My original plan was to do a quick blog post on the reasons why I no longer wish to support IE6…. lack of support for current web-standards, no PNG transparency support, a range of other bizarre problems and quirks that can make developers weep with frustration, and the fact that there are heaps of better alternatives (IE7, Firefox, Chrome, Safari etc). But then I came across TheManInTheSea‘s great response to a FAQ on his site which I liked so much that I thought I’d share it.
Do you do any support for Internet Explorer 6?
When IE6 first came on the scene in in early 2001, websites were built with tables and I could bring toe-nail clippers on an airplane. Web Standards was still just a dream to many designers and Microsoft controlled much of the market share (close to 95%). Fortunately, that was almost ten years ago… and surprisingly the internet has changed. Sadly, IE6 delivers such a poor view of the internet that some foreign dictators have been known to offer prison time to anyone caught surfing with it. The latest statistics have shown that IE6 is loosely connected to permanent brain damage, global warming and the recent economic hardship that much of the global economy is experiencing. That’s why every one should upgrade to FF or IE7.
So in short. No I don’t. Sorry.
Hear, hear.
Balsamiq Mockups
We’ve been experimenting with a few different tools for producing web design mockups for clients lately and are stoked to have come across Balsamiq Mockups. Essentially, Mockups is a tool for quickly and effectively creating wireframes for websites and software applications.
After using the software for a little over a day, we’re pretty pleased. The things we like best..
Experimenting with Balsamiq Mockups
Paul Arden has some great comments on why rough layouts sell the idea better than polished ones in his book ‘It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be‘, so we’re looking forward to seeing how clients respond.
NB. The story behind Balsamiq is worth a read. It’s always great to hear about highly-talented developers producing solid, simple software and enjoying commercial success.