Ancient browser support

[floyde]

Motivated by this "A list apart" article, I decided to embark on the journey of table-less web design. So far so good... I built a layout using only divs and my trusty css, basing my work on this article. But I think I went a bit too far...

I knew from the start that I would not support 4.0 browsers, but it turns out my layout doesn't work on 5.0 browsers either (namely IE5 Mac, IE5.5 Win). What troubles me is that ALA's example does work on these browsers . My layout has some extra features (extra divs to hold shadows, and the main container is fixed-width and centered) that make it brake in such browsers. Should I really waste my time adding hacks to make it work on these browsers? or perhaps it is my fault (improper use of css is causing the problem)??

I mean, the original ALA article was published in 2001, it's 2006 and we still support non-compliant browsers? Please say it isn't so

 

[rendezvouscp]

It really depends on your audience. For my blog, I could get away with only supporting the latest version of each browser (save IE 5 Mac) and be fine; however, on a performing arts website I'm making for my school, it looks like I might have to support the older browsers.

It's best if you have some sort of idea of who is already going to your website; but, if you don't, then try to imagine what your audience will probably have. I'd try and support all of the latest browsers as well as IE 5 versions as well, just as a general guide (but this sentence isn't really based on anything at all).
-Chasen

 

[floyde]

hmmm... unfortunately I think my audience is likely to use outdated browsers. My original idea was to encourage them to upgrade (new browsers are free after all). Do you think I need to use tables to make it work? or maybe just a little tweaking? You can take a look at te prototype here. thanks

 

[dpaanlka]

You would NOT believe how many non-mac-expert-types use Internet Explorer 5 for Mac OS X... STILL!!!

This entire campus is full of iMac G5s and PowerMac G5s, and Mac minis, and just walking through the halls or sitting in class, EVERYBODY is still using IE 5, it is SO annoying...

In one design class, I actually overheard a professor say this to someone using Safari: "you'd be better off using IE" to which I loudly quipped "you know, Microsoft's web site says you'd be better off using Safari"

It is soooooo annoying. Especially because people use IE 5, see how poorly it renders everything, then make comments like "geez macs really suck - they cant even show this web page right"

So, the moral of the story is, you should probably try to keep some level of IE 5 compatability (spelling?) in your web sites.

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

I say screw ancient non CSS browsers! If people are too lazy to get free upgrades, well than **** 'em!

 

[floyde]

If people are too lazy to get free upgrades, well than **** 'em!

That's the way I feel about old browsers too . What worries me though, is that my layout isn't all that complex or modern after all, so maybe it doesn't work on old browsers because of my poor css skills. But I'm not sure, I'm currently leaning toward the "5.x browsers just suck" theory

 

[Nermal]

so maybe it doesn't work on old browsers because of my poor css skills.

Maybe a CSS checker will help

 

[floyde]

Maybe a CSS checker will help

No errors... does it mean that I can can get away with poor browser support because I am "standards-compliant"?

 

[Nermal]

Well technically you need to check your HTML (and anything else you're using) too.

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

In one design class, I actually overheard a professor say this to someone using Safari: "you'd be better off using IE" to which I loudly quipped "you know, Microsoft's web site says you'd be better off using Safari"

It is soooooo annoying.

That's so typical of "professors" - more like University staff - to say something like that. One of these geniusses at the University of Alaska told the class Apples were no longer in production in 2002. What really made it ironic was I was using a PowerBook G4 at my desk.

Only in America, the country where you have to pay BIG bucks to an Ivy League (or MIT or some place similiar) to get a true PhD who uses reason, logic, the scientific method, and a healthy dose of skeptism.