php browser checking?

dss, what do you mean by ‘specialize’? Alter it so it will display a message to both IE and Netscape users?
If that’s what you want to do it should be pretty easy.

Brutal Sponge,
i meant to speak only to IE 5.x and lower as well as netscape 4.x and lower browsers.
i see where the code is seeking “MSIE” but i wouldn’t know how to ask for MSIE5 and lower, or N4 and lower…
um…

You think people not browsing on their own computer, and therefore not in a position to download Firefox, have no right to see your ‘wonderful designs’. How is that not exclusionary?
If your designs were so wonderful perhaps you would take the trouble to make them work in every browser rather than imposing your personal preference on others. I suspect a lot of this anti-IE stuff is based on people being too lazy to learn the relevant CSS hacks.

If there is a finger of blame to be pointed, then it must surely be pointed at those that caused the issue in the first place – Microsoft.

Not really an addition to the debate going on over here, but I thought I’d post this…
When I visit the website of one of UK’s top energy companies, I am presented with a screen telling me that their site supports IE (5.0 and up), Netscape (7.02 and up), Opera (7.20 and up) and Konqueror (3.1.1 and up). Then it goes to inform me that I am using Netscape 0.9.3 and denies me entry to the site.
I am, of course, using FireFox 0.9.3 ??

Let me try to close this can of worms. You and I mean you will do one of three things: lead, follow, or get out of the way. Ultimately you will do what you want to do, and thata€?s fine because your view points do not affect my life in any way. If you want to create a site that is accessible by all, fine, I will be able to go there. If you want to create a site that will exclude me, fine. I am sure that 1 minute on Google will direct me to a site that is better than yours. It is known that Microsoft will code their products to make them completely compatible with other Microsoft products. Isna€?t it ironic that some users would want to use that same tactic with their websites? This is a subject that is very touchy and will never be resolved. Hopefully in the future you will realize that IE will never go away as long as Bill Gates has more money than you. Just so you know, I use IE, not because it is better, but because I have used it for so long it is just what I am used to. Also, I installed FF so I can make sure that my site will be compatible with it.

If you want to create a site that is accessible by all, fine, I will be able to go there. If you want to create a site that will exclude me, fine. I am sure that 1 minute on Google will direct me to a site that is better than yours.

One minute? That long?!
All this talk of ‘exclusion’ is a total non-issue. It’s not like any of these blogs are important or influential enough for it to matter. Blogs are ten-a-penny, nobody is going to sweat it or run away to download Firefox if they can’t see yours. Get over yourselves.

This is why there are wars.. :/ Too many opinions.
The option to use FF exists and if you want to see the web as it was intended to be seen without all the security issues of IE.. well a lot less. You would be a fool not to install it. However, for those of you whom use something cause you are used to it, and for some reason close the door on security… well suffer.
The first priority of even being here should be security. Yes, I could go text on ya.. but… for the most part FF does it well. Personally I do not like having 40 spyware programs on my machine each time I surf the web. That is what IE will get you. I do not have this problem with FF, either should you.
Think about it.. it’s a no brainer.

There have already been two posts mentioning the plight of people who DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER WHICH BROWSER THEY USE thanks to ignorant sysadmins and the like.
sorry for shouting but it wasn’t getting through any other way.

Anyone else want to put in their 2 cents. I think this is a dead issue.

you are good at writing your thoughts. i appreciate a great argument, and empassioned discussion. it’s fun to spar, and a coffee with you would be welcome anytime.
it is my belief, however, that in a discussion, especially those with strong opinions, have to “listen” as carefully as they pose their opinion (if you want to be successully persuasive.)
again:
i don’t think anyone disagrees with you.
maybe we should have decaf.

DSS: If your comments are toward me, thank you. I apologize for being overly passionate. I believe in this case, empathy took second place.

Try here: https://js-x.com/javascript/?id=18

Sorry about ‘bumping’ an old thread, but I’ve done as was requested (had it done a few days ago, but just never got time to post it!). It’s all pretty simple, anyone who is running WP should be able to understand this pretty easily.
<?php
$browser = $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'];
if(preg_match("/MSIE 5/i",$browser))//browser is IE 5
{
echo 'It looks like you\'re using Internet Explorer 5.';
echo 'Switch to Firefox!';
}
elseif(preg_match("/Netscape 4/i",$browser))//browser is Netscape 4
{
echo 'It looks like you\'re using Netscape 4.';
echo 'Switch to Firefox!';
}
?>
The IE5 detection works, but I’m not entirely sure if it detects NS4, as I don’t have it.
I’d appreciate it if someone could test it for me, though.