[Wylug-help] Dabs & Phoenix

[Frank Shute]

On Sat, Mar 01, 2003 at 09:37:54PM +0000, Daniel Walker wrote:
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> Does anyone know if the Dabs site works with Phoenix or Mozilla?

It didn't work with Mozilla when I tried it some months back & it
still doesn't work.

>
> I can't order anything.

As a matter of principle, I now take my business elsewhere. If they
want my business then they have to fix their crappy website.
BTW, it did used to work (sort-of) before they `upgraded' it.

>
> Mind, it gets as far as emailing me to tell me "We're delighted you've opened
> an account with us", but then claims it's database iis knackered. Is this
> normal OS browser experience?
>

Yeah, it's the normal experience for any number of sites unfortunately
:(

Looking at the source for this page at Dabs:

http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-info3-info.asp?&m=y&quicklinx=139L

it starts:

<!-- Browcap Section -->
<script language="javascript"><!--
	IE4Compat = ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer") && ...

They then proceed to use & abuse Javascript thus locking out
non-IE users whilst simultaneously producing a page that isn't
remotely compliant with any w3c standard in any way.

Unfortunately, by using navigator.appName I don't think you can get
around it by changing your user agent string - some lame sites parse
navigator.userAgent

I'd like to know where this annoying practice comes from, it's just
not necessary, & they lose business & credibility.

I think I might write to the MD & see if I get any reaction.

--

 Frank

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http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/

 How the West was won:

   >WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE FOR BUSH?
   No, I vote for Gore
   >ARE YOU SURE YOU WISH TO VOTE FOR GORE?
   Yes
   >BUT I REALLY BELIEVE BUSH WOULD BE A BETTER CHOICE
   No, I want to vote for Gore
   >I BELIEVE YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE. I WILL ENTER A VOTE FOR BUSH INSTEAD
   Gore!
   >I'M SORRY, I CAN'T DO THAT, DAVE

 and how it was done: http://www.ecotalk.org/VotingSecurity.htm