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New Windows browser ballot screen finally ditches IE6, but it remains alive
I hadn't really thought about it when I first saw the ballot screen, but when I read Scott Fulton's astute observation at Betanews that IE6 was left out, I practically jumped for joy. Did Microsoft finally drop a giant house on the Wicked Browser of the West? Can web designers and users alike now celebrate its demise?
Meh, not quite. IE6 is still alive in corporate IT departments, where compatibility issues with old software are holding back the rollout of IE7, not to mention IE8. There's even an IE8 Blocker Toolkit, from Microsoft itself, that corporations can deploy to stop unauthorized installations of IE8 on their networks. I am aghast.
You can be aghast, too, if you go read some of the horror stories in Fulton's post, and in an excellent article by IT Expert Voice's Esther Schindler (also linked by Betanews). Schindler explains exactly why even corporations who want to ditch IE6 sometimes can't.
Post your own tales of IE6-related frustration in the comments. And bring me a bucket of water, because this wicked browser needs melting once and for all!
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsJosh AndersonFeb 22nd 2010 3:19PM
It's not offered because it can't be installed on Windows Vista / 7, the latter of which is what that screenshot was taken in!
DavidFeb 22nd 2010 6:45PM
Exactly on the money, Josh. The ballot screen is only available on the current version of Windows selling in the EU - Windows 7, and the only version of Internet Explorer that runs on Windows 7 is IE8.
I don't understand continual, completely inaccurate misconception that Microsoft wants to perpetuate IE6. Microsoft would like everyone to upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer and exploit its latest technologies like web slices and accelerators, however Microsoft is sensitive enough to understand that there are businesses that run critical line of business applications that rely on IE6 and that businesses can't simply turn on a tap of money to fund converting these applications to IE8. and hence they provide enterprise utilities to disable IE from upgrading.
AJNFeb 22nd 2010 4:42PM
I like their unique selling points. Especially how Opera is going to "speed up my internet connection". Magic!
darwinsurvivorFeb 22nd 2010 8:36PM
Would it kill these sites to post a picture where the text is readable? Even tineye failed to find anything!
William WolfFeb 26th 2010 4:12AM
I was able to read it all.
F-ZeroFeb 22nd 2010 8:31PM
My organisation's network has both IE and FF on all computers.
However, it seems like a case of quantity over quality - both browsers are almost 2 versions behind on some computers. totally useless. my bank is even worse of course - IE6 all the way. you should see how frustrated employees get when they're forced to use that piece of crap: click, click, click, open new window, open new window...slowwww....crash
RichardFeb 23rd 2010 4:38AM
Microsoft haven't offered IE6 for years. If you go to their website, you can only get the latest version. It's been like that for years.
I have no idea why DLS thought that IE6 would be offered in the browser ballot. The only reason it sticks around is because there are people running XP where it came as default and are unwilling or unable to upgrade.
Microsoft would love it if people upgraded. Why do you think that IE8 has the intranet compatibility functionality?