The root of the problem

In the Dictionary the word ‘Bane’ is described: A person or thing that ruins or spoils.

Internet Explorer 6 has come to encompass this very meaning. The 8 year old browser has had a good run since its release on the August 27, 2001, but this has not been without its share of problems, and its share of on going misery.

Most of these problems may not be not known to the populous. This is mostly due to hours and hours of IE6 Optimisation that web designers the world over have had to deal with. These diligent, hard working, members of society have for years been grappling with every technical difficulty that IE6 throws at them, and that unfortunately is a lot.

The hinderance of old tech

Because of the quickening pace of technology, and of course that of the internet, there have been many advances in the way websites are viewed and created. Websites conform to certain standards which all of the latest and greatest browsers use. Unfortunately IE6 is old technology and has not kept up with them. It has in all meanings of the word become obsolete.

Reasons for IE6 hindering the growth of the internet:

• Internet Explorer as a whole accounts for over 60% of all internet browsing. IE6 makes up almost 25% of that alone.
• IE6 is outdated and is simply not being upgraded by many internet users.
• Web designers and developers the world over spend countless hours reworking websites to be compatible with IE6.
• Many companies are scared to drop optimization of IE6 for fear of losing a big chunk of their potential market.

Unfortunately there is reason for all of this, as a lot of the people who use IE6 are people in poorer countries who just can’t afford to upgrade to operating systems that run Internet Explorer 7 or 8, or any of the other browsers that dominate the market. Others it seems are just too stubborn to upgrade.

Dealing with it

Because IE6 makes up so much of the internet traffic, there is huge concern about just dropping it. Many companies refuse to do so as they think they will jeopardise their chances at making money. This means that there are constant fixes that have to be made in order to get most modern websites just to work. Although the view on this is quickly changing.

There has been an increase in websites that are calling for an end to IE6. Most of their hatred stems from the fact that IE6 takes up many hours of work time. This is due to constant fixes that need to be employed to make modern websites work. Many bigger companies, such as 37Signals, have put an end to optimising for IE6 and are steaming ahead undeterred, sending out the message to ‘Get with it, or get lost’.

Even the ever powerful Google has signed away the need to optimise for IE6. Instead encouraging users to download their own browser Chrome. This all comes as an attempt to rid the world of the curse that is IE6.

Heading the call

I believe that IE6 is well past its expiry date. And because of this I support the thousands of people around the world who are fighting to get rid of it. Below are a few links to some of the more preferred browsers that people should be using (and you if your using Internet Explorer to view this). Help free the world of this problem.

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Apple Safari

Opera