When I design sites for clients with Cleave Design, it’s my job to make sure that sites look right in a number of different browsers. Unfortunately, one of them is Internet Explorer 6.0. It’s one of the most annoying things as a designer/coder. I’ve been experimenting with some AdSense ads today, and I’m having some problems with the sidebars in IE6. While I need to make sure that people who are still using the antiquated IE6 can see client’s sites, I just don’t have time to do that with my own site right now.
So, while I’d love to make the site look the same for everyone, I’m going to assume that if you’re using IE6 and this site doesn’t look quite right, there are plenty of other sites that probably look bad as well. So I encourage you to upgrade your browser to Internet Explorer 7, which is a much better browser. If you’re on a PC, I’d even recommend it over Firefox, because of the way Clear Type handles text in the browser.
There is no reason that you should still be using IE6, although I know that 16% of the readers of this site still do use it. Stop – right now. Go and download IE7 and enjoy a better browsing experience.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Some of us work for organizations that limit our ability to install other browsers and have resisted upgrading because of fear of breaking internal web apps that were designed for IE6. It stinks, but I don’t have control at work.
@Brian – I’m sorry about that. Guess the sidebars look pretty loopy to you.
adam..with you on this..a pain..upgrade, go to firefox..
or try out flock..been using it a little lately..nicely integrated with flickr, facebook, etc..
mark
I second what Brian said. I work for a hospital in the IT department. You’d be shocked how many homegrown and commercial web apps there are that aren’t certified for IE7 yet (although the ones I manage are!). And in a medical situation, patient safety comes before upgrades to a browser so things are pretty out on the Internets.
You’ll find this to be common in many companies when it comes to web apps.
I can’t tell you how much trouble this issue causes me. One huge problem with the whole IE 6.0 deal is that once you have 7, you can’t go back. I have to purposely keep 6.0 on my home computer so I can debug HTML quirks. I have yet to find a good IE 6.0 emulator. If anyone else has one, please let me know. In the meantime, I’ll be dreaming of a day when the world is free of IE 6.0.
that was one thing i don’t miss about webdesign
IE 6.0 is my company’s standard for web browser. They won’t guarantee that sites work in 7.0 So I’m stuck at work.
Of course, I’m using Firefox to write this, but then I’m in IT.