When I planed the redesign of my website I was contemplating if to support IE6 and IE7 or not.

I guess I don´t have to tell you the pros and cons I was thinking about.

So, I came to the conclusion that this time I wont support IE6 explicitly, but just copy the IE7 fixes for IE6 and dont give a f***

 

Now I watch my new website (still wip) in IE6 and think about what a possible client would think seeing this. Then I think about the hassle, that comes with supporting IE6. Then I think about youtube stopped supporting it about a year ago (I literally made a small celebration that day ). Then I think that I offer crossbrowser compatibilty as a service on my website. Then I think, "do I want people as clients, who still surf with IE6?" Then I think.....

 

I guess I´ve been at that point a couple of times when I´ve redone my webpage, or even a clients page, where IE6 compatibility hasnt been requested.

 

Do you support IE6 on your website? What do you think about that? I mean not technically or in terms of business, more emotionally. (<- in terms of "my lifespan is limited" )

 

microBlonk.

For my personal portfolio I always make sure all the sites I do work in IE 6 & 7 but this is done using Multiple IE, however, at work we do still check in IE 6 and get it to look as close as possible without hacking away at the code so that it's perfect.

 

I would def get it working in IE7 as once IE 6 is gone you just don't know how long IE 7 will be around for.

IE? From 6 to 9, i don't care. All sites i have made are with small CSS3 effects and such and they work completely perfectly with the latest Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari browsers. Hell even with Netscape that stopped it's development years ago. I like to think that if a person is using IE6, he's probably use to crappy websites. He has a choice to change browsers, he doesn't do that..he's problem.

@waynede

Yeah, IE7 is out of question, has to be done, even if it´s anoying.

But like I said before, my brain tells me to not waist more of my lifetime on supporting this piece of junk IE6, but rather actively support it´s death and make a redirect to that site: http://ie6funeral.com/

 

However my feelings arent really consistent with that, I´m emotionally divergent

 

@WVM

That´s one of the sides fighting in me, dont know if it´s the light or dark side..

I support IE6 on my portfolio but not on my newer projects. On OMGupload I fixed as much as I could on IE6 and then left it, any new bugs will be left unfixed. Then I make sure the user knows that their browser is too old and give them instructions on upgrading.

 

But my advise is to support all browsers on your portfolio and client's sites (unless your clients are ok with it). On any other site do what you want, but make sure you make the user know the website is broken because of them.

 

Excellent site by Google btw: http://www.whatbrowser.org/en-gb

If a fix for IE6 only takes a few minutes, I'll do it. I don't sweat it too much though, unless a client specifically requests it.

 

Saying that, I like the idea that my portfolio displays the same to as many people as possible, so I would say its worth fixing any IE quirks for your portfolio site. If you find out a potential client is still using IE6, its the perfect chance to attempt to convert them to a more modern browser

 

 

Kyle

Thats true, Kyle, it usually takes a couple of minutes fixing IE6 on a simple layout like mine. Sometimes maybe 20-30 minutes if I get stuck at a problem.

 

But:

- Those minutes I invest every time I change things, it's not everytime fixing, but at least every time checking. And it's one more on the browser list to be checked (and the most anoying one).

- Looking at various browser statistics (like w3schools, browser-statistik.de, ..) IE6 now has a share of bout 1,5% total. I know those statistics are a little biased, cause it's people like us frequently visiting those sites, usually "we" dont surf with IE6

- For my page I would have to implement an IE6 png fix. There are some solutions, one messes up my divs, the jquery solution (didnt test that yet) works probably better, but's inflating the site and stuff I have to manage.

 

Saying that, I like the idea that my portfolio displays the same to as many people as possible

Yeah, that's my problem, too. I dont want someone to see a messed up site, on the other hand, I'll never support IE5 or Opera 3 or Firefox 1..

 

This is where I'm stuck. Is it still worth the (little) time fixing IE6 or can it be left behind now and forever (asking myself)?

I think the question in terms of site redesigns depends on data gathered about the 'normal' usage of your visitors.

 

Visitors in the last month to our site use:

 

Firefox 54.84%

Internet Explorer 34.41%

Safari 6.45%

Mozilla Compatible Agent 2.15%

Chrome 2.15%

 

Of the 34.4% IE users

8.0 87.50%

7.0 12.50%

 

Not sight of an IE6 user in the last month.

