Microsoft has now confirmed the comlete death of Internet Explorer - Zeldman | RIP - IE5/Mac is dead. IE5/Mac was a real groundbreaker for web standards; with far better support than IE5/PC ever had. So, what's up with Microsoft? As Zeldman points out, MS obviously doesn't give a toss about web browsers any more - particularly not for the Mac. They'll keep a web browser as part of their operating system, but they're not releasing free/standalone versions any more. If web developers disliked MS before, they hate them with a passion now.
Why? Because the average Windows user barely knows the difference between IE4 and IE6. They sure as hell won't pay for a better web browser when IE is right there on their desktop, "free" no less. So, they'll just use whatever version of IE they've got (probably IE5.5 or IE6.0, no service pack) from now until they replace their computer. We're talking about years of stagnation for the vast majority of web users. Imagine if Holden and Ford hadn't released a new Commodore or Falcon* for 20 years - that is, every Commodore/Falcon on the road was built according to standards and designs that were 20 years old. No airbags, no ABS brakes, no power windows, no central locking, no improvements to the engine, fuel consumption, aerodynamics... you get the picture. It's the same deal.
While people wouldn't put up with it in their car; they either don't know or don't care if their software doesn't change. Then consider that computers age incredibly fast - 1 human year is like 10 computer years. So, people are already using the web equivalent of a car put on the road in 1973. Now, you won't be able to buy a better car until 2023.
* For those who don't know, Commodore and Falcon are the most common cars we have on the road in Australia. Thousands of them. Every other company car is a white one.
Update: this even got a mention in a mainstream news outlet. Wonders will never cease.
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