Internet Explorer 6 Must Die

ie6nomore-logoAs a web developer it’s my job to make sure websites work on all current popular browsers. Over the years I’ve come to a simple efficient conclusion: develop for the majority of browsers (standards compliant) then correct for Internet Explorer 6. The fact that it’s the only thing you need to really fix your site for says a lot. It was released so long ago that it shouldn’t still be viable in the timeline of computational history, but for some reason it is still here.

The designers say Internet Explorer 6, which was released in 2001 and since has been updated twice by Microsoft Corp., is crippling the Internet’s potential and slowing down the online experience. They also blame IE 6 for giving webmasters a collective headache, because they have to write special “hacks” into Web code to accommodate an outmoded browser.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/06/internet.explorer.six/

IE6 is the new Netscape 4. The hacks needed to support IE6 are increasingly viewed as excess freight. Like Netscape 4 in 2000, IE6 is perceived to be holding back the web.

Jeff Zeldman, standards guru [general web bad ass and editor of A List Apart]

http://www.bringdownie6.com/

So here’s the deal, if you still have IE6 download a newer browser. They’re free and WAAAY better. Firefox is much (like 3x faster at loading pages) IE8 is a bit better and actually works like most of the others, i’m told. Safari and Chrome are still the kings of speed. Bottom line: Just get a new one! If you don’t I won’t build sites you can even access.

Edit/Update: I’ve added the code from the http://www.ie6nomore.com/ site. Brilliant!! If you venture to my site with some ol piece of a broswer your get a polite but firm message you need to update to this century… here’s a peak for all you non havin’ IE 6 peoples.

IE6 warning message, Glorious!!

Comments Off on Internet Explorer 6 Must Die