Hinutech

Although this is a long-standing policy that we verbally communicate to our customers, I want to drive the point home on my blog.  Below is our official policy in regards to Internet Explorer 6.  I have never been shy about my disdain for this browser, and recently a buddy of mine on Twitter made me aware of a site devoted to ridding the web of this scourge called idroppedie6.com.  It's nice to read the statements of freedom as companies (large and small) free themselves from the shackles of this antiquated browser that does nothing more than increase costs and make the web worse.  I think of the hours spent every day as well-meaning developers try to make their code work with this browser, and I am saddened.  Think of the progress that could be made by these amazingly talented people who are wasting time trying to make their code "work" for this browser. 

Microsoft should force people to upgrade.  Make Internet Explorer stop working.  Make it automatically upgrade to IE7.  Take responsibility for the horrific excuse for a browser that they released in 2001 and make the world a better place by forcing people to upgrade.  Sure, they officially stopped supporting it years ago, but they never took a definitive stand. 

So, in my little way, I'm picking up some of the slack for Microsoft.  If something we do doesn't work for IE6 but works in all other browsers, that's tough.  Upgrade.  It's called tough love...you'll thank me later.

Hinutech's Policy on Supported Browsers

We don't support Internet Explorer 6.  Period.  In order to use products and sites designed by Hinutech without any hiccups, Internet Explorer 6 users should upgrade to a newer browser:

Download Internet Explorer 7
Download Firefox
Download Safari

The Internet Explorer 6 browser was released back in 2001.  It's replacement, Internet Explorer 7, was released in 2006.   Modern web browsers such as IE7, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Flock provide much better online experiences and significantly improve the security of their users.

Why Don't We Support IE6?

Frankly, one of our core values is to make the web a better place.  By supporting a browser that is antiquated and disregards standards put forth by the W3C, we are encouraging bad behavior on the part of users.  It also comes down to a matter of cost.  The new economy is fast-moving, and the time and effort needed to support IE6 for a diminishing group of users prevents us from effectively creating innovative solutions for the majority of our customers.

Frankly, there is no reason to support Internet Explorer 6 at this time since there are so many better alternatives available. 

What Browsers Do We Recommend?

Firefox continues to be our favorite browser.  Because of its open source nature, it adheres to web standards.  It is much more light-weight than Internet Explorer and offers a good environment for those who use it.  Whether you use a Mac or Windows, Firefox is a great browser.  We like Safari as well, and since its introduction on the Windows platform in 2008, it offers a worthy alternative to Internet Explorer.  With that said, the majority of visitors use Internet Explorer 7.  Although we have a distaste for IE7 and all of its foibles, we live with it.