Because, quite incredibly, there are so many people still using it.
So we are doing this site redesign and inevitably we need to check if the site works correctly in all browsers including the notorious IE6. Of course it doesn't; it breaks the site in half and all kind of weird things happen as one would expect. But our web analytics show that 15% of all visitors to this site still use IE6. And what now? Bummer.
Frustrated, I open Microsoft's own site to check how it works in IE6, and to my amazement I find out that it doesn't!
See it for yourself. Open the page of their flagship product Microsoft Office 10 beta.
Below are two screenshots, first from IE6 and another in Firefox to compare.
Office 10 page in IE6
Office 10 Page in Firefox
Designers all over the world are crying for this justice to be straightened out and I believe that the first person to come up with a browser or standard (or both) that will work across all platforms at all times will become famous (or at least rich).
As for Microsoft, shame on you. Again.
See also:
- Tools for Webmaster
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- Things that Bill Gates can’t do better than you
Posted in: Rants
TAGS:care about, care about compatability, caring explorer, compatibility dosent let, compatibility office10 free download, compatibility source code, compatibility virus, doesn care, doesn work, doesn work seo, doesnt care dont like, how make wordpress compatible, make wordpress compatible, microsoft caring its customers, seo plugin microsoft, wordpress compatibility code ie6
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7 Comments
Actually, Microsoft want IE6 to die too. They've ceased support for it (as Omer points out) and would be much happier with everyone being on IE8. So it's not really a surprise that they don't support it on their websites - it actually helps their goals not to support it.
Look, I wouldn't be terribly concerned with supporting IE6 anymore. IE7 is now the target benchmark for the "worst case scenario browser" that I accommodate for with my layouts. The fact of the matter is, we're being tied down from embracing new technologies by being afraid to oust IE6. Why bother?! People who're still using IE6 are probably already too used to looking at crap sites already, they won't give a crap. D: Just stick a warning in the header with CCs for IE6 users, with a link to Microsoft's site to download the latest version of Explorer. Make it very, *very* clear that the program they're running isn't supposed to exist anymore.
I quit worrying about it. Here is my theory:
Of the people who still use IE6, none of those are savvy about internet functionality.
a.) They will go back to Craigslist where they hang out most of the time.
b.) They will not participate in your site anyway, or download anything, much less install something.
c.) They will ABSOLUTELY NOT buy anything.
I don't cater to them anymore 15% of a billion or more people is a pretty large numerical figure, but in real world application it is a drop in the bucket.
It would be nice to educate and inform. Unfortunately, most of these people are still living in the 20th Century. Not much you can do. And I am certainly tired of hacking and working around to accommodate.
I decided that the 16% of people using IE6 simply aren't in my customer base. I'll make do with the other 84%.
So stupid what MS did.
I worked for a top ten tech company from 94-02. So my take even now is in the "real world" it's more like probably 95% of the general public that surf the web still use Internet Explorer.
It's been about 16 years now since the launch of Windows 95 ( Start Me Up ) hit the mainstream and made it simple for people to use computers. I'm still astounded at how out of the loop and clueless most end users are these days. They want the convenience of an out of the box "appliance". And they have been conditioned to it since the 90's. Big Box computer retail. . . "got my new PC, printer, surge protector, IEEE cable, service and product replacement warranty". The rapid growth of Facebook and Twitter pretty much says it all. Just sign up and bingo!! your now an "expert" ready to cultivate fans, followers and friends.
Fact is people like us who have seriously kept up and traveled over one bridge after another are a minority. We've taken the path least traveled.
Haa :-) truly amazing. Microsoft announced that they cease the support for IE6, however you would expect that their websites will still be compatible with it.
I was just at a seminar about Office 2010. I never brought this up, but it wouldn't matter anyway.
Microsoft wants market share, that is the bottom line. Like Google, they are finding out that they are not the only game in town. Unfortunately, as web designers we have to practically pander to ie6 and to be truthful... I don't anymore. If people are too lazy to keep up with modern technology, even a little bit, then they won't participate on our sites anyway. Let them go back to Craigslist where they feel more at home.