While I appreciate that Digg actually took the time to do a survey of reasons why people are still using IE6, I don't think the results are really that surprising to most web developers.<p>However, just because users are not empowered to switch away from IE6, that doesn't mean that an IE6 upgrade reminder page is useless. It's just the "squeaky wheel" philosophy of getting things done. If enough users see enough "Upgrade Your Browser!" pages, and if enough of them complain to management often enough, then management might actually do something about it.<p>Let us not forget that Internet Explorer's market dominance was built on the notion that, after some time, many pages didn't work in other browsers. The only way to break that dominance will involve the same, but in reverse.
"Currently, IE6 usage accounts for 10% of Digg visitors and 5% of page views on Digg. While this is down from 13% and 8% a year ago respectively, IE6 still accounts for a fairly large portion of Digg usage."<p>This makes me sick. I seem to recall that when Firefox had about 5% marketshare, lots of people were saying "Why go to the trouble of supporting Firefox for only 5%?!". And then now when IE6 has 5%, they don't seem to have the same reasoning.<p>(Yeah, just an impression).
"we’re likely to stop supporting IE6 for logged in activity like digging, burying, and commenting. Users of IE6 would still be able to view pages - just not logged in. This won’t happen tomorrow, but we’re thinking about doing it soon."
To take it a step further digg should try to generate publicity around this and get other web apps on board.<p>I'd love to see a "ditch IE6 day" where thereafter I can just pretend all web browsers know how to render transparent pngs.
13% and 8% down to 10% and 5% if you stop supporting the browser now why support it previously it seems as though the 3% drop was irrelevant.<p>The real issue should be who is using ie 6 is it people that are loyal diggers who have no other option while at work, school, etc... or is it indeed people who refuse to upgrade or unaware that other browsers exist. It seems the former with the low percentage.
I have a client that just made the decision to upgrade all desktops to IE7. They put together a project plan that lasts 6 months. That's what we're up against.<p>If you want people at work to use your site you still have to consider IE6.
In my university, they still use IE6 everywhere. If a website asked me to upgrade I can not because we can not install anything on the machines. However, the machines do have firefox, so I tend to use that, but it does not come spontaneously to many people to look for firefox, while ie is right there on the desktop.<p>As for the article, I did find it insightful in as far as I did not know before why people continue using ie6. I thought the idea to ask them upgrade was quite a logical one. However, although it might work in forcing my university to upgrade, I am not too sure as I suppose the IT department has a lot on its plate and perhaps upgrading their browser is not as important as say upgrading the online learning environment.