[Wsuug] Good news!

Wed Feb 20 16:06:20 EST 2008

I think it would've mattered more a few years ago before IE7. The IEs
seem to be going in a better direction. I'd be in favor of having a
little message if the user had IE6 or Netscape (we actually had a user
who was using an old Netscape complain yesterday that a site was
showing up wierd) or something else old.

IE7 isn't quite up to par, but its close enough that I wouldn't
complain about it too much.

zpy

On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 1:42 PM, Joshua McDonald <josh at thisisgrow.com> wrote:
> For point #1 ... that's the point.  I don't think that people learning that
> their current browser is "holding them back" or compromising their security
> would be a bad thing.  I don't think its the same as the "this site best
> viewed in ..." because this is more of a pro-active "education" campaign,
> not a I'm too lazy to make my site work outside of these boundaries".
>
> As for point 2, it wouldn't be a specific browser...pointing them towards
> multiple browsers is ideal...  I'll attach a 10 minute mock-up of what I was
> thinking ... this would be one example, at its size, that would be shown in
> a "lightbox" style display ... it would be the most aggressive of the
> display options and wouldn't expect commercial sites to use it...  Other
> options would be as simple as smaller sidebar pieces, inline permanent
> "sticky" top-post blog posts...etc.  The display/deployment options would be
> varied, from very aggressive, like attached, to very passive, like a simple
> side-bar spot (similar to any other ad)
>
> On that note, I don't see it as advertising...it's educating...fine line
> maybe, but I see it.
>
> --josh
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:33 PM, Ryan Brunsvold
> <ryan.brunsvold at forrent.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > I think the  approach you're suggesting is problematic for two reasons:
> >
> >
> > 1.) You are implying to the user that their current behaviour is somehow
> flawed, or at the minimum naive. Posting a message asking users to switch
> could potentially have the same affect as the old "This site best viewed in
> IE6 at 1024x768...." messages that once plagued our industry.
> >
> >
> > 2.) Advertising a specific browser could be read as just that.
> Advertising. I think it might be too easy for a user to read any message as
> a sales pitch rather than a helpful suggestion.
> >
> >
> > I do agree that efforts need to be made to actively advocate the browsing
> experience that is most flexible and functional for the user. I'm just not
> sure that interrupting or amending the flow of an experience is the best
> route to take. Perhaps the more preferable direction might be to advocate FF
> or Safari through unique site content (blog posts, articles, etc...). At
> least this way it would be easier for the user to digest and hopefully learn
> all the benefits of one browser over another.
> >
> >
> > </two cents>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Feb 20, 2008, at 11:03 AM, Joshua McDonald wrote:
> >
> > Actually, read what I said (I'm not saying that in the "you can't read"
> tone...damn these internets and their lack of inflection)
> >
> > I said show a message.  Not disable the site.  That would never work, for
> the reasons you said.  But showing a "readable" but non "intrusive" message
> would do wonders.  Don't make people use/not use one browser, but show them
> that there are alternatives.  Most people just don't know that one browser
> provides a better, more secure internet experience over another...
> >
> > I'm actually working on a campaign like this...a grassroots "switch"
> campaign...I don't think the outcome would be huge, but I am curious to see
> what just "informing" people on medium sized sites would do for the
> awareness.
> >
> > -josh
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 10:58 AM, Andrew Jaswa <ajaswa at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > On Feb 19, 2008 10:51 AM, Joshua McDonald <josh at thisisgrow.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > They will never get it right.  Not with windows, not with IE.
> > >
> > > Bitter?
> > >
> > >
> > > > What needs to happen, is developers "join up" and stand up for our
> > > > standards.
> > >
> > > We are. Thats what half this group is about, the other half is
> > > providing the best experience to our users.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Big sites (eBay, MySpace, FaceBook, and major retail sites....etc)
> should
> > > > team up and show a simple message.
> > >
> > > Umm... I have worked with some rather large sites and worked with
> > > folks who work on other large sites. We CANNOT stop support for 80+%
> > > (or which ever number you want) of our visitors. There is too much at
> > > stake (both in traffic and revenue). As web developers it is our job
> > > to provide the best experience to our users no matter what they prefer
> > > as their browser.
> > >
> > > This would be like going to a car wash and them turning me away
> > > because I drive a Honda. They'll let in Ford's, Chevy's and any other
> > > car you want to throw in there. But not me because I drive a Honda. So
> > > what will I end up doing? I'll go down the street and go to some place
> > > that will let me in. There are more then enough websites out there
> > > where if they won't let me in with my browser of choice I'll move on
> > > to something similar.
> > >
> > > You cannot discriminate on personal preference or browser loyalty. As
> > > much as I would like to kick IE and everything that comes from it to
> > > the curb, I can't. To many people use it, while Firefox has made great
> > > inroads into taking some of that market share away, IE is here to
> > > stay.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > "You are viewing this site in a non standards-compliant browser.
> Please
> > > > install a standards compliant browser to continue" and link to FF,
> Safari,
> > > > Opera (ugh...), etc...
> > >
> > > Don't forget to include IE7 in there heh...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > If just a handfull of the biggest sites do it, MS's hand will be
> > > > forced...and they might actually get it right.
> > >
> > > Firefox, Opera and Safari already have with taking the market share
> > > from an old browser.
> > >
> > >
> > > Andrew
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Joshua McDonald
> > Grow Interactive
> > www.thisisgrow.com
> > 757-248-5274
> > 757-248-5275 (f)
> > _______________________________________________
> > Wsuug mailing list
> > Wsuug at list.wsuug.org
> > http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/wsuug
> >
> >
> > Ryan Brunsvold
> > UI Developer
> > For Rent Media Solutions
> > 757.351.7883
> > ryan.brunsvold at forrent.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Wsuug at list.wsuug.org
> > http://www.thelinuxlink.net/mailman/listinfo/wsuug
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Joshua McDonald
> Grow Interactive
> www.thisisgrow.com
> 757-248-5274
> 757-248-5275 (f)
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