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.