IE and firefox versions for Microsoft.

Apparently Microsoft has unveiled a beta version of its new website. Interestingly, here is what the site looks like, in IE...

And here is how it looks in Firefox...

Interesting ! An "error" page that doesn't appear on IE but does so on Firefox...and Microsoft doesn't even have a warning stating that they don't support Firefox...also users haven't been able to view it on Safari, or even the IE for the Mac ! So this works only for IE on Windows...

While they have every right to decide on the platform on which they wish to launch their websites, I wonder if this doesn't prove to be a bad business strategy...I mean, just because they force people to view their websites on the IE on XP platform, does it mean that the other platforms do not exist ? In fact, they are legitimising the existence of other choices, and the threat that is being posed by them, by forcefully suppressing these choices...

I like some Microsoft products, such as Visual Studio and MSDN. These could be the reasons why I visit the Microsoft website, and not have anything to do with Windows or IE...so aren't they turning me down by this new strategy ? I am a valid admirer/user of theses two products, and am blocked from access to it (if this current strategy spills over to other Microsoft websites as well)...it might hurt them in the long run...in fact, with all the negative publicity they're receiving, it would hurt to appear magnanimous and allow free access to their sites...

Original link via ArsTechnica.