[ClarkF1]

The Australian online retailer Kogan.com has introduced the world's first "tax" on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) browser.

Customers who use IE7 will have to pay an extra surcharge on online purchases made through the firm's site.

Chief executive Ruslan Kogan told the BBC he wanted to recoup the time and costs involved in "rendering the website into a antique browser".

The charge is set to 6.8% - 0.1% for every month since the IE7 launch.

...

Source (and more): World's first 'tax' on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7

If this helps stop people using antiquated browsers then good for them.

Sadly it'll be a tiny minority.

[DJGM]

As much as I dislike Internet Explorer in general (I've never really liked it) and would generally support this move by
the aforementioned retailer, I'm not sure what they're doing is legal. Especially if it affects someone who doesn't
know what internet browser they're using, or doesn't even know what an internet browser is.

[njp]

Originally Posted by DJGM

I'm not sure what they're doing is legal. Especially if it affects someone who doesn't
know what internet browser they're using, or doesn't even know what an internet browser is,

If they didn't know before, they soon will...

Good idea. The notice even gives them a selection of proper browsers to choose from.

Edit: I've just checked the stats on one of my websites, and last month 2% of the hits were from IE7, and 1% from IE6. There were even a few hits from IE5.5, IE5 and IE2, though too few to register as a percentage...

[Tassium]

Maybe it's legal in Australia, probably not though. Seems it's a PR thing really.


But surely bad PR to even suggest they want to charge you more, it's all a bit Gerald Ratner.

[PiazzaCharlie]

Now that IE6 has all but gone, is there any site anywhere for IE7 the equivalent of the IE6 countdown?

IE6 Countdown

[RobinOfLoxley]

What's the betting Ryanair explore the idea?

[stud u like]

This is unfair when there are so many computer illiterates around who have no idea what a browser is or even does.

A friend of mine didn't even know the other day when I asked him.

[s2k]

I hate IE7 just as much as you guys but cant help but feel a simple "Your browser is not supported. Please Update it" message would have sufficed. Its all very good free advertising for the business though.

Am also confused with the hate for IE7 and no mention of 6 (which I would have expected to have more users).

On a side note, from a dev perspective I would have thought there wasnt much difference jumping from 7 to 8 as there would be from 6 to 7 so I dont really see why people would hold behind on that one.

[technology_love]

Originally Posted by RobinOfLoxley

What's the betting Ryanair explore the idea?

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by stud u like

This is unfair when there are so many computer illiterates around who have no idea what a browser is or even does.

A friend of mine didn't even know the other day when I asked him.

This gives them a good time to find out then...if you don't know something then find out about it.

In this case it's partly a PR stunt but I kind of like it and does draw attention to these kind of issues with people using browsers that should have been retired long ago.

I hope your friend now understands what a browser is now you have explained it to them.

[whoever,hey]

I hope they lose sales from it.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

I hope they lose sales from it.

Why do you hope that?

[barky99]

apart from some old corporate networks all windows pc's should be running xp & ie8 at the bare minimum ..... ie6 now down to around 1% of internet (outside China) and auto updates should have got rid of virtually all home ie7 installs

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by alan1302

Why do you hope that?

Because if i used the browser they would be losing my sale.

[Mark Smith]

Are there any computers that can only run up to IE7, and nothing later?

I know Windows XP can only run up to IE8, and I'm guessing that previous versions to that can't even run IE7, except maybe Windows 2000?

I wouldn't shop with a company that dictated what browser I can or cannot use. I don't use IE on any of my computers at home or work, but I hate websites that just snobbishly discriminate against IE in favour of Firefox, Chrome etc. with nag screens that tell us we should use a "better" browser.

[barky99]

UPDATE TO STORY: customers don't pay the extra as it's removed before customers commit to buying

[psionic]

So basically a very clever publicity stunt.

[and101]

Originally Posted by Mark Smith

I wouldn't shop with a company that dictated what browser I can or cannot use. I don't use IE on any of my computers at home or work, but I hate websites that just snobbishly discriminate against IE in favour of Firefox, Chrome etc. with nag screens that tell us we should use a "better" browser.

It is not snobbery that makes companies ask you to update your browser, it is because it costs them more to make websites that work with earlier versions of IE. If only 1% of their visitors use old versions of IE then it is not worth them spending all of the extra time and money trying to add hacks that make the site work on IE 6 and 7.

When building a site there are a few basic hacks you can do to make websites work 99% correct under IE6 and 7 but trying to get a site to look pixel perfect on IE6 can double the development time and adds extra code which just slows the site down for everyone else.

I look forward to the day when people stop using old browsers as it will mean the internet can move forward and start using new standards like HTML5 and CSS3.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by and101

It is not snobbery that makes companies ask you to update your browser, it is because it costs them more to make websites that work with earlier versions of IE. If only 1% of their visitors use old versions of IE then it is not worth them spending all of the extra time and money trying to add hacks that make the site work on IE 6 and 7.

When building a site there are a few basic hacks you can do to make websites work 99% correct under IE6 and 7 but trying to get a site to look pixel perfect on IE6 can double the development time and adds extra code which just slows the site down for everyone else.

I look forward to the day when people stop using old browsers as it will mean the internet can move forward and start using new standards like HTML5 and CSS3.

So dont make your website look good for those prospective customers then. Then lose the customers.

The fact this is a publicity stunt aswell, if this company were in the UK i would be on a rampage against them.

[tghe-retford]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

The fact this is a publicity stunt aswell, if this company were in the UK i would be on a rampage against them.

It is: http://www.kogan.co.uk/

Although from what I am aware of, the UK arm has not employed the same stunt as its Australian counterpart.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

So dont make your website look good for those prospective customers then. Then lose the customers.

All that time for 1% of your customer base...not worth doing at all.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by alan1302

All that time for 1% of your customer base...not worth doing at all.

Of course, so lose the customers. I never said they had to maintain the site for them did i?!

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Of course, so lose the customers. I never said they had to maintain the site for them did i?!

You did come across as meaning that

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by alan1302

You did come across as meaning that

I dont see how in post #19 i said they should support the site if they aren't bothered about the customers.

[njp]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

I dont see how in post #19 i said they should support the site if they aren't bothered about the customers.

I think we were all looking forward to seeing you go "on a rampage against them"...