Re: old browsers (was: web safe background)

hi peter,

personally, i want to believe that we can forget about old browsers.  now.
i would love to never test a page in netscape 4.x again.  i will sometimes
even say things like, "people with old browsers don't count" because it
makes for a nice microsecond of freedom...  however, i don't actually
believe these things and i will continue to test my pages in older browsers
and even spend time fixing them for these browsers simply because i know
that people are using them.  i have enough friends and family members who
are complete technophobes that the "but new browsers are free" argument
doesn't really hold a lot of weight.  for a lot of people, the idea of
downloading a browser (and then actually installing it) is scary.

we're getting close, and eventually, we'll get there.  i just don't think
we're there yet.

some stats on this can be found at
http://www.thecounter.com/stats/2001/January/browser.html.

rebecca
__________________________________
http://www.nerdygirl.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Schonefeld <peter.schonefeld(at)bigpond.com>
To: hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org>
Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 8:03 AM
Subject: old browsers (was: web safe background)


Hi All,

Over the past few weeks i've been reading more and more about a 'diminishing
need' for designers and developers to support non-DOM1 compliant browsers
(that
is anything less than IE5 and NS6).

I recently read a comment (can't recall the source) where a developer stated
something to the effect of "it's time that we forgot about
developing/designing
for older browsers...if a user can't view the site then it's time for them
to
upgrade their browser" [a similar, albeit less drastic, suggestion to Tim's
upgrade display card/monitor scenario for the 'web friendly palette'
problem].

Also, the WaSP movement is keen to eliminate old browsers...
http://www.webstandards.org/upgrade/what.html

As a fellow designer/developer, i'd be interested in your views on this
topic.

Personally, i'm on the fence for this one - for now ;)

Regards
Peter Schonefeld
Web Developer/Designer
http://digitalcraft.com.au

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