> I am trying to convince a client that it is no longer necessary (or 
> economical) to develop a site which supports Netscape 4.x (i.e. creating 
> a distinct version of the site using tables, because they want it to 
> look "the same"). I think it would help my argument to be able to tell 
> them that there is really no reason for anyone to be using Netscape 4.x 
> anymore, because a computer that can handle Netscape 4.x should be able 
> to handle something more recent. OK, so this is not quite true, but it's 
> close; here's the only reference I could find to system requirements for 
> Netscape 4:
> http://www.consciousness.arizona.edu/modernsci/reqnet4.htm
> The system requirements for Firefox are not so good for my argument:
> http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/system-requirements.html
> The system requirements for IE 6 are better for my argument (except that 
> I'd be recommending IE - argh!):
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/evaluation/sysreqs/default.mspx
> 
> Does anyone have anything to add to this? Any suggestions or other 

Why not give them all of the information and let them make up their own minds? Is it really any skin off your nose if they insist on spending more on developing a site that also supports Netscape 4.x? Alternatively (as you say), why not produce a site that is available to Netscape 4.x users in terms of information and functionality but requires a later browser for its full visual glory? In the final analysis the client is the person/organisation calling the shots. If they want their website available in Netscape 4.x, then this they shall have; whether it's you that provides them with the required services is another matter.

> arguments for not bothering with Netscape 4.x? (Personally, I'd prefer 
> to just make sure that a site's contents are readable/usable in NN4, but 
> not worry about making them pretty.)
> 
> FYI, in the case of this particular client, the number of visitors using 
> Netscape 4.x is approximately 4% and decreasing steadily all the time.

*shrug* From experience the MD will require his company's website to be perfect in his personal browser of choice, and damn the statistics. This makes for a troubled web developer when the MD is a Netscape/Mac type user.

Regards

Chris Marsh