On: 37signals to Drop IE6 Support

benefit of the supplier and customer can coincide

Most customers understand this and are willing to go along for the sake of a valued supplier. If they said, "We need you to upgrade to make life easier for us to provide for you in the future," most would say OK.

But when they say, "IE 6 can't provide the same web experience that modern browsers can," inquiring customers want to know what that means before they commit. My comment wasn't because I disagreed with 37signal's move, it was because they never provided any supporting data.

Does it matter which one it is in the end?

If they used the first line, I feel like the customers would be less inclined to upgrade and be averse to the idea of upgrading. "We're the customers, you should make life easier for us."

The new browser technology will never take off if people don't start switching over, even if the use some finesse in their wording.

I feel like the customers would be less inclined to upgrade and be averse to the idea of upgrading

Not my experience. Customers will generally do whatever it takes to insure a good supply from a good vendor.

new browser technology will never take off if people don't start switching over

True. So what's so hard about telling them why you want them to do something?

It's not hard, but how many people will really spend the time reading about it?

In my experience, customers with a non tech background don't care about the details, but rather if it will be better or not. If it will, great.

But I agree, it's being slightly disingenuous to the people who do want to know why, or are curious what 'web experience' they are missing out on.

One shouldn't need to include common knowledge as supporting data.

It's exactly this attitude that has given IT the black eye that we still haven't recovered from.

What's "common" to you may not be "common" to others. Especially your customers. Stop educating them and die.

Why is IT, alone out of every other business division, expected to provide common knowledge reasoning behind their decisions?

It's exactly this attitude that has given internet forums the black eye that they still haven't recovered from.

Stop being harsh with people, and don't tell them to die.

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Sorry for the mirroring; I know it's often done in spite; it's just irresistibly amusing; and seriously I don't think it's good to tell people to die.

I think you misread his post. Pretty sure he meant:

"If you stop educating them, you will die."

At least that is how I read it.

Oops, you're right. I usually blame misinterpretations on the writer, not the reader. Sorry. I can't imagine saying what he thought I said.

Just an expression to emphasize how important it is to keep educating your customers, especially if you're in tech.

Sorry.

Clarify this?

It is common knowledge that IE 6 has serious bugs and problems. I'm not going to rehash them, because they were discussed in other responses to edw519's initial comment.