CSS feedback
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- heavyt
so, i am redesigning my companies site, which is computer components e-tail.
I am trying to use CSS for all presentation, semantic HTML for content, but I am running into a few browsers that really give me a headache.
basically, I need to float most of my DIVs, and support for floats is spotty in older browsers.
The browsers that i cant really support are mac IE5 and MSIE4 for windows.
just abotu everything else holds up well.
According to my stats, these browsers represent less than 1% of our users.
so...do you think that there are major flaws in the idea of running a browser check and redirecting those people to a download site to upgrade??
would you be pissed?
also, is there a better option?thanks,
TR1
- shotgunflat0
I wouldn't redirect them to a download page for a new browser. Ask yourself honestly, how many people browsing for computer components are going to be rocking MSIE4?
- heavyt0
yeah, like i said, it is about 1%.
The alt idea is to use a stylesheet switcher, and just not load one for the non-compliant browsers.
since teh HTML is more-or-less semantic, at least the site is viewable.
TR1
- warheros0
yeah, i would just switch the stylesheet based on the browser. sad that people still use those things.
- heavyt0
yes, it is sad, but true.
people dont know how hard they make our lives by not upgrading at least once every 3 years.
I have built a jScript stylesheet switcher for this. Since i know the browsers that have major probs, i am looking for them and alternating to a very lean style sheet (basically nothing except to display:none to some images used )
I am really satisied with the semantic HTML.
It is actually very usable without any presentation applied.TR1
- jevad0
" The browsers that i cant really support are mac IE5 and MSIE4 for windows."
come on! shoot them to an upgrade page already!
- -sputnik-0
we have constant debates about this, and unfortunately that small percent amounts to about 100Gs of income per year for us.
hard to convince the powers that be to neglect that, which accounts to the overall silly look of the site.
- jevad0
yeah marina - thats when you want to care about it I guess.....
lol
- -sputnik-0
yea...i just try to stay off the site as much as possible, and when i have to work on it i periodicallly run around screaming "my eyes! the horror!"
:\
- jevad0
hahahah - there's worse!
- jevad0
actually speaking of - when are you expecting this seasons snowboard bags in?
- DutchBoy0
IE5 id the latest for Classic on Macs innit?
The they'd have to upgrade their whole system...
hmm..
- -sputnik-0
we have a fair amount...more added all the time:
- heavyt0
actually, Mozilla has a browser available for os 9. not many people use it though.
i am not sure of the overall effect on the bottom line in ignoring those browsers. i am more-or-less ignorign nn4.7 now, and have been for months, and revenue has increased.
since we are in comp components, a lot of our buyers are really up to date.
hopefully they are sign thise old browsers just to see what happens to our site, and they have better browsers at their disposal.TR1
- whiteSneaks0
I think the best bet is to settle with some degradation in style in the older browsers. people with a browser that old are used to a less than perfect web surfing experience. if your code is semantically correct it should still be quite usable. no need for style switchers just put your "fancier" features in a seperate file and use that @ import feature.
- welded0
Like somebody alluded to, it depends on how many that 1% constitutes. However, I'm am of the opinion that if you do the best job you can without resorting to loads of style switchers and work-arounds, then those with out of date browsers will have to make due with degraded layouts. I'm sure they're used to it to.
So c'mon, fight the good fight, don't pander to e'm!
Semper Fi,
- DutchBoy0
good point, whitesneaks..