 

If I stretch the data source to the last year, we have had a total of 25 IE6 users. The question then remains, could I have attracted them as customers or not using IE6? That's my call and I almost certainly won't be building for IE6 in our new redesign about to commence.

 

Looking at one of our client's Analytics data, 15% of their visitors are IE6 users in the last month. Their visitor numbers are lower but their demographic also lends itself to using older browsers.

 

So I don't think you can make a sweeping choice one way or another. The questions are the same as when you're speaking with a client - who are you trying to reach and why? Answer that and you've got your IE6 answer.

 

As for us, we are also going to be introducing CSS3 into our new design, maximising the effect for the majority of those arriving at our site. Study your data, know your audience and code accordingly.

 

And re-evaluate on every new and re-design you do

 

P.S. Clients should be informed that older browsers also pose security issues as well as diminishing their appreciation of websites. Let's educate people where possible.

Well said, mOxby. My stats are dominated by Firefox and Safari, very little IE6, actually so little that I guess those couple of hits were me testing.

 

After having slept a night over what everybody's been saying, I came to the conclusion to do some IE6 fixes that dont take time. This means, no png-fix, and display:none of newly added stuff, till I'm in the mood and have time to fix it. Additionally there will be a box showing up telling the IE6-user to upgrade and why.

 

Thanks for all your input, everyone.

Don't live in the past - let IE6 rot.

I did it... hands are still a little shaky and I feel like I could use a drink, but I did it.

IE6 users now get an incompatibility notice + browser download buttons in a lightbox in front of my smashed and totaly unusable layout.

 

Hope it's a good thing...

I worked at a web design company and our clients only complained about IE6 compatibility when we educated them about possible IE6 issues.

 

We actually had clients downgrading their browsers to check that their site worked in IE6! Also I'm pretty sure the statistics are so high for IE6 use because all us silly developers keep refreshing pages in it when we optimise.

 

Fix the simple stuff for IE6 but don't break your back , Make a little if comment in your code that politley tells the viewer that the reason your website looks like ass is because they need to upgrade their million year old web browser. I'm thinking an additional fixed div containing MR T saying " Update Your Browser Fool "

 

So yes offer IE6 support but do it by educating your clients and their clients too.

 

What do you reckon ?

 

Also I'm making a small request for photos of puppies send to clickthepuppy@gmail.com

 

Have fun Fellow IE6 bashers!

See http://forabeautifulweb.com/blog/about/universal_internet_explorer_6_css/ and then http://code.google.com/p/universal-ie6-css/

2.15% Chrome ? strange

IE still trumps Firefox and other browers according to my last 6 month stats.

Of the 76% that use IE:

 

1. 7.0 49.95%

2. 8.0 47.80%

3. 6.0 2.11%

4. 9.0 0.15%

 

43 visitors used IE 6, which i'm not fussed about. At the end of the day, if the info is easily obtainable and the calls to action are clear, i won't lose sleep over a few PNGs not displaying right.

Sinero - how so? People do use Chrome!

I made my decision to not support IE6 any more at all. (on my own page)

 

And maybe I´m wrong at that point, but the only argument for ongoing IE6 support seems to be companies that cant upgrade IE6 cause of massive cost or cause they have applications build on IE6.

I do understand that it would be a massive cost for a company to switch from windows 2000 server to something newer or to get there custom application rebuilt for a newer browser.

But what limits them to install a second browser for their employees? Recent firefox OS compatibility list:

Win 2000

Win XP

Win 2003 Server

Windows Vista

Win 2008 Server

Windows 7

 

So for me this is no argument anymore.

 

Another point is, that most clients expect that their low priced website has to look and function the same, even in the oldest browser as well as their new IPhone without extra charge. I dont wanna do that anymore. Usually when I offer them IE6 compatibility for additional 300€ and explain them the pros and cons, no one wants it anymore.

 

IE6 rot. IE7 follow soon please.

I need to add: before people start thinking that I change my mind quickly, this is not the case. I already wrote that this has been a battle inside of me and this thread just gave the last drop of inspiration needed to push me over.

 

Basically it´s been Meshach´s words

I've started to educate clients on why supporting IE6 is a waste of time. I let them know all about the uptake in modern browsers and why IE6 is technically bad. I try to get them to understand that i'd rather build a pretty, smoother, functional and fast web site with as little extra code as possible.

If however they feel it necessary to support IE6 then this is a paid extra.