SuzyUK - 10:36 am on Aug 14, 2009 (gmt 0)

Webmasters can simply start an IE 6 blockade and end it on our own

I know there are a lot of larger design sites following that mantra at the minute, but I'm not sure I'm all in favour of an all out blockade.

Sure if you've got a lovely design site which is meant to show all the latest cutting edge techniques, then yes you have a case but I'm sure all your readers are already up to speed and not using IE6 already.

I remember these "best viewed in messages" of old, they didn't work too well back then and I'm sure they'll work even less better now, no-one likes to have it shoved in their faces what they should be doing, those old messages didn't stick around too long on the credible sites, and even now they are I think considered a bad reflection on the site owner.

How many people even when converted to Firefox or Safari.. or whatever the latest "best" browser is will update eternally? After the last really large push of advertising from Firefox, they suceeded in gaining a market share yes, but at what cost.. add-ons, leaks, speed issues etc, how many of those "converts" went back to what they were familiar with or stayed with an earlier version, the speed of enhancements going on at the minute is incredible even without IE to worry about

Sorry I think another tipping point in Browsers Wars has reached yet again and users are already informed or if they are stuck with IE6 at workplaces they already have personal preference on laptops, PDA's etc.

IanCP says it best:

I search the internet for "information". I do not search looking for the latest "all singing all dancing" gizmos.

being a designer I love all the singing/dancing enhancements but first and foremost the Web is for Information, and accessing that information is the No.1 priority is it not?

You can always do what we did for NN4 (though it was via a hack for it) and simply provide a text only version for IE6 using a Downlevel-revealed conditional comment [webmasterworld.com] to supply a very basic stylesheet to IE6, or non at all if your document is well formed enough without any style and move on. Subtlety tends to work best and the curious will investigate or ask, and users will be more likely to upgrade by making their own informed decision rather than having some high minded designer tell them too, and remember that while IE6 may be the frustration of designers, it's not the designer these messages will reflect on but the actual company behind the site.

As another aside IE7 is not much better/different than 6, and Microsoft knows that, 7 was never planned and was a stopgap - getting rid of 6 will simply transfer the frustration from 6 to 7 (yes it will happen for 8 too ;)) for the next generation and detract from what we really want which is for IE to stop dictating the pace, so the best thing you can do is don't even try to play along.. move on. Code simply, provide all the information for all, enhance the ones that can be enhanced.