Microsoft SmartTags & Image ToolBar

should I add META's to disable them?

[franklin dematto]

Should I add META's to disable the Microsoft SmartTags & ImageTool Bar? What are the pros and cons on this?

Any other important META's to add (other than title, desc, kw, and content-type)?

[martinibuster]

Yes, disable it with metas.
No pros. Only cons.

[bill]

I thought that the MS SmartTags for the web were abandoned...adding that tag would do nothing that I know of...That would be about as useful as adding a bunch of the Dublin Core metas wouldn't it?

The ImageToolBar meta on the other hand would have a positive effect for the IE users in my opinion. However, by turning this off aren't we messing with the user's browser in a way they might not want us to? Maybe some people actually like this toolbar. The recent discussion on Scrollbar Coloring [webmasterworld.com] brings up a similar point. I know how to turn off this toolbar in my own version of IE, but are we overstepping our limits by adding this meta?

[hakre]

hi bill, i think it's something different. when you deal with smart tags, first of all, m$ took over your website (in truth, each brother does).

for the images it makes sense, if you don't want to have that ugly icon all the time over them, the user moves the mouse over it. this might tend the user, because this function was brought into the browser for usability. it's like disabling the right mouse button which is really annoying (and does not help at all).

<added as service>
<META NAME="MSSmartTagsPreventParsing" CONTENT="TRUE" />
<META HTTP-EQUIV="imagetoolbar" CONTENT="NO" />

[bill]

...yes, but with the SmartTags we're talking about vaporware here aren't we? Yes, there are SmartTags in Office XP, but they were never unleashed on the web to my knowledge.

[DaveAtIFG]

they were never unleashed on the web

Not yet! I always include the meta to disable smart tags. I don't want to do a mad scramble to add them when M$ changes their mind about using them.

[Brett_Tabke]

Ya, I think it's safe to wait for now. The outcry over SmartTags round one was loud. Many people were talking about Microsoft Free Fridays where we would ban IE on friday. That kind of talk and action got redmond to take notice.