Veteran web developers may know that Netscape Navigator, the engine which renders Mozilla, was the dominant web browser back in the 1990s. The browser, and its “bugs,” was easily brushed aside when the more promising Internet Explorer made its debut. As the end of the paradigm shift approached, users and developers were introduced the unacceptable “Your browser is not supported page.”

I appeal to you today to stand unified against the phasing out of IE6 on May 1, 2008. The deed may seem sacrilegious to a few but I will present facts as to why it is necessary to do so.

Remember the past seven years when you spent hours making adjustments to your craft and even altering your ideas to cater to IE6. The dawn of the IE7 promises to change this with better support although of course, it would still be imperfect.

I am being a bit dramatic in making this call to deal the “death blow” to the IE6. Standard purists are probably going way over their heads reading this article but with this plan I am about to present, a compromise could be reached with the IE6.

Take a look at this: Why not use a standard spanning banner on the top left area of your home page to be displayed only when users view your site using the IE6? Let the banner explain that the browser does not support the site and might therefore, not be viewed by the user as you intended. The plan is simple. It will enable you to construct your website without worrying about not being able to achieve your desired effects.

The thought behind the concept is similar to that of the Netscape Navigator migration although it uses a different method. The plan will help you save time and money needed to support a less-modern browser. With the banner idea, you would not have to block all your content. All web developers have to do is to make a subtle suggestion to the users to upgrade either to IE7 or adapt a standard supporting browser.

Placing The Banner
Just add the following CSS code to your website on May 1 or any other date you prefer.
It should be placed within the body tag.
<font style=”color: #000000;”><!–[if lte IE 6]>

<style>
#unsupported {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 155px;
height: 47px;
background: transparent url(http://www.css-faq.com/unsupported.gif)
center center no-repeat;
}
#unsupported a {
display: block;
width: 155px;
height: 47px;
text-decoration: none;
text-indent: -9999px;
font-size: 0.1em;
}
</style>
<p id=”unsupported”>
<a href=”http://www.css-faq.com/unsupported.gif”>CAUTION: Your browser is no longer supported by this website. See it as intended. Click here.</a>
</p>
<![endif]–>

The method is simple and not too intrusive at the same time. I encourage you to stop paying for unnecessary costs and step into the new world of web standards.

The date I chose, May 1, 2008, to altogether drop IE6 will coincide with the CSS Reboot, a concept circulating among standards-compliant web developers signifying the incorporation of new design on the said date. Let us all use this banner and phase out IE6 support on May 1, 2008.

Tags: Solving The IE6 Problem