Beware or rejoice, the future of browser support for old IE Browsers

As a web designer in Kansas City, I have always given “the look” to anyone asking if my design will be supported in older versions of Internet Explorer. There is always a checklist when making a site live once the web design and web development are complete. “Check for older browsers in Internet Explorer!”

I remember as far back as Internet Explorer 6. The question, “Will it work in 6?”

As a Web Developer, being able to advertise “Web Design Kansas City” online, most potential clients will ask me to design for the latest browsers, but still want the older browsers to have the same bling. I am reminded how html5 and css3 and ie8 just don’t mix. It is a challenge as a web developer to decide what elements make it into the page, how to proceed with the html, what level of classes to use, creating hacks “just in case”.

However, there has been news spread throughout the internet world lately that Microsoft will discontinue support for its older browsers.

What does this mean for web design or web development? In my opinion, we still need to look at our visitors, and what browsers they are using. Some users don’t want support, or need support. They just enjoy the browser they have. So I do see, for the moment, the necessity to keep things as is, until the percentages of web users for legacy browsers drops to a level to where each client can choose.

As new electronics replace the old in an almost exponential fashion, we as web designers need to focus on the future browsers, the mobile web, where the future demand is going to be, and thinking about a web development platform that doesn’t focus on legacy support.

KC Web Specialists’ SEO/PPC specialist who enjoys blogging about all things web related.