VB Programing support Access Database Microsoft Office VB.Net & SQL Server nev@NevVB.com.au Sydney, Australia (612) 9453-0456 Contact Details 23/02/2012
The latest version of Internet Explorer is IE9. IE9 is particularly fast, uses the HTML5 and CSS3 W3C standards, and has greater security protection. IE10 will shortly become available – most probably to be released with Windows 8. The venerable Windows XP Operating System, released in 2001, will not be able to take advantage of the newer Microsoft Browsers – Windows XP is limited to using IE8. About 40% of Windows XP visitors use Firefox, Chrome or Opera instead.
On my Website, visitor numbers are equally divided between the operating systems of Windows XP and Window 7 – at about 40% each.
The large number of Windows XP systems still in existence means that Website development will have to be restricted to the capabilities of IE8 for some years.
There is no easy conversion path from Window XP to Windows 7 (forget about any thought of a conversion to Windows Vista). The Upgrade Advisor will usually show that a new graphics adapter is needed (for Aero desktop visual effects) – and of course, a custom installation.
Usually a new video card is not available for the older Windows XP PCs, and users are left with no alternative but to purchase a new computer.
Windows XP is a very reliable and well liked operating system – albeit with some security issues. The conversion rate of the Windows XP systems to Windows 7 has been slow.
At this stage there are few compelling reasons to convert – just a steady increase in niggling issues in maintaining Windows XP. WiFi dropouts, frequent Networking connectivity problems, legacy software that is less reliable, lack of support for new hardware, graphics presentation. The problems will increase as 2014 approaches, when extended support ends. Microsoft will then no longer provide security patches, automatic fixes or updates to Windows XP.
In reality, the "extended support" does not mean much, as Microsoft's security and other fixes are already making Windows XP less maintainable. Expect the conversion rate from Windows XP to Windows 7 to increase sharply over the next few years.
All the great new features of HTML5 and CSS 3 will have to be foregone for the time being.
The only consolation is that at least the use of IE6 has diminished to the point where it can be ignored without affecting potential customers. For worldwide usage of IE6, see www.ie6countdown.com.
Facebook, Google Apps and jQuery are reducing support for IE7. This trend will further accelerate when Microsoft completes the automatic IE6 and IE7 upgrading.