September 29, 2009 at 16:57Website Optimization for IE6 - Good or Evil?
It is generally accepted that any self-respecting HTML-layout should create sites that display correctly, among other things, in Internet Explorer 6.0. As you know, a lot of problems during layout are connected precisely with “hacks” and various tricks that you have to come up with in order for IE6 to correctly display your site. On the other hand, no one really argues that among ordinary users it is necessary to popularize normal browsers (Opera, Firefox, IE8) in order to finally bury IE6 and forget it like a nightmare.
As a result, we have a paradox. If a user visits the page from under IE6 and it displays correctly, he has no reason to change his browser. And no matter how you tell him that the browser is outdated and in general, he will not want to be updated. Why - it still works. But if a significant number of sites he is leaving and buggy in every way, then he will not even have to explain anything - he will figure out the reasons and update the browser (or ask a friend).
In connection with the foregoing, the question is: maybe there is no need to optimize sites for IE6? Maybe this is just harm? Maybe if you stop doing this, users will quickly switch to something more decent?
PS: In no case do I urge you to specifically make sites crookedly displayed in IE6, and I don’t call for anything at all - I just want to discuss a sensitive issue.
