Why do they not waste time ensuring firefox compatibility?
1.) Most software engineers know HTML and JavaScript from learning it on there own, or taking a crash course in it. Unless they have been working with it for a long time, they don't know the good coding practices that allow compatibility with all browsers, however most awful habits work with IE just fine. Unfortunately, not all code that renders correctly in firefox, renders correctly in Internet Explorer. So if you ensure firefox compatibility, you may find I.E incompatibility, which is the worst case scenario.
2.) Good web designers cost more money. And what the company gains is not irritating the niche audience who have to switch to I.E from whatever browser they were on. Thats just not worth it to them.
3.) The things that make the most money are the stupidest. Ringtones, Porno, screensavers, and anything else that they can make a popup for. And the people who spend the money on this kind of garbage are again people who think that the internet is the Internet Explorer Icon. Again, no need to worry about the niche audience.
4.) Considering how fast developers have to make projects live, spending less time getting it to work is more important than spending more time getting it to work good (see Microsoft). Although this isn't ideal, it happens to allow companies to be competitive. For example, Movielink had to get out there fast or see Netflix and Blockbusters domination grow while they ensured compatibility.
It is interesting to note though, that with Dell now shipping systems with Linux or just not Windows, that the I.E. market share could start dropping quicker, in which these will become more of a problem than an inconvenience.
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Why do they not waste time ensuring firefox compatibility?
1.) Most software engineers know HTML and JavaScript from learning it on there own, or taking a crash course in it. Unless they have been working with it for a long time, they don't know the good coding practices that allow compatibility with all browsers, however most awful habits work with IE just fine. Unfortunately, not all code that renders correctly in firefox, renders correctly in Internet Explorer. So if you ensure firefox compatibility, you may find I.E incompatibility, which is the worst case scenario.
2.) Good web designers cost more money. And what the company gains is not irritating the niche audience who have to switch to I.E from whatever browser they were on. Thats just not worth it to them.
3.) The things that make the most money are the stupidest. Ringtones, Porno, screensavers, and anything else that they can make a popup for. And the people who spend the money on this kind of garbage are again people who think that the internet is the Internet Explorer Icon. Again, no need to worry about the niche audience.
4.) Considering how fast developers have to make projects live, spending less time getting it to work is more important than spending more time getting it to work good (see Microsoft). Although this isn't ideal, it happens to allow companies to be competitive. For example, Movielink had to get out there fast or see Netflix and Blockbusters domination grow while they ensured compatibility.
It is interesting to note though, that with Dell now shipping systems with Linux or just not Windows, that the I.E. market share could start dropping quicker, in which these will become more of a problem than an inconvenience.