Chepooka

Seriously Internet Explorer 6.0?!

For all of you non-web people feel free to skip this one.

I launched two sites within the last couple of days and both times complaints about rendering in IE6 came back to me. I responded, “Well I’ve been testing in ie6 along the way, it looks fine to me, I can’t replicate this error, hmmm.”

One of the sites is apparently just a blank blue screen. Kinda weird.

I have three monitors on my desk and two machines - one runs IE6 because you can’t run IE6 and IE7 on the same machine. So as I am testing I’ve got IE6 on my left - Firefox midde - IE7 on my right. Generally if it’s working in Firefox, the other compliant browsers play nicely so I test those last.

SOooooooooooo, I can’t for the life of me figure out why on earth I can’t find these errors!

Turns out, my browser was automatically updated on my old ancient machine, so it’s running IE7 now. THAT EXPLAINS SO MUCH.

But, of COURSE, I am working with people in big corporations that haven’t updated their “policy” to update IE or use any other browser.

OF COURSE.

On the one hand, I am SO GLAD that IE6 is dying and the browser update fairy is doing a great job.

But I’m trying to make a fucking living here and I’m SO SICK AND TIRED OF THIS STUPID BROWSER RUINING MY DAY AND ALL OF MY PROFITS.

Would it REALLY be so hard for Microsoft to CONSIDER web designers and throw us a bone here? Now we have to jump through hoops to test this stupid thing?

After this, I am implementing a policy that I absolutely will not test or support IE6 any longer. Or, I’ll have to charge hourly for troubleshooting. Or something. If I can’t test, I have absolutely no choice.

DIE DIE DIE DIE A MILLION DEATHS YOU LOUSY STUPID PIECE OF SHIT THE END.

Update - well, there is a happy ending, for today anyway.

I have IE6 running on an old laptop and was able to test (I had to stop the automatic updates twice!) and it was a minor keystroke error on a conditional statement and the site *miracle* looked absolutely fine on IE6 and all is well.

But still, I’m going to do some research on this. I know some web designers just say “tough luck” about IE6 by now but I’ve never been that guy, at least not when there’s still a significant portion of the web audience still using the technology.

Also, my client is bringing me freshly baked cookies because I’ve been working so hard today. Can you believe that? I LOVE MY JOB DESPITE YOU, CRAP BROWSER!!!

Posted by chepooka on 07/17 at 03:31 PM

Comments

mmmm coookies, that’s nice!

We no longer support IE6 by default. If a client wants it, they pay a nice hourly rate for testing and troubleshooting. I very rarely get requests for it any longer and that is just FINE by me.

Posted by mel on 07/17 at 05:28 PM

I think I’ll be doing the same, mel. You’re the second professional web designer today to tell me that. I’ll be SO HAPPY to let it die. As long as I make it clear up front what the deal is I’m okay with being paid extra and hourly for supporting that crap piece of @#$)(%*@%#.

The cookies totally made it worth the trouble. heehee

Posted by chepooka on 07/17 at 06:15 PM

Yeah, we’re pretty much the same as mel. We include IE6 testing (most of the time) at no charge in our markup, but once 3rd party functionality goes in, whether it’s CMS or plugins or scripts or whatever, we can’t be responsible for a lot of how those 3rd parties handle IE6. So, if it’s imperative the client have it perfect in IE6, we just charge that extra.

DIE IE6 DIE DIE!

Also? I use that virtual IE6 thingie… mel sent me the link. It works like a charm.

Posted by Joelle on 07/18 at 07:44 AM

Apparently, Microsoft still needs to get fucked in the ass by a large man named Bubba? If Microsoft (and the frustrations they cause) didn’t exist, I might still be in the computer business.

Posted by tas on 07/19 at 09:16 AM

I like the idea of not supporting IE6. However, until that day arrives, I will use this little utility that lets you run ie 5, 5.5, 6, and 7 all on the same machine. It also has earlier versions of IE, but really, IE4? No way am I going to support that!

http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE

Seriously great and has saved me some headaches.

Posted by Roy Lindauer on 07/23 at 03:03 PM