NZDavid Posted January 31, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 31, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have no idea how many websites this affects, but thought I would post this warning from my webmaster at http://www.techwriter.co.nz. Micro$oft strikes again! I have a Mac, but that makes no difference as others will access my site and other websites using MS IE7. Cheers, David http://www.davidkillick.co.nz ##### But first PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT NOTE --- it potentially affects every one of you. Every webmaster's worst nightmare has just happened ? Microsoft has started distributing the new version 7 of its Internet Explorer (IE) browser, and it's causing some parts of many existing websites to not work or appear properly. Whether or not you use the Explorer browser yourself, it has the potential to affect you because most of your site's visitors (about 90-95% of them) use Explorer so they see your website the way that their browser interprets it. And eventually most of them will upgrade to Version 7 (whether they like it or not) ? it comes on every new Windows computer, and Microsoft is automatically updating most existing PCs by forcing an automatic update download. During site development, website designers often have to "tweak" the underlying coding to accommodate the various shortcomings and bugs in the various browsers and versions. Professional webmasters (me included) try to use well-tried, unadventurous coding and fault-tolerant adjustments (where necessary) to ensure the visual effects ? spacing, photo positions, overlapping etc ? is much the same on as many browsers as possible, and certainly the two main ones (IE and Firefox). And usually new browser versions are tolerant of past tweaks (we call them "workarounds"), by making them backwards compatible. However, IE v7 clearly does not ? it is causing many of these workarounds to not work as they once did. The internet forums used by web developers are in uproar about the number of website features that were working and are now broken on IE7. What does this mean to you? Several of my clients have already reported funny things on their sites that they see but I cannot (they've just updated to IE7 but I haven't). Some do not see it themselves but they're receiving client comments and queries re pages not found, funny alignments, etc. Even if you don't have IE7, an increasing number of your potential customers do! If you see any differences yourself, or if you get any reports from others, please get in touch with details so I can address them ASAP. (But remember, you'll need very specific details because I probably cannot see what you're referring to.) There will be no charge for work done to return affected sites to their status quo. What can I do to fix it? Unfortunately, nothing radical, permanent or universal. Whatever adjustments I make to your coding to make it right for IE7, it may not necessarily work properly on earlier versions of IE or on Firefox, etc. All I can (and will) do is to mitigate the undesirable effects so that we get the best compromises possible. Moral: A pox on Microsoft for this arrogant unilateral strike on the Web world! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 31, 2007 Posted January 31, 2007 Hi NZDavid, Take a look here OT: Warning! Microsoft browser wreaks havoc. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
doubice Posted January 31, 2007 Share #2 Posted January 31, 2007 My wife 'updated' my PC to IE7 accidentally and I can attest that it is a nightmare. Even our company's IT guy says that he will not touch a computer with IE7. I have my PC set up for prompting when updating automatically and always check what is being 'updated'. The fix however, is very simple - IE7 is a program and can be very easily uninstalled. IE6 is a part of the operating system and it will stay with your PC. All the best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 31, 2007 Share #3 Posted January 31, 2007 Aha! My PC went 'funny' a few weeks ago after some auto updates were installed, I've checked and I'm running IE7. I'm using AOL (which is rubbish too, I can't for example copy images off the site as some do to edit or post process) and assumed it was something to do with AOL. Specifically, my fonts have changed and the colours have also changed. Black writing appears slightly blurry and in some cases as though its actually multicoloured. Its making many sites actually quite uncomfortable to use. I'm not at all teccy, can you tell me how to uninstall IE7 and revert to the earlier version - will it be on my backup disks? I don't want to have to do a full reinstall if I can help it. Many thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 1, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2007 James Time to buy a Mac, methinks... You don't HAVE to put up with this crap... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucek Posted February 1, 2007 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2007 Or time to switch to Mozilla's FireFox... Bruce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted February 1, 2007 Share #6 Posted February 1, 2007 James Time to buy a Mac, methinks... You don't HAVE to put up with this crap... Hmmmm.... I was going to add a P.S. to my post about "please no wise cracks about Macs".. Too late.... Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4season Posted February 1, 2007 Share #7 Posted February 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Good riddance to IE6 + ActiveX web controls! It gives the website designer too much control over your computer, and I'm not willing to sacrifice security and privacy for a few flashy features. