I am one of those people that sincerely believes there should be absolutely no very-specific software requirements to view any web site, nor require any very-specific software to access certain web site features. In other words, I like web sites that are as “open” in design and functionality as possible.
Well, Microsoft is in my opinion doing a dumb and launching an IE10-Only version of MSN.com, which will appear late this month.
No, this does not mean you need Internet Explorer 10 to view the MSN.com site in the near future. Obviously, the site will still work with other modern browsers. But the fact a very-specific-browser version even exists is just stupid.
It’s bad enough there are separated mobile and desktop versions of web sites now, requiring those who use mobile and desktop computers to learn not one but two web sites for the same damned thing. Now here comes Microsoft with a version of a web site that is, and I’m quoting from them verbatim here, “Built Exclusively for Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 10″.
The internet is not supposed to be about software exclusivity when it comes to delivering content, Microsoft. Seriously, get a clue.
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Smells like old AOL and MSN… the applications.
Considering that for most people who let Windows dictate their Browser choice by looking for the Blue “E” because it works and it’s THERE by default and that Internet Explorer Opens up to MSN.com BY DEFAULT…I’m not surprised.
Most People settle for MSN because they like the fact that it opens up with all the news feeds and the legion of Ads pretending to be news. The rest of us will click on Firefox or Chrome and not be overly bothered. There’s nothing on MSN that I need that I can’t see on another website.
Besides, I’m finding that the direct tie-in of IE straight to the Windows Kernel is becoming too much of a risk for regular browsing. Too many ads, banners and images and scripts have the possibility of being hacked for me to risk using Internet explorer as the default browser. When the Hack happens, the PC’s are so fast now, the average person can’t even see or notice anymore.