IE7 users, we need to talk… • Hacker News Board

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#71

Post by pilif » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 6:42 AM UTC

> IE7 users make up 1.22% of our traffic right now, and this will decline as more computers are upgraded and can use modern browsers.

No computer exists that is able to run IE7 but not IE8. And because IE7 came out way past the "optimized for IE" age, I doubt there is software around that requires 7 and doesn't work with 8.

This is in contrast to 6 which is what IE was stuck in for years, so software began depending on that.

If you could upgrade from 6 to 7, then you can upgrade from 7 to 8. Even more so considering that IE8 has an IE7 compatibility mode built in that can be enabled without having to touch the site itself (by setting the HTTP header in the server).

The same is true for local software embedding the IE control, but there you need to set some registry flag to do it.

There is no excuse for sticking with 7 and 8 is so much better to develop for. It's 2014. I would stop caring about 7. People still using 7 are used to sites not quite looking right anyways (as the majority of sites stopped caring) and in all likelyhood, they might not even notice the odd rendering glitch.

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#72

Post by m_mueller » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 6:51 AM UTC

ddw wrote: post #64

I work for a fairly large org. Once I finished an internal app and sent out an email for some folks to check it out. I soon received an email that the website was not working for someone. The screenshot showed that the browser they were using was Lotus Notes. They were clicking on the link in their email and it was opening it in Lotus freaking Notes. "Uh, no, we don't support that."

Well - if you don't support that, set it by (NAB-) policy.

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#73

Post by atesti » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 6:59 AM UTC

ddw wrote: post #64

I work for a fairly large org. Once I finished an internal app and sent out an email for some folks to check it out. I soon received an email that the website was not working for someone. The screenshot showed that the browser they were using was Lotus Notes. They were clicking on the link in their email and it was opening it in Lotus freaking Notes. "Uh, no, we don't support that."

I had a report from the manager in another company who bought our hosted solution that everything was misaligend.

Turned out clicking a link from an email opened Netscape Navigator 4 for him! Normally he uses Internet Explorer if he clicks on Internet on his desktop

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#74

Post by atesti » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:03 AM UTC

sfeng wrote: post #27

ForHackernews wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows XP only runs IE8.

and Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Opera.

But for how long?

Google is a bit scary lately, with removing experimental region support because 2014 is the "make mobile fast" year. Also they killed Chrome Frame.

I really wonder how long they will support XP.

I don't think a company which wants to stick to XP is well served by migrating to Chrome! (edit: Not that sticking to XP would make sense anyway...)

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#75

Post by pilif » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:04 AM UTC

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #62

yuhong wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On WinXP. You can run it on Server 2008 and receive security updates until 2020.

Interesting, but who's running Server 2008 as a corporate desktop OS?

Everybody with a Terminal Server installation from 2008. It's actually surprisingly common :/

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#76

Post by ocfx » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:05 AM UTC

How is buying potentially thousands of computers for people cheaper than gracefully degrading features from a bootstrap site?

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#77

Post by ocfx » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:05 AM UTC

cnp wrote: post #16

I'm surprised you didn't just go with IE9 as the cutoff? Why?

That's in 6 months when they need some PR again.

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#78

Post by Zancarius » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:09 AM UTC

flomo wrote: post #63

crisnoble wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You likely have been upgrading and maintaining your car. Users with IE7 who expect the world to freeze with their hardware are like car owners who do not change their oil yet would be amiss when their car stops functioning after 10 years.

Strained car analogies are the 1999 Slashdot PT Cruiser of internet arguments.

I nearly spit water out of my nose. And probably the corner of my eyes.

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#79

Post by Zancarius » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:11 AM UTC

craigching wrote: post #43

So you upgrade their computers and ... they're stuck with IE8! :p In all seriousness, I think it's better and more cost effective to have them switch to a better browser (FF, Chrome and even IE11). There are a lot of Win7 companies that still insist on IE8 as their browser of choice and that costs a lot to support as well, speaking from experience.

I think the point is more for PR purposes and public awareness than it is to actually buy people new computers. If it is, it's a rather good tactic. It gets your attention, doesn't it? ;)

Re: IE7 users, we need to talk…

#80

Post by ralish » Wed, Jan 29, 2014, 7:15 AM UTC

pilif wrote: post #71

> IE7 users make up 1.22% of our traffic right now, and this will decline as more computers are upgraded and can use modern browsers. No computer exists that is able to run IE7 but not IE8. And because IE7 came out way past the "optimized for IE" age, I doubt there is software around that requires 7 and doesn't work with 8. This is in contrast to 6 which is what IE was stuck in for years, so software began depending…

IE7 shipped with Vista. I've seen a few organisations that started deploying Vista and updated their XP systems to IE7 so all their workstations are running the same IE version.

Admittedly, there aren't many of these companies given most gave Vista a miss in favour of 7 or something else entirely, but they do exist, and it is a plausible reason that IE7 is still around for some.