Re: MathML in IE6 *and* Mozilla

Robert Miner <RobertM@dessci.com> writes in mozilla-mathml@mozilla.org,
quoting a third party who quoted me:

> > > Yes.  The key, I think, is that, apart from marketing hypesters,
> > > content providers are coming to realize that they are headed for
> > > expensive trouble if they do not follow agreed specifications.

> >  That would be true only if IE had real compeditors.  If I look at
> > server connection statistics, there's little MS has to worry about.
> > *Unfortunately*.

Is anyone here, chez Mozilla, actually advocating departure from
agreed specifications?

[snip]
> times to address some of the worst XML bugs in IE through official W3C
> channels.  While Microsoft acknowleges the bugs, and promises fixes,
> nothing much has happened.

> On the other hand, that isn't so surprising, since companies are
> always reluctant about doing work at the request of competing software
> companies.  What is needed, I think, is a broad-based campaign to get
> *customers* to contact MS to let them know they want to see these
> features in IE7.  Even that might fail, but MS is more likely to
> listen to customers than anyone else.  

Yes, it will be helpful to write and to ask your local math department
leader to write.  Note, however, that in some cases there may be
ethical constraints that prevent such direct advocacy.

Content providers (if managing more than a dozen or so pages) who
don't follow specifications _are_ getting into trouble.  Content
providers _really_ _need_ to_ follow specifications.  Browsing tools
that cannot handle their content, when correct, are, long term, headed
for extinction through the mechanism of customer loss.

Moreover, many content providers in the academic world and in
government agencies are now under mandates to follow W3C WAI
guidelines.  Even if prosecutors are not paying attention, I would
think that these institutions _must_ pay attention in order to avoid
future lawsuits from clients who incur extra expense or trouble to
deal with the consequences of improperly provided content.

Another thing to notice is that Linux/GNU/KDE systems are about to
become more user friendly than some currently more common systems.
The KDE desktop is associated with the spiffy full-featured browser
"Konqueror", and, I assume, can be marketed with things like Open
Office and Mozilla at no license fee cost to the vendor.

                                    -- Bill

Received on Tuesday, 25 June 2002 12:37:05 UTC