When Google announced yesterday that it was to start phasing out support for Internet Explorer 6, a million web developers will have cheered. Is this the big catalyst the “Kill IE6″ campaign needs?
IE6 is a truly hated browser amongst web developers. It’s out of date and doesn’t support many modern web technologies properly. Yet it remains one of the most popular browsers amongst users – mainly thanks to businesses who haven’t upgraded their corporate software suite in years.
So, now that Google is throwing its weight behind the movement to consign IE6 to history, will we finally see it disappearing for good? Don’t count on it.
Google is beginning its phase-out with Docs and Sites. Few businesses will be using Sites (Google’s website hosting solution) and Docs remains a minnow compared to Microsoft Office in the business world. While Google will surely remove IE6 support from other services in time, the main reason many large businesses hold onto the browser is because they have web apps that have been built specifically for use with it. Unless Google blocks the main google.com search page completely from IE6, most businesses will get by just fine with a Google-free web.
It may actually be Microsoft that finally kills off IE6 for good. Many businesses are expected to move over to Windows 7 in the next few years. Windows 7 comes with the latest version of Internet Explorer (or even no browser at all), so businesses are likely to factor in the cost of replacing those legacy IE6-only web apps at the same time as rolling out the new OS across their network.
While it’s encouraging to see Google turning its back on the outdated browser, most businesses will be fine without Google’s services. For now they can always install Google Chrome Frame to allow access to modern technologies. Let’s just hope they do something to avoid this nightmare scenario.
[Image credit: IE6 denial message for Momentile.com]
should be eliminated for ever.
“they have web apps that have been built specifically for use with it”
Well, maybe. But more likely the cost of changing desktop setting and support is too high. Our company has 100K+ employees and 70% of them are using IE6 because that is what they got when they loaded their desktops 2 years ago.
Cost to switch them all over? Dunno, couple of million?
And I don't even know what would break application-wise. That would be more
I agree that it should be eliminated forever, but just tossing it in the trash could create a whole new set of problems. For one getting everybody to upgrade.
No Google cant kill ie6 because ie6 is already dead and buried.
@XC: a couple million to install a free download? Does your IT dept push upgrades across the network, or are machines loaded individually? Or do your users have the selp-help option to upgrade it themselves?
Perhaps I'm just used to AF comm squadrons upgrading unit networks remotely. Left work one day with IE7, and the comm minions sent out a script to install IE8 overnight (with adequate warning to backup our favorites, of course).
Microsoft should be eliminated instead. It's a open door to hackers.
you are wrong Mate IE6 is still the most widely used browser, people are so lazy that they dont want to get upgraded. I am Desperately waiting for the day wen people just forgot something Like IE 6 Exist
I agree that people are still using it but as a technology and future usage its dead. In my opinion if they weren't preinstalled in windows 7 and Vista, ie7 and 8 would be dead too. “I am obviously a Firefox fanatic supporter … lol”
According to Arstechnica Microsoft is dropping extended support for XP in 2014, so that means that IE6 will continue to supported for another 4 years (until 2014).
The article link for your reference:
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/08/m…
You have it would seem a little time to start making a switch over, leave it too long and you may find it more expensive to upgrade when the walls do come crashing down, and they will – it is only a matter of time. IE6 is not going to be supported forever, and by not seriously looking into making viable upgrades now you may be shooting yourself in the foot in the years to come. It would be an unwise business decision to not look at the options available for upgrading systems that support a more secure, modern and stable web browser.
no matter who kills it, We all cant wait…..
What a suprise.
Great article!
A lot of people flame the hell out of IE 6 (which I haven't used since Firefox was released all those years ago), but the reason why IE6 is used so much is because of Active X and companies cannot be bothered upgrading to a version that will work in all browsers (which most use Java these days).
It comes down to companies not using products that are made for IE 6, a push maybe companies should do with a free upgrade of their product?
IEven when support is dropped, many users will continue to use IE6 in the same way that there are still SQL Server 7 installs out there.
Google isn't doing this for anyone's benefit but there own.
hahahaha the picture is such a shame
No way. IE6 Is T H E best web browser EVER. Long live IE6. It's minimalist. It's ultra fast. And it works like gangbusters!
Google are only planning to upgrade some unimportant aspects of their website. The search engine, the important bit, will continue to function normally in IE 5 and IE 6.
IE6 is typically run on an older computer, that isn't capable of running IE8. What Google is really saying is: we demand that you buy a new computer, and buy a new Operating System, and buy all-new Windows 7 software.
Well, no one in their right mind is going to fork out the cost of all that! Not because one search engine makes a trivial change to its website.
Although they might not like it, even if Google disappears tomorrow there are plenty of other search engines!
Hey, Guys…It's the time to unite. Its the time to time to take IE6 behind the shed and shoot it.
“IE6 is the new Netscape 4. The hacks needed to support IE6 are increasingly viewed as excess freight. Like Netscape 4 in 2000, IE6 is perceived to be holding back the web.”
KILL IE6 for the sake of all web developers out there! Hope Google can do this.. even though they are now focus on fighting Facebook for a share of its profits! ;)
Finally it’s official, if you are using Internet Explorer 6 you’re a moron!
http://www.vectorash.ro/internet-explorer-users-have-low-iq/
Great site