Why do we even fool with designing for IE?

Seriously, Its the least competent browser out. If you code for FF, Most other browsers see it and can adapt accordingly. IE sees one little line/IE6 1symbol, and just freaks out.
Opera doesnt destroy a page just because one image tag isn't closed...yet IE can make a site look like a 8 yo made it.

And whats with loading times on IE8? I think we should take a stand against micro$ until they actually fix their browser's compatibility issue.

Now they got sued internationally because of media player being packed with every windows. What about IE? Dumb IE back down to netscape navigator level(or lower) and give options on what browser we want. Knowing IE will be first on the list but still, show a list of popular browsers.

I like the money but i hate having to reformat someone's computer because they prefer IE. "But it comes with Windows, why wouldn't it be safe?"

tl;dr: Fix Internet Explorer or get rid of it.

 

I've found out an easy way to conquer IE. My sites keep a consistent design across all major browsers, including ie 6 7 and 8 although it was a pain in the ass to learn how to do this.
I too hate IE. It's idiotic programming. but we can't help it that many people still use it.

 

I agree with you Firejerm.

I've written many blog posts denouncing Internet Explorer, especially IE6. Unfortunately we, web designers, are stuck with having to design for this archaic browser because, according to MS, “74 percent of work PCs still use Windows XP” (see link below). And you know what that means, they’re also running IE6 or IE7.

Hopefully Microsoft gets it right with IE9. Though I’m not holding my breath.

Follow twitter.com/IE6_must_die and fight back.

engadget.com/2010/07/12/microsoft-says-74-percent-of-work-pcs-still-use-windows-xp-exte/

Michael Swartz
MJS Web Solutions

 

I already abandon IE6, I don't care if I lose money.

 

I think IE6 is pretty much on the way out. But also it's counter-productive for us as developers to ignore the most popular browser out there, even if it's frustrating to develop for.

You've also got to see it from the user's perspective. A lot of people simply don't care what browser they're using and wouldn't necessarily see much difference in the way the average page rendered whichever browser it was on.

 

Your like, a couple years behind the times.

1) IE is fairly good, and ie9 should be better - MS have finally decided to go standards based.

2) They already have been sued, by the EU or something (google it).

 

While IE may be the most used, that doesn't make it the most "popular". Popularity has nothing to do with usage. When I designed computers from scratch, years ago, Motorola 68xxx series processors were the most popular among engineers but, unforunately, the most used wound up being Intel x86 which we all hated.

 

IE is NOT "fairly good" and is, by far, the worst browser on the planet. While IE9 will be "better", Microsoft's target is technology of today and yesterday while all other browser vendors are targeting tech of today and tomorrow. If IE9 comes out next year, and Microsoft has never said it will, it's questionable how far behind all the others it will be. The fact that Microsoft updates its browser only once every 3-9 years, while all other browsers are updated every few months, is evidence enough no one should use IE for anything.

 

I think that being the most used is at least one definition of popular. I'm not defending the browser, I'm just pointing out that as developers we have to account for the fact that the majority of users still have IE installed.

 

I recently built a experimental website, worked fine in Chrome and IE8 without any changes... as soon as I try Firefox it has a (small but significant) error.

If IE8 works just as well as my Chrome for rendering i'm happy.

 

See my links. Ie8 is the worst of all the current version browsers and 12 years behind all others. It's an embarrassment.

 

Its the default browser in the most popular operating system. And so many people are still using XP that IE6 is still actively used.

 

Desktop only and not true in Europe where they are offered optional browsers.

IE8 is pushed with Windows Update.

 

I came here today cause I need a solution to a BAD error in IE8. Just posted it here.

If y'all wanna know how BAD IE is, just try to validate their home page.

119 Errors, 102 warning(s) ​

Not too bad, considering what it was like 6 months ago - over 350 errors !!

As for IE6, we all had a funeral for him: REST IN PEACE IE6

 

Since I found a way to hack IE6 (in fact, all versions of IE) with CSS (i.e. making only certain things in my CSS show for IE6 and different) my headaches developing for this browser have reduced significantly.

Look it up, it's really interesting reading. But I agree - anyone still using IE6 (especially when the upgrade is free) should be shot in the face IMO :-P

 

People still use it, its not actually that bad. The new IE9 should be a more successful outcome then earlier versions.

 

Ie, Microsoft and Windows=garbage. If you are still stupid enough to still be using IE in 2010 then you deserve problems. Firefox is the future as well as other browsers. I'm not going to do a damn thing for the people using IE, that's there problem (as well as a host of others) not mine! I remember when vista (crap) came out they took alot from the firefox browser. I wasn't surprised because that's what Microsoft does. I just thought it was funny. I NEVER WANT TO SEE IE AGAIN IN MY LIFE, IT JUST SUCKS.

 

Firejerm,

If you want to ignore IE, you do so at your peril.
See graph of global use in the past 6 month of IE (over 50% of all computer users)
In Europe (graph 2) the completion between IE and FF are a little closer but IE still comes out ahead.

A closer look (over the last month of not only bowers but browser versions in the USA only) reveals that there are still 5% using IE6 and about 15% using IE7.
What makes this graph interesting is that the use of IE6 and IE7 is significantly higher during the week and lower during the weekends.
What this suggests is that people at work are still using IE6 and IE7, whereas at home they use other browsers.
Major corporations, the government and other big employers wrote a lot of applications on IE6 - these do not run on other browsers - this is why IE6 will still be around for the coming years.

You may not like it - I don't like it - but is is a fact.

One of my lecturers insists that "If you find an unmovable constraint, don't fight it, embrace it and use it to your advantage"
I this case, explain to your clients why backward compatibility is advantageous to him/her. Bill for your development and charge separately for backward compatibility.

 

Other than a link that seems to list all the things that IE8 has fixed, and a link that is based on "February 10, 2009." data - what is your point?

 

In your case, I guess the point is you aren't technically proficient to understand what you are reading since 1) you claim the first link only shows fixes and 2) you think the second is only based on data from 2009.