[thelist] browser detection on server side

[Christian Heilmann]

> Fellow Evolters,
> 
> I apologise in advance if I am covering old ground, but....
> 
> Has anyone else started having problems with some sites that use the
> UserAgent header string to decide what functionality to offer?
> 
> I recently found that Microsoft was not allowing me to use IE to access
> officeupdate.com.  I kept telling me that I must be using a Mac and I
> should go elsewhere for my updates.

Email them about their follies. In 5 minute intervals.
 
> Is there any advantage in using the UserAgent header to alter the output
> on a website, that client-side won't offer?

Yes, is is a JavaScript independent way to codefork. JavaScript can be
turned off and any server side measure is more failsafe, even the bad
ones like browser detection.


-- 
Chris Heilmann 
Blog: http://www.wait-till-i.com
Writing: http://icant.co.uk/  
Binaries: http://www.onlinetools.org/