[Linux-aus] Help in drafting a measured response.

[Paul Wayper]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Arthur Marsh wrote:
| Ron Skeoch wrote, on 2009-05-15 09:59:
|> Hi all
|> We are in the process of implementing SBR (Standard Business reporting)
|> and having to deal with treasury office web sites eg.
|>
|> http://www.sbr.gov.au/content/software_developers/SDK_components.htm
|
| The page fails to validate using http://validator.w3.org

I think this is one of the two arguments to pursue here.  Government
Departments should follow recognised standards; valid HTML should be one of
them.  (Sadly I can find nothing in a cursory search of the Australian
Government websites on whether there's actually any standard or guideline that
says "use valid HTML", or even "can display in most browsers" - but that may
just be the sloppiness of my search).  The validator is a simple tool but an
effective one for making web sites comply to HTML standards, which in turn
means more people will be able to read the site correctly.

I'd bet that it is not a problem in Firefox that is preventing the site from
loading, it is the fact that the print stylesheet is not where it should be.
That's a HTML coding error, not a browser error.  The fact that Internet
Explorer ignores the HTML standard to fix 'the web' for sloppy web developers
doesn't mean that it's right to do it that way.

The other argument to pursue is the cost argument.  If they expect you to only
be able to print the page using Internet Explorer, they should also send you a
full license for a Microsoft Windows of their choice.  You cannot run Internet
Explorer because of your choice of operating system; this should not stop you
using a Government web site.  (It's hard to argue the discrimination case
here, I'll admit, but it's one that I think should be mentioned).

I wonder if it renders OK in Safari.  Being a Mac user is a much more well
known "can't run your program / read your document" situation...

Have fun,

Paul
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Fedora - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iEYEARECAAYFAkoajFEACgkQu7W0U8VsXYKINQCfZA3xkkepZVvG2QaSYTTWihcW
LqIAoMWC8Q+9XJZFBk6ZHRuDMCeDijKt
=4009
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----