Webmaster forum - eBay to start limiting browser support

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eBay to start limiting browser support

Ed Jay

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

Came across this jewell:

<http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610...006-10-19095331>

"after November 1st, members using certain outdated versions of browsers, or
browsers with very low adoption rates, may experience site issues or errors
as we introduce new features or make other site changes. "
--
Ed Jay (remove 'M' to respond by email)

William Tasso

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

Fleeing from the madness of the Posted via Supernews,
http://www.supernews.com jungle
Ed Jay <edMbj@aes-intl.com> stumbled into news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

> Came across this jewell:
>
> <http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610...006-10-19095331>
>
> "after November 1st, members using certain outdated versions of
> browsers, or
> browsers with very low adoption rates, may experience site issues or
> errors
> as we introduce new features or make other site changes. "

Seen the list of eBay sponsor^w supported browsers?

o Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later
+ Windows (Mac no longer supported)

o Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or later
+ Windows and Mac

o Apple Safari 2 or later
o Mac

No Opera? no *n*x?

Dropping support for outdated browsers is a reasonable commercial
decision. Ignoring Opera (and other mainstream browsers) together with
all *n*x users is a function of the arrogance that comes with market
domination. However, they are answerable only to themselves - commerce is
about making commercial decisions. History decides if those decisions
were sensible.

--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp

Andy Dingley

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

William Tasso wrote:

> Dropping support for outdated browsers is a reasonable commercial
> decision. Ignoring Opera (and other mainstream browsers) together with
> all *n*x users is a function of the arrogance that comes with market
> domination.

This is a reasonable technical decision, hiding behind a rather poorly
worded press release.

eBay aren't "dropping Unix". In fact eBay are listening to the stuff we
bang on about in this ng. and adopting a more standards-driven and
CSS-styled approach. This is a _good_ thing. The browsers they're
dropping are the antiquated old dogs that had trouble with a
standards-based site, the ones that kept eBay stuck in a legacy world
of nested tables, "because it works across browsers" (and other red
herrings). This certainly doesn't mean that a standards-compliant
Opera or Unix browser will have problems, quite the opposite. If
you're running 1995 SCO and the only browser you have is a dilapidated
Navigator, then that's your problem to fix. Get recent and rubbish
(IE6) or get with the standards (FF, Opera, Konqueror).

Karl Groves

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

"William Tasso" <SpamBlocked@tbdata.com> wrote in
news:op.thph5rtmm9g4qz-wnt@tbdata.com:

> Dropping support for outdated browsers is a reasonable commercial
> decision. Ignoring Opera (and other mainstream browsers) together
> with all *n*x users is a function of the arrogance that comes with
> market domination. However, they are answerable only to themselves -
> commerce is about making commercial decisions. History decides if
> those decisions were sensible.
>

I disagree completely.
Smart business dictates that any level-of-effort must be matched, at the
very least, to its level of return. If their level of effort in supporting
browser with small market share doesn't offer any return, why bother?

The truth is, as Andy pointed out in his response, that they're likely
going for a more standards-based approach anyway which by proxy will mean
they will do fine on most modern versions of Opera and most *nix browsers
asa well. At the same time, their list also pretty well outlines the fact
that they plan zero compensating for any *bugs* in those browsers.

--
Karl Groves
www.karlcore.com

Viper

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

Ed Jay wrote:
> Came across this jewell:
>
> <http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610...006-10-19095331>
>
> "after November 1st, members using certain outdated versions of
> browsers, or browsers with very low adoption rates, may experience
> site issues or errors as we introduce new features or make other site
> changes. "

Come back to IE7 people.... :)

John Bokma

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

"Viper" <venomx@XXXXXXXXXX> wrote:

> Ed Jay wrote:
>
> Come back to IE7 people.... :)

"What is going to happen is that sites will be designed for IE7 only :-D."
<Xns986268CAF8D2Ecastleamber@130.133.1.4>

--
John Need help with SEO? Get started with a SEO report of your site:

--> http://johnbokma.com/websitedesign/seo-expert-help.html

Uncle Pirate

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

Ed Jay <edMbj@aes-intl.com> wrote in
news:u4ngj25375qffvv2eff4a8822mdeqtja4n@4ax.com:

> Came across this jewell:
>
> <http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200610...006-10-19095331>
>
> "after November 1st, members using certain outdated versions of
> browsers, or browsers with very low adoption rates, may experience
> site issues or errors as we introduce new features or make other
> site changes. "

That's OK. I quit using eBay some time ago. Now I've been shopping on
ubid.com. I was the only bidder recently on a sweet little laptop. I
got it for $200. It's a Compaq Evo N410c, very lightweight and small.
Now I'm looking for that kind of deal for two friends.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/pirate.html
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
'94 1500 Vulcan (now wrecked) :( http://motorcyclefun.org/Dcp_2068c.jpg
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

Matt Probert

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

On 22 Oct 2006 12:26:29 -0600, Uncle Pirate
<UnclePirate@MotorcycleFun.org> wrote:

>That's OK. I quit using eBay some time ago. Now I've been shopping on
>ubid.com. I was the only bidder recently on a sweet little laptop. I
>got it for $200. It's a Compaq Evo N410c, very lightweight and small.
>Now I'm looking for that kind of deal for two friends.

ROTFL!

Are you that lonely that you have to purchase friends online?

Might I recommend joining a local club or society?

<bg>

Matt

--
Woe to him that willfully innovates, while ignorant of the constant.
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com

Uncle Pirate

2006-11-05, 11:46 pm

www@probertencyclopaedia.com (Matt Probert) wrote in
news:453bbe18.42355187@news.madasafish.com:

> On 22 Oct 2006 12:26:29 -0600, Uncle Pirate
> <UnclePirate@MotorcycleFun.org> wrote:
>
>
> ROTFL!
>
> Are you that lonely that you have to purchase friends online?
>
> Might I recommend joining a local club or society?

LOL. Hmm, maybe that's not a bad idea. I am pretty lonely as right
now, I'm pretty much homebound. Note the wrecked motorcyle and retired
in my sig line. I've recently gotten a medical retirement and had to
sell my transportation to get through until I started receiving my
retirement pay.

Seriously, I have quite a few friends that come aroung and do things
for me that I can't do like changing lightbulbs; no way can I climb a
ladder.

I didn't catch the joke until I reread what I had written. Funny.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/pirate.html
Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!!
'94 1500 Vulcan (now wrecked) :( http://motorcyclefun.org/Dcp_2068c.jpg
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein