Browser Checks

Elizabeth

I'm curious to get your opinions on statistics programs that gather user information about what browser you are using to view a webpage, what operating system, etc.

We have this information automatically collected for us through our website stats program, and in my opinion it is the only way to gather useful information to improve our site- to see what is working and what isn't, and to see what the majority of our users are using. I personally don't consider this an invasion of privacy, but more a vital means by which we can get feedback in an otherwise isolated industry. Unlike traditional retail stores where you can view the faces of your customers and see who they are, in an e-commerce industry you are blind. Any information at all is helpful, in my opinion. And as far as I know, that kind of information is gathered by many bigger websites, as we are but plankton in the food chain of the internet! 🙂

The reason I ask, is that I guess I assumed that people would not have a problem with this, as it would be to their benefit ultimately anyway. However, upon reviewing our stats for March, I noticed a comment inserted in our "browser" area. Someone inserted:

"Stop fucking obsessing over user agent and code to the W3C standards instead. One less potential customer. Bye."

So now I'm concerned that perhaps we are gathering too much information. I don't know- what do you guys think? Do you use stats programs to tweak your websites? Do you think it's an invasion of privacy?

-Elizabeth

leatherback

YES I do look at my stats. But just out of curiosity..

so NO I do not adapt my website to the visitors.. I try to be as cross-browser/platform as possible. I use IE, NS, Opera on win2000 / XP and I have a friend who checks sites using linux opera / NS.

This way you can grab most of the bugs (reaching about 99% of all potential visitors).

But invasion of privacy.. Neuh.. I don't think so.

I think that the person putting that sort of responces on your website has no clue as to what some of the big compagnies out there are collecting from people connected to internet...

Just my 2 euro-cents.

dalecosp

Originally posted by Elizabeth
"Stop fucking obsessing over user agent and code to the W3C standards instead. One less potential customer. Bye."

So now I'm concerned that perhaps we are gathering too much information. I don't know- what do you guys think? Do you use stats programs to tweak your websites? Do you think it's an invasion of privacy?

-Elizabeth

You didn't do this, did you?

<script language="javascript' type='text/javascript'>
if (navigator.appname != "Microsoft Internet Explorer") {
    alert("Get a real browser, we don't have time to code for every Tom, Dick and Harry....")
    }
</script>

🙂

IMO, the guy's not worried about privacy, it just sounds like someone is just offended by something about your coding. Perhaps your site doesn't render correctly on some browsers? Does the site appear and work the same way on IE, Netscape, Opera, Mozilla, etc? Is anything visible with Lynx?

It seems that if you want 'cutting edge' Javascript, you've GOT to know what browser you're talking to....

That said, if a site's up to W3C, I guess you're technically looking good to 100% of visitors. Generally, you pick and choose, however... at least, we always have; it remains to see what will be done in the future, I suppose.

Bunkermaster

Originally posted by dalecosp
...That said, if a site's up to W3C, I guess you're technically looking good to 100% of visitors...

If only...

Some browsers react in very odd ways to W3C standards (especially CSS)... Try NS 479 and you'll understand me.

dar-k

"Stop fucking obsessing over user agent and code to the W3C standards instead. One less potential customer. Bye."

Sensible - No
Useful - No
Action - Ignore

Unless people are paying for something I don't think you need to pay attention to this crap. (if they are paying, u still can't put up with just anything)
If that person had put his/her message in a normal, intelligent way, he/she might have deserved some attention.

I don't think we can be held responsable for using what's offered to us (like user agent strings).