Alert: You are using a version of Internet Explorer which will soon be unsupported. Some features may not work correctly. Upgrade to a modern browser, such as Google Chrome.

When opening Gmail you’ll notice the message: “You are using a version of Internet Explorer which will soon be unsupported. Some features may not work correctly. Upgrade to a modern browser, such as Google Chrome.”

Google, according to their site, only supports the current plus the previous version of a browser. In effect Google have dropped support for a large segment of the market rather than continuing to look after the consumer. Windows XP users can’t upgrade to a later version of Internet Explorer (due to Microsoft themselves not providing an option), but prefer to use Internet Explorer over Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera.

Given that Windows XP will cease to be supported by Microsoft in April 2014, that date would be an appropriate time to cease support. Some may consider this a move by Google to nudge people towards their own browser, or Firefox, whose income is mostly derived from Google.

When I offer support, clients regularly have infected browsers (mostly Firefox) which have been hijacked, often as a result of using Google’s search and installing software which they find for free, or even as a result of clicking on Google ads. The quickest and easiest way I’ve found to fix the problem is to switch the user back to Internet Explorer 8 and clean up the computer. The client is more than happy to continue to use Internet Explorer.

The message displayed is because Google will cease to support Internet Explorer 8 on November 15^th.

According to the Google site, Google Calendar will only display in read-only mode, Gmail users will be redirected to the basic HTML interface and in Docs, drawings and presentations won't display properly. These are just a few examples listed as functions that won’t work.

For those who wish to continue to use Internet Explorer 8 you have some additional options apart those being promoted by Google. One is to stop using Google services. If you’re tied into Google services in some way (although most can be replaced), another option is to consider the low cost offer to upgrade to Windows 8 which includes Internet Explorer 10.

Personally I prefer to change when I’m ready, not because a company withdraws functionality and forces me to change. Of course Microsoft is doing the same by dropping support for Windows XP, but everyone has known it would be happening for years. Google’s change was announced on the 14^th of September 2012. Not much time for people to plan ahead and certain to take many people by surprise.

The great thing about technology is you have lots of choice and many options you may not have considered previously.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area. 

NOTE: For clients I will be sharing how to work around issue in a MyAnswers solution. I already use a different approach for Calendar which I feel is better for me and I've worked around Gmail to my satisfaction. Clients are welcome to check out the MyAnswers solutions to see if the approach I use will work for them.

NOTE: I'd like to thank Jon Walters for his comment and suggestion with regards to changing the User Agent String to get around the problem. Unfortunately I've decided to remove this comment as I've not tested the solution and it may potentially have side affects which affect clients, the use of their machines and their use of Gmail. My aim is to do the best I can for clients and as such without extensive testing or experience with the suggested solution, I don't feel it is appropriate to publish the comment. This may lead people to feel I am endorsing the approach and at this stage without extensive testing I not able to endorse the approach.