Hey, I've got no problem with this type of marketing.

Though personally, I'd rather just send $10 to a local charity. (Here's one here in DC that does fantastic work: http://www.miriamskitchen.org/HELP/Donate/tabid/67/Default.a... )

Reading the small print at the bottom, the maximum Microsoft will spend through this campaign is 1MM. I downloaded it anyway (on Ubuntu :).

Microsoft can't convince people to download their browser without doing this?

I was wondering this too.

On the one hand, it's for charity.

On the other hand, it's a well known fact that Microsoft is losing browser market share, and that their browsers often lack the features of their competitors. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that other browsers will support HTML 5 way before Microsoft does.

I'm venting a lot of IE6 frustration here, but I think Microsoft has been holding back the progress of the Internet for the last several years. Standards could have evolved so much faster...

EDIT: I'm a little cynical. And for those people who will vote me down and go on about how it's for charity: Microsoft is losing browser market share, and Google is rolling out a browser-based OS. Do the math.

They only donate if you upgrade from IE6 to IE8 (or so said the site). People who are still using IE6 probably don't even know what's Firefox or Chrome (I know plenty of people that fits in here).

I don't think it's about the marketshare, they are targetting their own users. It's probably more about getting rid of the dinosaur that is IE6 and moving forward (about time).

I'd bet that a lot of people don't even realize that IE6 is way behind (or even know what you mean when you say IE6). Short of a forced upgrade, this is probably one of the best ways to get people to upgrade. With the added benefit that food goes to charity. Also with the added benefit (for MS anyway) of good publicity.

"Do the math" as in hey, Microsoft is just in it for the marketshare? I don't think they pretend anything else - and I still think this kind of marketing is alright.

This does more good for people than being told to Get Firefox.

And at this point I'd rather point people at a Webkit-based browser instead.

Even as someone who loathes pretty much all versions of IE, this is something I can get behind. I can bitch all I want about slow javascript, no rounded corners, and other css bugs in IE8, but its still 1000 times better than IE6. Upgrade away people!

Indeed as a web developer-designer I'd rather see people on IE8. I'm so conflicted, this is MS but they're feeding hungry people and enticing people away from IE6 - gotta love it. But it's Microsoft ... gah!

[sheepishly] Thank you Microsoft.

Better a few hunger stricken souls than install IE 8

really? you'd rather that someone goes hungry than you having to download ie8?

Really? You took his comment literally? That's almost as unbelievable as the original claim. ;-)

ha ha ;-) Can't believe someone feel for it :)

Better than IE 6 right?

I'm crossing my fingers that Oct 22 will have a great release of windows 7 so that workplaces can finally upgrade. If they have another horrible release, then it's another 2 years of IE6 pain for us web developers!

yep I downloaded it... to linux. microsoft better feed someone else something better than the crap they keep feeding me.

Yeah. What about the rest of the world?

I just love this idea. Everyone wins.

For every IE you download a fairy dies!