If you’re going to be obnoxious, at least don’t be lazy about it. I’m against using browser detection except in extreme circumstances, since it’s so easy to break, causes headaches for developers, testers and users alike, and is generally just sloppy. Here’s a perfect example of that sloppiness, in the form of this notice for IE 8:
Astute readers will notice immediately what’s wrong with this picture: I’m looking at this page in Firefox on a Mac. So, getting a new version of IE is absolutely impossible for me. Assuming this is done with a user-agent detection, why couldn’t they hide this for obviously non-upgradable configurations? But it gets worse. Say I’m interested in this mythical upgrade to my experience*. I click on the link and get, not directed to a useful page where I can obtain the update, but a cheesy pop-over:
Dude, yes, I’m interested. Why the interstitial bullshit? Anyway, I perform a second click, which leads me somewhere useful:
Well, I was just trying to get the browser, so I’m not sure what “Get all 3″ means†, but, whatever, OK, get me to downloadable file already! Nowhere does it say anything about compatibility, so I assume I can get a version that will, in fact, work on my computer. So I go ahead with my third click and get this unattractive, albeit informative, message:
Ah, there’s the fail. Finally. Now, obviously, they can do detection that indicates I’m not going to be able to use IE 8. Why couldn’t they have told me that before I bothered to click around?
Granted, I know better, and this was an exercise. But what if I just bought a Linux netbook, and really didn’t know? I’d be frustrated. Microsoft does enough frustrating things to/for users (though plenty of non-frustrating, quality ones!), it’s a shame to see this sort of sloppiness still going on. EPIC FAIL.
*=Also they lose points for trying to be clever/coy. Just say “Upgrade to IE 8,” for god’s sake.
†=Bundling crap with your desired download is so five years ago. Lame.