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By John Borland, News.com
Posted on ZDNet News: Sep 30, 2004 11:00:00 AM

For many people, using a non-Microsoft browser such as Firefox is now a must for secure Web surfing--but most still keep a copy of Internet Explorer around just in case.

The problem is that many Web developers create their sites so they work best with Internet Explorer (IE), but not to work as well with browser software used by relatively tiny groups of potential visitors.

Sites subject to complaints from Firefox users include Web travel site Expedia and Microsoft's MSNBC news site. Even Shutterfly, the online photo service backed by Netscape Communications co-founder Jim Clark, warns visitors that it supports only a limited set of browsers.

These incompatibilities between browsers are as big a headache for developers as they are for Web surfers, some professionals say.

"It's definitely a problem," said Noel Briggs, a developer at Web design company NetTensity. "The time we waste on addressing browser incompatibility problems easily amounts to a significant percentage of our payroll."

The biggest reason why most people can't dump IE, however, is Microsoft itself: The software giant's Windows Update site blocks out non-IE browsers completely. That means anyone running Windows who wants to download and install the latest security updates from the Web will have to keep IE close at hand. Some consider that ironic or worse, given that authoritative groups such as Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Emergency Response Team now warn people to stay away from IE because of its myriad security problems.

While some people are downloading alternate browsers out of frustration with IE, which last had a significant upgrade three years ago, others may be swayed by grassroots Internet campaigns urging Web surfers to dump IE.

These include the Web Standards Project's Browse Happy site and the Mozilla Foundation's volunteer-based marketing site, Spread Firefox, which it launched alongside the preview release of Firefox 1.0.

Most IE alternatives support World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards, which give Web developers all the tools necessary to build fully compatible sites. Nevertheless, Microsoft has created proprietary elements within IE to support some enhanced Web page features, such as multimedia. Web developers who decide to use these features may effectively lock out surfers who use non-IE browsers.

Corporate Web developers frequently write code to work with IE rather than to Web standards, because their clients want to use Microsoft's proprietary CRM (customer relationship management) and ERP (enterprise resource planning) features. Since IE dominates the market so thoroughly, some companies simply balk at the cost of tests that would help ensure cross-browser compatibility.

The situation has some Web developers shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Sites as large as Expedia and MSNBC should be able to cater to just about everybody who wishes to use the site," Briggs said. "If certain TVs weren't able to reliably render the MSNBC cable news channel, I am sure that the network would take the issue seriously."

News.com writer Paul Festa contributed to this report.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 176 Talkback(s)
I don't patronize sites that push IE. Period.
If I can't use firefox on a site, I may use IE to access content off the site but I will not purchase anything from that site. Many others feel the same.... (Read the rest)
Posted by: FooManShoe Posted on: 01/04/05 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
Not really true Nigel Johnstone   | 09/30/04
Not quite correct about Javascript and .NET balsover   | 10/01/04
You can still get your updates jfp   | 09/30/04
Yeah but.... htotten   | 09/30/04
Better that than getting a virus after re-installing voska   | 09/30/04
I agree. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 09/30/04
Yes, time IS money. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   | 10/01/04
That's the best way to do it voska   | 09/30/04
That's the best way to do it CodeBubba   | 10/01/04
No need to "think again" alterego_z   | 09/30/04
Not a good idea.. d_jedi   | 09/30/04
Interstingly.... BitTwiddler   | 09/30/04
Only activeX, in particular.. d_jedi   | 09/30/04
Wrong! htotten   | 09/30/04
Wake them up! felipe_alfaro@...   | 09/30/04
American Oligarchy and IE LActive   | 10/01/04
Cant Dump IE mbraincell@...   | 09/30/04
That's not the question felipe_alfaro@...   | 09/30/04
That's not the question CodeBubba   | 10/01/04
Put Verizon on Notice bc_bc   | 09/30/04
Put Verizon on Notice CodeBubba   | 10/01/04
I call Bullsh$t ebpowell   | 09/30/04
Same mistakenID   | 10/02/04
Re-phrase the question Fred Fredrickson   | 10/02/04
V E R I Z O N dr_who@...   | 10/09/04
More than 3 years ... worknman   | 09/30/04
Er, I meant ... worknman   | 09/30/04
Not a great article Chad_z   | 09/30/04
UA Spoofing rpmyers1   | 09/30/04
And, they should try to emulate more of the IE quirks. DonnieBoy   | 09/30/04
No! felipe_alfaro@...   | 09/30/04
I think he was spot on. You still need IE for some tasks. DonnieBoy   | 09/30/04
Firefox LActive   | 10/01/04
You forgot to tell vainov   | 09/30/04
Anti-competitive behaviour? d_jedi   | 09/30/04
MS IE Extensions jacarter3   | 09/30/04
The problem with standards.. d_jedi   | 09/30/04
Web Developers jacarter3   | 10/01/04
Actually.. d_jedi   | 10/01/04
You stand corrected... jacarter3   | 10/01/04
S T A N D A R D S dr_who@...   | 10/09/04
MS IE Extensions ClaudeM   | 09/30/04
I don't think so.. d_jedi   | 09/30/04
FireFox Settings jacarter3   | 10/01/04
I have the default settings.. d_jedi   | 10/01/04
Browser settings. rhammock   | 10/01/04
Browser Settings Reprise jacarter3   | 10/01/04
No, but bad HTML has the same effect Fred Fredrickson   | 10/02/04
Microsoft is now the standard... Mike Cox   | 09/30/04
My Rep says... htotten   | 09/30/04
Mike, where have you been? shallow_diver   | 09/30/04
Mike's back... Yeayyy(nt) el1jones   | 09/30/04
Above average Yagotta B. Kidding   | 09/30/04
You are right on the money........ animlchin   | 09/30/04
You are taking Mike seriously aren't you ... Taz_z   | 09/30/04
Correction... BitTwiddler   | 09/30/04
You're missing the point... felipe_alfaro@...   | 09/30/04
Well, everybody's gotta 'go' so... BitTwiddler   | 09/30/04
TalkBack: Reply to message

