Why won’t Microsoft’s IE 8 be widely adopted by Windows users across the world?  Maybe it is because it is not a “required” updated yet, or maybe it is because people are simply finding that other browsers do the job better.  Personally I only have one reason to even open Internet Explorer and that is to test for compatibility with this site.

I used to always use Internet Explorer for one reason, website compatibility.  There were a lot of websites that were formatted to be compatible with it and did not worry about any of the other browsers out there.  Times have changed with the increased popularity of Firefox which is substantially easier to design for as it has a lot less nuances to worry about.

“Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken” = Most people will not download IE 8 until it is a required download.  Users of alternative browsers realize IE is broken for any of a thousand reasons and use choose one that suits their needs.

The Average Joe is now seeing that IE is broken

The beauty of web standards is that when they are followed everyone’s lives are easier.  When they are not followed, websites do not appear correctly and in general look bad.  Firefox has it’s issues as well as Opera, Chrome and Safari but Internet Explorer has decided it is “above the law” and does not need to follow the rules.

Internet Explorer 8 will be the Windows Vista of browsers.  It will be touted as the next latest and greatest thing but will end up not being used and will force users to jump to alternatives.  It is designed to be secure (which it still failed at on it’s release day) and cares substantially less about web standards.  When it comes to testing browsers for web standards compatibility the Acid test is one of the most common.  Internet Explorer gets an epic 21/100 on the Acid test, compliant is 100/100.

  • Firefox 3.1 : 89
  • Safari 4 : 100
  • Opera 10 : 100
  • Chrome 1.0 : 71
  • IE 8: 21

Seriously 21? That shows not only a lack of effort but you almost have to TRY and make it that non-compliant.  Microsoft assumes that since they have the largest browser market share website designers will cater to them but they assume too much.

When websites such as Facebook have problems with a web browser, people notice.  When they notice it is broken they will either go back to what did work or search for an alternative to use.

People will not willingly download and use Internet Explorer for one reason, it is not better than the competition.  If Microsoft truly wanted it to be a used product they would make it standards compliant, secure (it’s not), full featured but not overloaded and of course it needs to be fast.   Microsoft has a long ways to go until they understand their customers.