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted February 1, 2007 Share #8 Posted February 1, 2007 Aha! My PC went 'funny' a few weeks ago after some auto updates were installed, I've checked and I'm running IE7. Specifically, my fonts have changed and the colours have also changed. Black writing appears slightly blurry and in some cases as though its actually multicoloured. Its making many sites actually quite uncomfortable to use. I'm not at all teccy, can you tell me how to uninstall IE7 and revert to the earlier version - will it be on my backup disks? I don't want to have to do a full reinstall if I can help it. Many thanks James, My experience too. To uninstall, assuming you are running WinXP: Click on 'Start' - Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs - Change or Remove Programs. Find Internet Explorer 7 and Remove. Done. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 1, 2007 Share #9 Posted February 1, 2007 Jan, are you saying that if I 'uninstall' IE7 then my system will revert to whatever was bundled with the original software? i.e. it won't delete IE totally? As for MAC's, I use a PC at work so thought it best to stick with what I know, and having spent the best part of a grand on it I'm not about to chuck it because of a silly internet browser! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted February 1, 2007 Share #10 Posted February 1, 2007 Jan, are you saying that if I 'uninstall' IE7 then my system will revert to whatever was bundled with the original software? i.e. it won't delete IE totally? James, As I understand it and recall what I had to do myself, IE7 is a program while IE6 is a part of the operating system. You can also do a Google with 'Internet Explorer 7 Uninstall' as key words, or visit the Microsoft site. Plenty of information there. All the best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 1, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 1, 2007 Just uninstalled IE7 as instructed and yes, the text is back to normal here! On my yahoo e mail however it's still coming up as a different font, but at least its clear and not fuzzy/multicoloured! Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 1, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 1, 2007 It's amazing just how clear the screens are again, how the hell did Microsoft stuff up like this? and why? and how come they've kept it so quiet? Leica, all is forgiven! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted February 1, 2007 James, glad someone could help you with uninstalling. Me, I have Safari and Firefox with Mac OSX. But many people will have MS IE7 and be totally baffled why things are not working properly. Yes, it really amazes me how Micro$oft has millions to spend on new product development and still manages to stuff things up. That must take real skill!The extent of the stuff-up is only now emerging. Expect to see more on this in the media. I feel, in comparison, people have been too harsh on the Leica M8 - though they really should have sorted that out, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamann Posted February 1, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 1, 2007 Hmm...I've just gone throught..the only problem is in my "Flash" and some multimedia applications. I'll have too see how the new "Flash plugin" works on IE7....give me some time this week and I'll get back to you. Otherwise my webpage is ok. Thanks for the heads up!! Regards, Leicamann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sungnee Posted February 2, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 2, 2007 ...it really amazes me how Micro$oft has millions to spend on new product development and still manages to stuff things up... Because they've got millions to spend on new product development. The size of the goof is directly proportional to the size of the budget. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted February 2, 2007 Share #16 Posted February 2, 2007 Could it not be that Microsoft are not too concerned about Mac users ? I saw a programme on UK TV the other evening after the Vista launch and some Mac users said there is now little difference bewteen Mac and PC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 2, 2007 Share #17 Posted February 2, 2007 Microsoft gave up support in the Mac browser department years ago. There are loads of better browsers out there and as Mac users are not constrained by IE being built in at System level, they voted with their feet, to Web Standards Compliant ones. Which channel was the Vista programme on, Tony? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted February 2, 2007 Share #18 Posted February 2, 2007 Andy - BBC1 evening news programme.,I think- there's probably a view it again somewhere Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 2, 2007 Share #19 Posted February 2, 2007 Thanks Tony. With my Windows experiences today, I think that the les I see of it today the better Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted February 2, 2007 Share #20 Posted February 2, 2007 My problem with Windows is that in almost every other area of commercial life someone with a monopoly like Microsoft would be broken up. But I am full of admiration for Bill Gates for what he has done for computers and what he is doing in an extremely well thought out and efficient manner for the poorest people of the World. I Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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