World's first 'tax' on Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7

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.

BBC News Technology

I know people who still use IE 6, I kid you not!

 

What I dislike about media. A false headline to grab your attention. Yes it worked, it does not make it right.

Not a tax. I do like they put 'tax' in quotes though, guess that makes it OK.

 

Well. it is the BBC. They have standards. LOL

 

This is a real annoyance to me, along with the other media trick to avoid libel, phrasing as a question:

Does this IE7 charge make the owner a sex-crazed maniac drug dealer?

 

Only if it was reported in The Sun or News of the World ROTFL.

 

It costs more to make a website compatible with any non-standards compliant browser.
Is it fair to charge these users more for purchases ?
Is it fair to charge a flat rate and let the users of compliant browser soak up the extra costs in their purchases ?

I honestly don't know. Some people might not be able to install an alternate/newer browser due to not having admin rights. Some users might not know how to. Some users might be able to, but cannot due to needing compatibility with other sites. Others might not be aware to.
The web has standards, should compliance be enforced, cars in the UK have to have road worthyness tests annually to ensure they meet the standards of a road legal vehicle, so enforcement of standards does happen outside web, but it is fairly applicable ?

Cheers, Nick

 

IE 7 was a terrible browser anyway. I dunno about taxation, therapy would be a better bet after using it for about five minutes. It was the reason I downloaded Firefox.

 

I have no problem with this. Even if a user doesnt have admin rights and cannot upgrade IE they can always use a portable version of firefox,chrome or opera.

 

Assuming that they have the admin rights to download & run a portable.

 

Not where I work. Machines are locked down so tight standard users can't run anything apart from approved apps.

 

Im sure if someone needed to purchase something for work and a website added tax for using an outdated browser im sure you could eiether 1. find another retailer or 2 ask the admin of the network for assistance. I would say the retailer in question is for consumer goods so rights to download and install wouldnt be an issue at home.

In the end companies will be forced to move away from windows xp and the aweful IE6.

 

XP has about two years before it's history & IE 6, from what I can recall was a pretty good browser. IE 7, on the other hand, was terrible. It really was the reason I originally downloaded Firefox. It shouldn't be used by anybody. Ever.

 

Hilarious, and I can relate to the way they feel about it. My company is refusing to support it.