The new Internet Explorer 8 is pretty catchy, even for me who has hated how IE works for at least five years. However, it's pre-predecessor, IE6, is still being used by roughly 10-20% of the people on the Internets. These people are traced to countries whose Internet users are either mostly computer illiterates, or doesn't want to update their systems so they won't be buggered by the infamous "You are using pirated software" Microsoft virus.
IE6 is completely ancient software. It's been in use since 2001. Yet still many people use it. How is this possible?
The main cause for this is that all Windows XP systems, regardless of Service Pack version, gets Internet Explorer 6. Some people have no idea at all that there's browsers other than their ancient, buggy browser, or they simply do not want to update. Or, maybe they're a neurotic Internets user who thinks every piece of software they download is immediately posed as a virus. Like, "*Firefox 3.5 installer pops up* HOLY SHIT VIRUS11!!!11*detaches power cord from computer*".
There are a lot of reasons why IE6 has to be nuked:
1. No support for modern web pages. Our webpages of today use new technologies like CSS 3.0 (Cascading Style Sheet three-point-oh), and all major browser prior to 2008 can harness the technology. However, IE6 doesn't recognize this feature, since it was created in 2001. As a result, many web developers and designers are forced to hack off their original web layouts or make a separate page for luddites so they can entertain to retards who shouldn't be using a computer.
2. Poor security. The only browser that let a virus through and into my PC is, to date, IE6. I had a time when I was browsing Rule 34 (ahem) and caught a little trojan while on Google Chrome, but it turns out it was just AVG playing a joke on me. Your anti-virus program is only the third line of defense. Your second line of defense is your browser, so you better get updating before DL'ing serious pr0nz.
3. Slow performance. It's one of the slowest browsers I ever encountered. I remember when I was 10 and I hated it when IE6 decides to just disconnect and stop loading when it has been loading a web page for fifteen seconds. I know Internets in my country is shit, but sometimes the software running on your system can make a big difference.
Here are solutions for people who are stuck with IE6:
1. Get a better, modern browser. There's plenty to choose, actually. My top recommendation would be Mozilla Firefox, it has been my favourite for four years, and I had little problems with it except minor crashing and memory leaks. A second choice would be either Opera or Apple Safari. Both browsers deliver dazzling performance without using excessive memory. Still, you can try using other browsers, such as Internet Explorer 8, Google Chrome, and Maxthon, to name a few.
2. Advise friends to dump IE6. If you're living in a place where mostly every computer is bundled with XP (Welcome to the Philippines), tell your friends to start using more recent browsers than XP. If you come across in a "computer shop" or an "Internet cafe" or whatever the crazy kids call them these days and notice that they only use IE6, don't bother going there unless you really have to.
Oh, and btw, I added a little HTML juice on the site that will block anybody that uses IE6.
Firefox ftw