Re microSlops is trhe standard now say whaa peten   | 09/30/04
MicroSlops Not... rsharp@...   | 09/30/04
Apache and IIS Krod   | 10/25/04
90% CobraA1   | 09/30/04
Microsoft is the most proprietary company on the planet MacGeek2121   | 09/30/04
Hearing His Name In The Hallways whogoesthere   | 09/30/04
I love it when some one new reads Mike for the first time shallow_diver   | 10/01/04
That's not what standards are wresnick   | 10/01/04
Correction, wresnick   | 10/01/04
No, you are wronghahaha! Krod   | 10/25/04
Coporate Applications dmgm01   | 09/30/04
I'd still switch browsers... el1jones   | 09/30/04
MSNBC And Expedia?? What are they talking about? itanalyst   | 09/30/04
If Paul Allen Was Smart... claytonmuhler   | 09/30/04
MSNBC video only works on IE STFU NOOB   | 09/30/04
Blah BS EricMarts@...   | 09/30/04
Example...? plloyd1010   | 09/30/04
What is cheerfully ignored... Yen_z   | 09/30/04
Bleh rbethell   | 09/30/04
Not igonored just no topic IT Scion   | 09/30/04
No excuse rbethell   | 09/30/04
They're Called Frontpage Jockys brenthawkinsmd   | 09/30/04
Haha! Yen_z   | 09/30/04
inexcusable even for FrontPage jockeys rbethell   | 09/30/04
front page will modify your code V Sanders   | 10/02/04
Keep a Copy of IE??? It's Part of Bloated Windows! brenthawkinsmd   | 09/30/04
no kidding, the author must have NEVER tried to uninstall IE V Sanders   | 09/30/04
Do away with I.E. dr_who@...   | 10/09/04
The problem is FrontPage Roger Ramjet   | 09/30/04
Not true Sarenpa   | 09/30/04
Use FireFox, with IE as backup! dl@...   | 09/30/04
too funny V Sanders   | 09/30/04
Nonsense! Maxthon Browser supports iviguy   | 09/30/04
Wolf in sheeps clothing Nullifidian   | 09/30/04
What a load... *LOL* If your web developer is... Stellardyne   | 09/30/04
A truism. Yen_z   | 09/30/04
Are we Really Surprized? dgpeter@...   | 09/30/04
If Firefox is "all that", why RJM_z   | 09/30/04
What? skeptic tank   | 09/30/04
Nice try ... but they weren't porn or warez sites, RJM_z   | 09/30/04
Nice try yourself. Time to put up or shut up. Taz_z   | 09/30/04
I took the Firefox default settings and have RJM_z   | 09/30/04
You still haven't said which site Taz_z   | 09/30/04
Somebody say 'rancor'? KRP_z   | 10/15/04
Nice try ... but they weren't porn or warez sites, tuckettt   | 09/30/04
That didn't come in through FireFox BitTwiddler   | 09/30/04
I correct myself... BitTwiddler   | 09/30/04
Thanks for your reply, but believe me, it was Firefox. RJM_z   | 09/30/04
Also, you haven't said which downloader trojan you got Taz_z   | 09/30/04
I checked my anti-virus log, but it only shows the last scan, RJM_z   | 09/30/04
Gotta be something else rbethell   | 09/30/04
one good reason peten   | 09/30/04
NETSCAPE LaSenorita   | 09/30/04
Re: Netscape Crash2100   | 09/30/04
FireFox Plug-in 31337-h4x0r   | 09/30/04
Planning to dump - MS Tombo_z   | 09/30/04
And then there's the camp that hates tech FilledOut   | 09/30/04
For a while now... Omch'Ar   | 09/30/04
Why I won't abandon IE6 Jeffhs   | 09/30/04
True CobraA1   | 09/30/04
what, you think you CHOOSE to keep IE - lol V Sanders   | 09/30/04
