Management wrote:

> Jim Watt wrote:
>
>> Many electronic banking packages are restricted to IE because
>> of its security features.
>> --
>> Jim Watt
>> http://www.gibnet.com
>
> Now that just is not true, it comes down being lazy and cheap. In
> fact at least one US government security agency has advised people
> to use 'alternative browsers', meaning Firefox, Opera, etc.
>
> My wife & I have a number of US & UK bank accounts between us that
> are very happy to accept accept Firefox. Not forgetting Amazon,
> eBay, paypal and every site that I've bought from.
>
> With IE's position being gradually eaten away we will see all sites
> having be able to deal with Firefox, etc.
>
> Quite simply a sensible website designer will design his/her site to
> be compliant with web standards - that is not use any IE specific
> coding (no ActiveX) and not use Frontpage to create it. That way the
> designer can be sure that the site will render correctly in all
> graphical browsers.
>
>
> Charlie.
>
>
> PS: this is my last response to you Jim lad as it seems to me that
> you just like to argue blindly. Hope the sun is shining on you in
> Gibraltar :)
>
>
>
This is a government web site, so it must meet the requirements of Section
508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If the site it coded to accept
only Internet Explorer, it simply cannot meet Section 508. There are blind
and mobility impared users that need text interfaces rather than a
graphical interface. So, if you see a site that doesn't render with Lynx
(lynx.browser.org), you can be pretty suer that the site will not meet the
requirements of Section 508.

Hey web developers! Don't be lazy. Code to the following standards.
1) all content in VALID (x)html
2) all graphics need 'alt' descriptions
3) formatting in CSS

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Christ tells us to care for the
handicapped. Anthropologists trace the beginnings of civiliation to
evidence that people helped handicapped tribe members (e.g., evidence that
people were fed while bones mended). No matter what your world view,
addressing the needs of all citizens is the mark of civility. So code for
everyone, not just users of the 'majority browser'.