Just in case you were thinking Microsoft might consider relinquishing their plans for global domination, think again. There’s been deep-seated speculation on the status of the next Internet Explorer release, and now Zeldman finds that “IE6 SP1 is the final standalone installation.”
Whazzat?! Allow me to translate: ‘you have to pay for future versions of IE!’ If the statements from that TechNet document are accurate, new IE releases will not be available for download. Meaning that if you intend to upgrade beyond Win IE6 SP1, or Mac IE5, you will need to purchase whichever new OS Redmond spits out.
Thank god no one in their right mind* uses IE anymore!! ::phew::
*exceptions made for web designers who need to make sure the site they are designing works with IE so that the impressionable masses who aren’t in their right mind can view the site and consume the product mindlessly.
(say that five times in rapid succession)
no name yet | May 31, 2003 02:53 AM
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It could be worse. You could be charged a hundred dollars or so for every iterative release, like the Mac-daddies do.
Wait, that’s not really much worse…
I really hate computers sometimes. We’re so tied to them, and why? Work? Pleasure? I feel like we’re signing up for our own 1984 or some other distopian crap.
Thank you very much Microsoft.
Chris | May 31, 2003 01:14 PM
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“Thank god no one in their right mind* uses IE anymore!!”
You kiss your mother with that mouth? That’s 95-98% of web surfers you’re patronizing. Get this through your thick skull: your taste is not superior!
Tomas | May 31, 2003 02:31 PM
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no name yet: sure, web-techs and similarly minded individuals are standards-oriented, and are informed enough to know that there are alternatives out there, but like Tomas said, 90+ percent of surfers use IE. In fact, I heard someone say the other day that they used to use Netscape 4.76, but think that Netscape is dead and that IE is the only browser in existence, your average user has never heard of Opera, let alone Mozilla.
Chris: oh, but we are headed for MS 1984! Very much so. IE will most likely emerge as an MSN web-service of sorts, and who knows what after that. I’m no MS doomsayer, but you have to admit that the skies are starting to cloud over.
Ryan | May 31, 2003 04:40 PM
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Never before in history have we had such a viable means of communicating with the world. Shame now that it seems so unviable, and we web designers now have a task so unenviable, to make good sites that work with all browsers, and so we have to buy so much.
There are days when I just want to pack in the whole business and move to the country.
Chris | June 1, 2003 12:55 PM
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Exit left IE, Enter center stage Mozilla
Mike | June 2, 2003 11:24 AM
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Ryan: Good point. I agree with you. That’s exactly why I said web designers need to design for IE until/unless the majority browser of choice changes.
Tomas: Actually, I think my taste (in browsers) is superior to that of an IE user’s. You are free to disagree… like 90% (or whatever your statistic is) of websurfers do. You can laugh at me for being different. Meanwhile, I’ll laugh at you for being just like everybody else. ::yawn::
no name yet | June 2, 2003 02:30 PM
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no name yet: Nice attitude you got there, I’m sure it will get you really far. People in general love to be patronized for shallow reasons just like that one. You’re awfully quick to judge people, I see, do you by any chance consider yourself better than blacks and homosexuals, too? If not, you might want to consider changin the way you present yourself.
Oh, and when did I say I used internet Explorer? Right now, I’m in Mozilla FireBird. Unlike you, I’m not my browser, asshat.
Tomas | June 3, 2003 12:01 AM
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Tomas: I think your comment speaks for itself. Thank you for the entertainment.
no name yet | June 3, 2003 10:44 AM
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no name: yes everyone needs to cater for their intended, and even unintended audience — if MS got their act together and endowed IE with better standards compliance, then designers would *almost* only need code to standard (not to one browser or another).
I doubt you’re doing yourself any favors (on either side of the fence) discriminating against netizens inline with their browser preference though.
Ryan | June 3, 2003 12:46 PM
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