Browser flavoured dog food

Posted on 11 February 2012 by Pete Duncanson Tweet

There are a number of different web browsers on the market but as a developer the one I tend to use the most is the one that I find helps me do my job. But it is good to reaccess what is out there sometimes. Taste testing the different brands if you will.

There is one brand of dog food that I avoid at all costs as it gives my dog wind. Terrible, terrible wind. Once I've found one she likes we tend to stick to it. She is not bothered about if it will make her joints supple, look after here liver or is scientifically engineered for "a healthy long life". Its good to try something new once in a while though, after all her new favourite brand might be the next one I try. I even once in a while try the banned brand just in case its changed and no longer gives her wind.

So with that odd introduction...I recently went to the Digital Barn conference in sunny Barnsley and watch Martin Beebs talk up IE9 and a little about IE10. I like Martin and his presentational style and I love how he takes on what is quite possibly the toughest job in the world (converting developers to us IE again) with such zeal. It was a well timed talk to. I recently got bitten by an IE bug this week that slipped through the net and went live and it got me thinking that I need to give it another look. He's convinced me to give it a go, not that he asked anyone too, by simply giving me a tour of the new stuff IE has been doing.

Most of our clients use IE, most of the users to our sites use IE. It makes sense to use IE when I'm developing too. But its always been a terrible pain in every day life. Most users use it as they don't know any different, clients use it as IT Managers don't know any different. I use it because I've mostly been burnt by IE for years. Martins convinced me that maybe its time to reassess my choice of browser "dog food" and see if I can't enjoy using all the new good stuff without it giving my dog wind!

So for a week I'm going to force myself to use IE9. This is probably going to hurt for a bit but I think forcing myself to do more than just the usual 5 minute "does it work" check might make my brain rebuilt a mental model of IE that might allow me to use it and maybe even dare I say like it (I shuddered inside a little then).

So, goodbye my beloved Chrome, I'm off to see how the other half live for a week.