Time to bury Internet Explorer 6

Saturday, July 25, 2009, 11:38 PM
Thoughts by John (Article #243)

With a full 90-95% of all IE users now using Internet Explorer 7 or above, it is time to let folks using IE6 that they are as reviled as the guy who is still running 48-bit encryption in IE 5.5.

OK, IE6 users aren't quite that evil. But, it's a huge burden to the average developer to support IE6, especially in the face of one simple, too cool fact about IE7 and IE8 versus IE6: IE7+ has full support for 24-bit images with transparency.

It doesn't sound like a lot, but one of the things that has long held back truly beautiful web design is that transparency layers were never particularly easy in Internet Explorer. One of the joys of IE7+ is that making transparent, 24-bit PNG layer work is now as easy in IE as it is in Adobe Photoshop.

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Firefox has had decent 24-bit PNG transparency support since the beginning of time. IE took a long time to come along to that point, and then took an even longer time to force its users along. The fact that people are still using a web browser built fundamentally for Windows 98 is disturbing. Visually, it shows when you use IE6. It's not as secure, it's not as beautiful and frankly WTF people?!

Now that the percentage of IE6 users is so low, it's time to say good riddance to IE6. IE6 is a symbol of users and corporations all being too willing to accept the status quo. IE6 stagnated for more than half a decade until Mozilla Firefox forced Microsoft to accept it had not won a permanent victory in the browser wars. Frankly, that was a good thing. IE8 is a far, far better browser because of the fight.

At the same time, the stagnation that allowed IE6 to fester for so long -- even amid major security issues -- is unacceptable. It should be a teachable moment in computer history: don't let major platforms stagnate. Ever.

It's time to shove IE6 over the cliff. Sure, some outdated people will complain. So what? We don't accommodate the average weirdo who's still running IE 5.5 on an old Mac Performa, do we?

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Wonder where to start with your web design business?

This blog follows along with my efforts to build and grow a website design business, Pro Content and Design.

The goal of this blog is to fill in blanks that may be empty as you get your business rolling.

This blog, particularly the source code section, is not intended for beginners. If you are not comfortable with databases, Ajax, DOM objects and other advanced methods, I strongly suggest you go take a look over at W3 Schools before even reading -- let alone tinkering with -- any of the code here.

I hope this blog has some value to web designers as they attempt to get their businesses going.

Good luck, and happy reading.

Thank you,
John Crawford
Pro Content and Design