I don't CHOOSE to ... Dutchman72   | 10/09/04
Drop IE, and do it now... felipe_alfaro@...   | 09/30/04
Regarding this article... msdead   | 09/30/04
Dumping IE. I think SO! jskline0@...   | 09/30/04
Very few problems with Firefox kvwilliams   | 09/30/04
Reality Check firefoxie   | 09/30/04
Whoa, lets be honest shall we. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/30/04
The only thing is... Michael Kelly   | 09/30/04
Still wrong... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/30/04
You are still wrong.... B.O.F.H.   | 09/30/04
Not hardly... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/30/04
what no ax is saying V Sanders   | 10/02/04
Again with 3 year old information? B.O.F.H.   | 09/30/04
Go cry to the W3C.. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/30/04
Provide a link! B.O.F.H.   | 09/30/04
Do your home work. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 09/30/04
Making more stuff up? B.O.F.H.   | 09/30/04
As if you've done your own homework CobraA1   | 09/30/04
no ax has no proof - cause there is none (NT) V Sanders   | 09/30/04
No-Ax has to be obvious TROLL KRP_z   | 10/15/04
I agree, provide a link! CobraA1   | 09/30/04
You're joking, right? CobraA1   | 09/30/04
I'm sick of this, so I'm creating a list CobraA1   | 09/30/04
Really? michael-t   | 10/01/04
Complience agottschald   | 10/01/04
Sir, your neck is the same girth as your head KRP_z   | 10/15/04
IE-only compatible websites Dr_Zinj   | 09/30/04
Well said KRP_z   | 10/15/04
Totally dumped kokuryu   | 09/30/04
Firefox 1.0 problems hapaki1   | 09/30/04
Oh well it the ideal time then is it not peten   | 09/30/04
STILL UNABLE TO FIX WINDOWS KRP_z   | 10/15/04
Foxfire (cont'd) Ad-a-ware and spybot scans are RJM_z   | 09/30/04
Self dumping IE ralphdb@...   | 09/30/04
Dumped IE 18 Months ago voska   | 09/30/04
Less webpages are broken, not more CobraA1   | 09/30/04
Firewall block IE and use Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox PVkWatts   | 09/30/04
you are correct, many spyware apps use the features of IE without user perm V Sanders   | 09/30/04
Make what you want... waltmher   | 09/30/04
Planning to code for IE? Think again cdc_z   | 09/30/04
the only site i have run accros that doesn't work on mozilla firefox V Sanders   | 09/30/04
It's already nearly dead anyway. agottschald   | 09/30/04
when i see i sight like that i stay away V Sanders   | 09/30/04
MSNBC and Expedia? GRVR   | 10/01/04
I dumped it a long time ago Endoscopy_z   | 10/01/04
why? arnold_walker@...   | 10/01/04
Mozilla hater Paul Festa continues his bashing. DeepFreeze3   | 10/01/04
Name me just ONE left wing stooge? KRP_z   | 10/15/04
Take Some Responsibility! guitrwiz@...   | 10/01/04
AMEN Dutchman72   | 10/09/04
Interesting michael-t   | 10/01/04
easy answer jblan   | 10/02/04
Browsers icemaker@...   | 10/02/04
Dumped --- Never to go Back!!! Dutchman72   | 10/09/04
Corporate websites Bludnok_z   | 10/10/04
Hundreds of reasons... KRP_z   | 10/15/04
I don't patronize sites that push IE. Period. FooManShoe   | 01/04/05

What do you think?