I’m posting this one a bit late, but on Thursday, June 10, 2004, office.microsoft.com» displayed an unusually appropriate message to anyone browsing the site with Internet Explorer 6.0. It said:
Warning: You are viewing this page with an unsupported Web browser. This Web site works best with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later or Netscape Navigator 6.0 or later. Click here for more information on supported browsers.
The funny thing is how much I’ve come to agree! Almost anything done imaginatively or creatively with CSS will fail in Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5, or 6.0. I now code for Mozilla first, then progressively “dumb-down” my CSS for IE versions with the ridiculous hacks and workarounds needed to do what Mozilla, Netscape 7, Opera, Konqueror, and Safari do naturally most of the time.
The frosting on the cake was when I clicked on on the upgrade link, a slightly lengthier message appeared, politely recommending I upgrade to the current version of IE or Netscape and providing links. Microsoft kinda-sorta recommending upgrading to Netscape 7.1? That’s good advice for anyone! Nice to know that even Microsoft’s web designers have problems with their flawed browser. And next time, guys, why not include links to Mozilla, Opera, and Safari?