browsers

[queerfm]

Hi guys My website seems to only show right if people are using IE7 or Firefox, i have not tested other browsers but i was woundering any one know of a script that will rederect people to a page if they don't have the latest version of there browser?

Oh and how many of you think that this could make people pissed off.

[Twey]

Oh and how many of you think that this could make people pissed off.

Every last one of us, I daresay.

If your site is well-designed, it shouldn't be a problem. There are always better ways than using browser-based redirection, which doesn't always work in any case.

[blm126]

Well, probably at least the 50 million or so still using Win 98 and can't upgrade to IE7, and refuse to use anything else.

[jscheuer1]

I'm probably the only one then, who wouldn't be pissed off. I still think it's a bad idea.

[mwinter]

I'm probably the only one then, who wouldn't be pissed off.

Done tactfully, it wouldn't be that much of a problem.

I still think it's a bad idea.

Yes, it's pretty redundant.


If the OP were to do this at all, it should be by including a non-obtrusive message somewhere on the home page (nowhere else). It also needs to be phrased carefully because when (not if) a browser is misidentified, the OP will end up looking like an idiot. Something like "Please check that you have the latest version of your browser", rather than "Your browser is out-dated".

But why is it redundant? Many recent browsers already perform periodic checks to ensure that the user has the most recent version, so if they haven't upgraded, they aren't likely to just because some random site suggests it. Moreover, if a user has an older browser that lacks such a feature, they're probably using that older browser for a reason, so they won't be interested in the opinion of the Web developer, either.

On a side note, I hope the OP wasn't planning on telling people to upgrade to IE7. It's still at the beta stage, and there should be significant reasons (such as major security or stability flaws) for using unfinished software.

Mike

[blm126]

On a side note, I hope the OP wasn't planning on telling people to upgrade to IE7. It's still at the beta stage, and there should be significant reasons (such as major security or stability flaws) for using unfinished software.

Microsoft doesn't seem to think so

[mwinter]

[IE7 is] still at the beta stage, and there should be significant reasons (such as major security or stability flaws) for using unfinished software.

Microsoft doesn't seem to think so

Heh. Their position is a little biased, don't you think?

Mike

[Twey]

According to that page, they've got one feature Firefox didn't have first

[jscheuer1]

My browser's better than yours. My browser's better than yours.
My bowser's better 'cause it's not often hacked.
My browser's better than yours.

Apologies to Ken-L Ration(tm).

[Twey]

Heh
Actually, I've started using Konqueror a lot more nowadays; Firefox is too slow for my tastes. I was just pointing out that the reason Microsoft have decided to release a new version of IE after so long is rather obvious.