Internet Explorer "Subprime browser"

Hello,

logging on with my company computer having IE8 installed I get the message.

"You are using a Subprime browser."
"Please upgrade to a modern webbrowser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari"

I know that there are problems with IE8 on Boonex such as when you log on. What is a bit worrying is if focus is only on developing with IE browsers in mind.

Maybe it is more fun or easier to develop for non IE but product is for the user and the user still uses IE.

"IE8 lost 0.16 percentage points, but it’s still the world’s most popular browser at 23.38 percent. "

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/03/01/internet-explorer-continues-growth-past-55-market-share-thanks-to-ie9-and-ie10-as-chrome-hits-17-month-low/

That is a misleading statement in my opinion.  IE holds share not by being a popular browser but because it was coded into the Windows OS instead of being a stand-alone application.  Since there was already a web browser installed, many; either because they did not know, or saw no real reason to go to the trouble of downloading and installing a different browser, just used IE.  The EU is still dealing with Microsoft over this "bundling".  Microsoft started losing market share as more and more people decided to install alternative browsers and institutions such as banks stopped forcing people to use IE to access their website.  Furthermore, the huge security hole of ActiveX helped to convinced many that it was time for IE to go.

Thats how i was GG, till I got so fed up with Windows, that I just stopped using them completely - except in rare cases.

But as for the Subprime Browser error - check to see if compatibility mode is off or on, whichever it is - change it and this should remove the Subprime browser message. You have IE8, so it is a "current" browser

The subprime notice is actually an IE "bug".  I had a few users that had problems with IE9 until I showed them how to configure IE with the "compatibility" settings.

Yes, I am forced to use Windows because of some applications that the company won't port to Linux; they have made agreements to not port to Linux.  I may try WINE again on those applications; I had problems before.  Windows and Macs would be dead if we have full access to many of the commercial applications that are keeping people tied to those platforms.

lol @GG - my kids hate me now because there is only one computer in the house with windows on it - and it is in a closet collecting dust. They miss playing Roblox - which will only run on Windows. I have not yet tried it in Linux using Wine, as I have restricted my kids usage of the computer anyways.

But - in my personal opinion - Windows can stand on their bathroom sink and take a swan dive into the toilet. Although Macs are a lil more pricier, their customer service is A+ (at least at the Apple store out here). And now, windows is opening their own windows store. They have gone from being the leader, to being a follower who is trying to be a leader again, and it seems to be getting worse.

I was using Ubuntu on my laptop and left windows 7 on my desktop - cause i used to use dreamweaver - but now - because of my learning with dolphin, I can now write my codes without a need for Dreamweaver, so I put Mint on all of my computers except for the one in the closet. Best move i ever made.

"Subprime browser" message appears in IE7 and older.

Another reason it may appear too if compatibility mode is turned on.

So if you see this message in IE8 - try to turn off compatibility mode.

I have a better solution, update your OS and browser :P

People will stop using IE 8 by nov anyway. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/332950

 I hear you all.

What I belief is that even if we know or personally think that IE8 should be killed ASAP. We cannot ignore the fact that it today is still the most commonly used browser. Businesses are not quick on updating the browsers since there are costs linked to it, it has to be globally rolled out and they have to make sure that all internal applications work with the browser.

So like it or not older versions still have to be taken into consideration. Maybe if user level goes below 10% it can be start to be neglected but when you're at 25% of the user base (and being the most used) it should still be considered.

Secondly, they notification should be that you can update to IE9 or IE10 and not only to Chrome, FireFox or Safari.

Thirdly, a normal user shouldn't have to be told to go into doing compability setting and you as a website owner shouldn't have to be spending time on explaining on how to do it.

No hate all love.

You're missing the point. That error actually displays with IE7. You obviously have your browser in compatibility mode (ie, it's pretending to be ie7). Switch of compatibility mode.

You could include a compatibility mode statement in your head but it shouldn't be necessary.

I don't want to use PNG rounded corners in ie8 so I also have a message telling ie8 users that ie8 doesn't support css3 and that the site would look nicer if they upgraded.

If you don't like the message, change it. I have. I link to ie 9/10 but I say "not recommended". 

"Subprime browser" message would appear even in IE10, if compatibility mode is turned on, site isn't working correctly in IE compatibility mode as well as in IE7 and older.

Also luckily there is an option to disable compatibility mode for users, so they will not able to turn it on:

http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/ticket/3071

The changeset:

http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/changeset/17488

just thought i would add this to the topic as it made me laugh - http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-risking-7bn-fine-after-browser-ballot-failure-7000001130/ and http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Be-Fined-on-Browser-Violation-in-January-2013-Bloomberg-316433.shtml