, but I feel it may prove detrimental to our clients success.
It is easy to say 'if the user does not update his system what should he expect' until you consider that the user may not be aware that there system is the reason for your websites poor appearance or the reason why they can't make an online purchase or complete a contact form enquiry.
Generating business is why you have a website. Like it or not, first impressions count, so it makes sense to look good to the widest audience and if you have a product to sell online you will want to take every chance you get to sell it.
This means that whilst IE6 remains so popular, we have to reluctanly continue bastardising good websites so they work for the masses.
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