A modern browser has many features that allow the user to surf faster. One of the biggest advantages of IE 8 compared with IE 6 and IE 7 is that it can make six parallel connections. This means that the items (pictures, Flash, JavaScript) can be retrieved simultaneously and can also be reused, in contrast to the older browser where each item had to be retrieved individually.
But what should be a big advantage can also be a disadvantage for websites that are not optimised for the most recent version of Internet Explorer. Rapid developments in browsers does not just offer opportunities, but also presents major challenges.
Browser Experience identifies shortcomings
The Browser Experience analysis service opens a website in a real browser, in exactly the same way as when a real visitor visits the site. Previously, the service used IE 6, but with the upgrade to IE 8 it became clear that many websites are not optimised for a modern browser.
Rather than being faster, the effect was the opposite in many cases. A site that is optimally adapted for IE 6 retrieves items from different domains simultaneously, allowing the browser to make several connections in a row. If we run the site in IE 8 instead, the browser will make three times as many connections simultaneously. The result is far too many connections at once, resulting in a queue. The connection time becomes longer, and also the load time.
The performance of a user with a slow connection will also suffer. Consequently, the infrastructure must be adapted to the new conditions in the browser.
The customer is never far from the competitor
Web developers have more challenges to consider. The CSS will not be guaranteed to work well in IE 8. How will the visitor react if the web site suddenly looks different to how it looks on another computer? Today’s web users are neither patient nor tolerant, and are just one click away from the competitor’s site.