Comments on: Should Web Designers Drop IE6 Support?

By: Peter Fisher

Peter Fisher — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:03:58 +0000

No I dont think we should force people off of IE6. Instead I think we should educate them on the advantages of upgrading.
The best way is to use browser detection scripts that will alert the user that they are using a legacy browser.

I think the time has come to stop designing with IE6 in mind and educate people to update their software.

Currently 8% of browser traffic is over IE6.
I’ve also made a plea for people to stop using the legacy browser on my blog http://blog.peterfisher.me.uk/2011/11/01/for-petes-sake-stop-using-ie6/

By: SooziKy

SooziKy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:34:49 +0000

We continue to support IE6 because it’s our client’s reputation or our reputation that’s on the line if a website we’ve built “breaks”. IE6 users won’t blame their browser version for any problems they encounter.

It’s frustrating to have to fix for IE6 but once you’ve done a few you know what to look for so creating an IE6 specific stylesheet isn’t that hard or time consuming. Our users get virtually the same experience whichever browser they use and I can sleep at night.

Here’s what else we do: The first time they visit using IE6 we deliver a friendly message that lets them know they might get a better experience if they are able to upgrade (with links to all the current browsers) – but it also says that if they can’t upgrade or don’t want to, they can simply close the message and we won’t show it again.

Even if just a few people upgrade, we’ll be one step closer to being able to say goodbye to IE6 forever.

By: David

David — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:43:31 +0000

I’ve taken the decision to drop IE6 support. The time needed to support it vs the number of people actively using the browser no longer add up in my opinion. I always tell the client about it, and offer them the option of paying a small extra cost to add support.

If they don’t, I give IE6 a separate style sheet which blanks the site, and with mootools, inject a message telling people why the site no longer supports IE6, leaving links and instructions on how to update their browser. I also incorporate full support for Googles Chrome frame, and include instructions on how to enable it in my IE6 message.

I firmly believe that we’re responsible for ensuring that the user has a seamless web experience, regardless of the browser, screen resolution or OS they’re using, but I think IE6 has reached the tipping point, where it’s no longer reasonable for web designers to spend time catering to the outdated abilities of IE6. Pushing people to upgrade will not only make the job of web designers easier (allowing us to focus on more cool new features rather than endless bug fixes), but will improve the internet experience of those who do upgrade, and Google frame caters to most people who are bound by the companies they work for to continue using IE6.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:52:03 +0000

From the business owner’s perspective, the argument is simple: If a sale is coming from a web user on IE-6, it is no different from another web user on Kick-Ass-Browser-X. It is revenue that the business cannot afford to and, certainly does not wish to ignore.

From the point of view of web application developers, it is beyond painful. It is a road littered with agony, despair, frustration and the occasional broken LCD.

I think Dave explained it best — at the end of the day, it’s not about how many are using IE-6, it’s how many of YOUR visitors are on it and can you ignore their business?

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:30:23 +0000

if the site doesn’t look good in IE 6, it’s not the designer’s problem. The user needs to upgrade!

It’s not the website that is broken…. it’s the browser

By: Ghansham (Frontend Engineer)

Ghansham (Frontend Engineer) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:44:21 +0000

I kind of agree also not agree also, as you said its all depends on the audience of the site, but i think its time that we should give up support for inferior platforms

By: London Web Designer Evan Skuthorpe

London Web Designer Evan Skuthorpe — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:38:42 +0000

@dave – all in all, it’s a tough decision to make and you have to take many things into account. I would push for dropping IE6 support regardless but if a sizeable percentage of of users are still on IE6 then yes I’d include it in the site build.

Personally, I see the biggest barrier being IT departments all over the world not upgrading through an outrageous ignorance of browsers and the web.

By: Johny Favourite

Johny Favourite — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:18:08 +0000

Not been here for a while Dave…..

Basically I’m so close to using a universal ie6 style sheet and basically dropping all style for the browser. I could never do this in my day job or many client projects but for my own stuff that’s what I want to do. I’ve not yet.

I basically make sure the site works in ie6. So I fix the double floats and stuff like that and if it looks vaguely like my site in more advanced browsers and it works then I’m satisfied.

I hate it though. 9 years old? It’s a disgrace. And yes I know that some people can’t upgrade.

I kind of think of it like televisions. People did have black and white TVs and they didn’t have to upgrade. It’s worth it when they do though.

By: Dave Woods

Dave Woods — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:09:09 +0000

@Evan, but if you don’t consider how many of their users are using IE6 then are you really providing them with a good service?

By: London Web Designer Evan Skuthorpe

London Web Designer Evan Skuthorpe — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:47:23 +0000

This is something I’m considering at the moment. I’ve always been of the train of thought that yes, I should support IE6 in site builds but I’m now considering dropping support, unless clients, upon explanation of my reasoning, still insist on it.

If Microsoft themselves are dropping support and the big boys on the net like google stop their support then I am keen to help ‘force’ the market to more modern browsers…