It is time that Internet Explorer version 6 (IE6) crosses the river Styx, bites the big one, kicks the bucket, pushes up daisies, etc. Why?
- It is over 9 years old, and in interweb terms, that means it was released when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
- Microsoft is no longer supporting it with security updates or any other type of updates.
- Web development has left it behind, and it takes an inordinate amount of work to design modern web sites that use modern web features and can still support IE6.
- IE6 is a security nightmare with holes big enough to drive an 18-wheeler through sideways. You really are putting yourself and your computer at serious risk by continuing to use it.
I could go on, but the bottom line is that it is time for it to fade quietly into oblivion; a foot note in the history of the web. If you want more on why IE6 should take retirement, read Calling time on IE6.
My suggestions for Windoze users (in order) are:
- Firefox 3.5.x: if you are on an older version of windows (pre-XP) that the latest version of FF will not work on, get an older version of FF. Do note that FF 3.0.x will only be supported and updated through January of 2010 and support for FF 2.0.x was dropped some time ago.
- Safari 4.x.x: in my opinion it is far faster than IE7 or 8, faster than Firefox 3.5.x, and is my favorite browser no matter the operating system, but you will have to have Windows XP or above to use it.
- IE7 or IE8: IE7 still has a lot of web standards issues, but it is far better than IE6. IE8, if you have XP or Vista, is a good choice although it is glacially slow in comparison with FF or Safari.
2 Comments
I totally agree with you. IE6 holds back the web.
You know? I’ve been considering taking IE6 (and Opera 7) out of my “supported browsers” skins list… I won’t deny, though, that I’m one of those web developers who thinks his websites should look (almost) the same in as many browsers as possible… and IE6 is still widely used; then again, if it is not us who encourage those who still use it to upgrade, then they never will.
I too will put the Bring Down IE6 logo on my blogs.
Yeah, I’m with you feeling that websites should look (almost) the same in as many browsers as possible, but with IE6 there are more reasons that people should migrate away from it and to something more modern, such as the security issues. I don’t want people to think I’m trying to force them away from what is familiar, or force them to upgrade their entire computer or operating system, but with IE6 it has reached the point where it is time for it to go.