Umm, why not just freaking update already? Its not 2002 anymore.

charless

This is awesome. My company still pretty much locks down to IE6. I can get around it, but it's not worth the trouble on any PC other than my desk.

D0rk

This was a very nice thing for Google to do for people who are forced to use Internet Explorer 6 in their workplaces. ^__^

That being said, any workplace that is continuing to force Internet Explorer 6 usage really should consider upgrading to at least version 7.

Asian Angel

Typical. They work on resolving issues for people using heavily outdated software yet they still haven't rolled out Labs to a lot of Google App users (myself included).

Is it just me or have they got their priorities wrong?

Jai

It's still frustrating to be catering to IE6, personally I think the more anyone enables sites towards it the less businesses will be inclined to make the switch and upgrade.

Anne

are workplaces the only ones who are locked down to IE6? i find that hilarious, while typing at my work computer, and being forced to use IE6.

old technology FTW!!

dasMetzger

As a former slave to Win2000 and IE6, I feel a warm tingly feeling towards Google for doing this. Actually, I think my foot is asleep.

Kirk Douglas

I've seen many workplaces where proprietary intranet apps keep them from even updating to IE 7.

johnsmith1234

IE 6 is the best browser ever made, what other browsers have stood the test of time like IE6? others have come and gone IE6 is still around and will be around for years to come.

tonynyc

The Real Google Agenda: [pajamasmedia.com]

YachiraG

Did Microsoft immediately reciprocate by making the premium version of Outlook Web Access for Exchange work in a browser whose initials are not IE? Because that would be very polite of them.

DanRP

@YachiraG: That was a VERY interesting article to read...thanks for sharing the link to that.

Asian Angel

@tonynyc: That's because most companies have built their intranets around IE6 (that was the main browser when they decided to develop this new fandangled 'IT infrastructure'), and they are so risk adverse that any 'new' thing would have to go through months of testing (read: cost big dollars) before it would ever stand a chance of getting deployed.

They don't love IE6- to them it's just not worth the time and money to upgrade to anything different.

@YachiraG: That article seems to think that the US is all that matters. While the election is big news there, it's not in the rest of the world. The US is only 4% of the global population, and Google know that.

Also, the EULA was a boilerplate that Google uses for all its services. It has now been changed to something more appropriate for a browser.

v.dog

"IE 6 is the best browser ever made, what other browsers have stood the test of time like IE6?" Let's not confuse standing the test of time with lingering. All you have to to is look at what professional web developers use for their primary browser to see what is the best browser, and I think you'll find they would never use any of the piddle Microsoft puts out, only for testing.

Anyone who uses IE6 should really upgrade immediately, as someone said above its not 2002 any more, get with the program!

leperisland

Great... so explain to me how you have the time / money / man power to support IE6 (universally acknowledged pile of poop) but you can't manage to properly support Opera.

Not impressed :(

Ampa

So happy at Bank of America it was lock down but I figures I could use Firefox with and IE6 look and run the it from my documents folder. I didnt install it I was just a portable apps. IE6 is so slow and sluggish. It drives me of the a wall.

Also to Ampa. They can look at what traffic they get and if they see a lot of IE traffic well then they will develop I'm sure. BIG cooperate America does do updates right away.

websyndicate

@charlessSome applications in the corporate world are highly dependant on IE6, and before applying an update, there is a whole process of validation depending of the business impact.

m-p{3}

As a webdev and a Gmail user I understand why they made the effort, but it really sends the wrong message: "That it's OK to keep using IE6".
Microsoft should direct its efforts at further developing and releasing IE8 (and finally, oh sweet mother of Mary, pull the plug on IE6), and more companies should drop support for it, as 37 signals did with Basecamp.
IE6 is universally derided as the worst browser going at the moment, yet we continue to pander for it...

eheiser

@tonynyc: ummm wow... firefox 2 and 3 are better than IE6. IE7 is better than IE6. What kind of decent browser doesn't have tabs!? IE6 is a terrible browser, and is a perfect example of Microsoft's failure. The computer knowledge of most people who use IE6 is very low, compared to how much the people know who use firefox, safari, and opera. (and google chrome!)
and fyi i'm talking about personal, not corporate usage. your grandma uses IE6 while your computer savy brother uses firefox.

eagledrc

IE 6 needs to make itself compatible with the rest of the internet by deleting itself.

Joseph

So how about big companies hiring programmers and website designers that know how to program universal apps?

I do website design and I didn't have any websites that were screwed up in IE7 that I made while using IE6...

midwestkel