Should coders stop using CSS hacks for IE6?

registered · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:25 pm

I know at work we are at the mercy of the IT guy when it comes to updates and some are still holding on to Windoze 2000 for whatever reason. Other then those situations, should there be any reason to still code with IE6 functionality as a concern? The CSS hacks needed to make IE6 view what newer browsers can often break CSS 2.1 compliance. Is it worth not being compliant just to support old browsers?

registered · Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:53 pm

From time to time, I use IE6, very old netscape, and even Mosaic!!!
Why?
To test html/ css/ and to peep new CSS ideas.
LAMO.

Involved Joined: Jul 03, 2006 Posts: 273

I think it is fine to skip the CSS and as an alternative you could do a browser redirect to a page for ie6 users that say "Get with the program! Download FF now you Noob! but if you insist on using Microcrap please upgrade now so you can view this site!"

Site Admin/Owner Joined: Aug 27, 2002 Posts: 17088

It's so hard to know what Duck's real opinion is killing me

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 10:51 pm

Yeah you should all take up a collection for me cause if I were a billionaire I would offer cash incentives to all user to switch to any browser not IE and all developers to not code for IE compatibility! Then maybe finally we could all be done with pulling our hair out! Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 11:05 pm

I stopped coding for IE at v5.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 1:32 am

Unfortunately I am forced to use IE6 at work, there is a rumour that we might move to IE8 so I will keep my fingers crossed. Very Happy

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:41 am

getting back to the original post, I'm not sure what css hacks you are talking about. Most that I've seen do some browser detection magic first and then only affect say IE6. Or IE6 and prior. I suppose it all depends on which hacks you are using but a properly written one shouldn't break compliance if you are using Firefox.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:23 am

On one of my sites approximately 25% of users still use IE6, therefore IMO that is significant enough for me to want to still include hacks to ensure my sites display correctly in IE6.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:32 am

Give everyone a USB pen drive so they can run Ubuntu from it - problem solved!

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:17 pm

,http://damnsmalllinux.org/ ftw!

registered · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:25 pm

Finally some good news... only China is very high on the IE6 list:

http://www.ie6countdown.com/

Let us stop supporting IE6 on EVERYTHING that we do!!!!! Smile

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:43 am

I have been presenting IE6 users with an error message for the best part of a year already Smile

The funny thing is, I often see this on websites "works in all major browsers, even IE8", which makes me wonder if IE8 isn't going to become the next PITA but I'm long done pandering to M$.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:16 am

That is some good news. I just unleashed the second version of my ordering system this morning and I've made 100% clear to my clients that I don't support IE 7 and below.

This may or may not help anyone... but there is a jquery plugin for presenting messages as well due to disallowed browsers. It's called "jReject"( http://jreject.turnwheel.com/ )

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:44 pm

Not supporting IE 6 is ok for obvious reason, but not supporting IE 7 is a little strong. If I was looking for a "platform" for a website, and it was stated that it did not support IE 7 I would move on. You simply can not just not support a large number of potential users because of your feelings towards a particular company or brand.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:24 pm

Palbin wrote:

You simply can not just not support a large number of potential users because of your feelings towards a particular company or brand.

Sure you can Wink

. It's the webmaster's decision. He weighs the pro's and con's of his decision and decides which way to go. With so many good and popular browsers now available it's not as important as it once was.

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:57 pm

Yeah, just try using M$ website for updates with anything other than IE.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:45 am

Raven wrote:

Palbin wrote:

You simply can not just not support a large number of potential users because of your feelings towards a particular company or brand.

Sure you can Wink

. It's the webmaster's decision. He weighs the pro's and con's of his decision and decides which way to go. With so many good and popular browsers now available it's not as important as it once was.

Oh so true, i even started to stop supporting IE7 after i found many issues trying to support HTML5 and the ECMAScript (JavaScript).
I code for the sustainable future, not to stick with the 90's
Nowadays many corporates start to use 2 browsers:
IE6 for internal "software" that crashes in any other browser
Firefox for web-browsing.

Guardian2003 wrote:

Yeah, just try using M$ website for updates with anything other than IE.

M$ updates? I upgraded to Linux and that worked with any browser.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:03 am

I can't understand how Companies could use Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8 or 9 when FF 3.6 Mozzilla has been the most secure browser from all times. I getting lots of laptops infected with a Fake Antivirus and everything is because of IE 8.

When I go to the shop I do wanna see laptops with Linux Operating System but actually all what u see is Windows and you have to buy it.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:10 am

There are actually several very well knowns and respected companies providing computers/laptops with *nix based operating systems via retail and online shopping outlets now Smile

@djmaze - yes, I use Ubuntu myself. The point I was trying (inadequately) to make was that some business models DO limit their systems to only be accessed by a specific broswer. In the case of the Microsoft Updates website, unless you are using IE you have no chance.

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:03 am

Palbin wrote:

Not supporting IE 6 is ok for obvious reason, but not supporting IE 7 is a little strong. If I was looking for a "platform" for a website, and it was stated that it did not support IE 7 I would move on. You simply can not just not support a large number of potential users because of your feelings towards a particular company or brand.

Due to the way IE7 and below handles javascript & flash... I decided that it was more cost effective for my clients to upgrade their browser than for me to hack my way through it so they could still use crap browsers. I don't have a bent towards M$ nor their browsers... but if it's going to cost me tons of time finding work arounds for outdated browsers that don't break other aspects of the platform in the process... well.... it is what it is.

Not only that... but the client really ought to be using an updated browser anyhow to better protect them (all be it a slim protection using IE) and their computers.

However, my situation is different than most. My site is used for processing purposes and I don't really advertise to draw in new customers. 80% of my site is behind registration. What I've been able to accomplish with RN and this ordering system is a crown jewel in the field I'm in so clients "want" to use our system rather than us trying to attract new users.

I understand your point though Palbin and if I was trying to advertise my system out there... I'd obviously support IE 7 but not below. I believe IE 7 is akin to vista and was only thrown out the by M$ just to say... "It's new like vista... yay". Look how fast vista came off the shelves and how fast IE 8 and now 9 are being rolled out.

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:51 pm

Some timely information Smile

http://blogs.sitepoint.com/2010/12/03/chrome-7-overtakes-ie7-third-placed-browser/

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:17 pm

+1 Very timely. Thanks for the link Raven.