Aussie Matt

Let me start by saying;

Now before you think to yourself “lame, another anti-microsoft rant, i’m clicking my back button” allow me to qualify the previous statement because I really tried to get excited over this latest offering from Microsoft, I eagerly downloaded each beta and really wanted to believe that things would be different this time, the Microsoft Blog said “hey, we’re working for developers”, there were Tabs to look forward to, new RSS support, better security measures, a new interface, and the world was peachy.

But something happened along the way.

And so for the love of god, if you ever attempt to style a website that is even remotely close to the W3C standards then just like me you’ll wind up thanking Microsoft for releasing another

that will require you include custom code hacks into your beautiful XHTML document. You will thank them with glee because not only is it IE6 you now have to pacify like a stubborn 2 year old with A.D.D. you will also delight in the surprise that is

which is great because I really had nothing better to do, and of course I don’t mind that I can’t pass the bill onto my clients for spending the extra 25 hours hacking IE7 to handle a valid web page

how can you stuff up a browser you’ve had 5 whole years to work on…. already, what the hell are you smoking at Redmond? Wait i’ll answer that myself; CASH. You’re getting high on all the cash despite the first rule as pointed out in Scarface, which is

Those of you familiar with the movie may also be wondering about the second rule. And if you don’t know the second rule;

Microsoft has no “Scarface cred”, which clearly explains the ineptitude of their latest fisher-price browser. And just like Tony Montana (peace be upon him), Microsoft have swooned over the “The world is yours” mantra and ultimately wound up with it’s face in a haughty big pile of face-numbing coke.

 

 

As you can, see this has been going on for a while… the horror. Lets clarify some points;

1. Microsoft have been completely off their collective faces for at least 9 years.
2. Internet Explorer 7 is not a standards compliant browser
3. Web Developers now have to work even harder for their money.
4. Web Standards have just been put on ice for another 5+ years

 

 

One has to ask WWTMD? And I believe he would in fact use CSS Conditional Comments. Just insert the following code into the head of your webpage below your existing CSS include statement and you’re ready to go.

 

<!--[if IE 7]>
<style type="text/css" media="screen">@import url(style_for_ie7.css);</style>
<![endif]-->

 

Quirksmode.org cover this in greater detail, and I totally recommend you check them out because it will change your life.

 

So what else can we do? Not much really considering Internet Explorer 7 is now an Automatic Update and is polluting the world at a devastating rate. Yeah we can try and convince people to use Firefox but honestly, how many times have you suggested with great enthusiasm to a friend or colleague to use Firefox and they look at you like you’re trying to sell them coal from the Titanic “oh, but my interweb came with my windows so I better use that because i’m”

and so the madness continues. But right now I am shaking from the ridiculous amount of caffeine absorbed whilst writing this article and hence, am leaving in a hurry; angry, disturbed and absolutely speeding off my head. Please indulge your anger by leaving a comment, and stay tuned for next weeks article: Joe Pesci Vs Apple. Goodnight.

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