General
One of the biggest strengths we have as a company is that our service is provided to our users over the internet. We don't have to worry if it is installed correctly on your computer, it doesn't have to play nice with other programs, the main processing is done on our servers so your computer speed isn't as important, and if your computer does have a problem – or you want to work off-site – you can login to our program from any internet connection and keep going. It also means any changes we need to make to the system happen automatically for you, any upgrade is also given to you immediately. We can always diagnose our own servers easily compared with your personal desktop (which has millions of settings that could cause an issue).
All you need is a browser! Of course the faster the internet line, the faster the downloads and uploads; the faster the computer the more likely the site will run smoothly.
Starting with this version of Submittal123™ we are going to require our users upgrade/use the newest version of one of the following browsers:
Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox
Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/
Apple Safari: https://support.apple.com/downloads/#safari
Internet Explorer: windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/download-ie
Why does this matter?
Let's remember what an internet browser really is: It is a program that can use your internet line to ask a remote computer (a server) to send it specific files to view, and show you these files. When you go to www.google.com you are asking a google server to send you a file you can view, in this case a form to search other parts of the internet. When you go to www.submittal123.com you are asking one of our servers to send you a file to view, in that case our website where you see more about us. And when you connect to our new submittal package program, you are asking it to send you the files needed to view and run the program to make your packages.
So your browser is crucial to how you see and use our system – or any web page for that matter. And there are several main reasons we have decided to require a minimum standard of a new browser for our new system.
Functionality
As technology grows, so do the functions and tools that we can utilize in our program over the internet. But older browsers most often don't know how to use some of these newer functions, or don't do it well. We want to bring you some of the best functions in this program, so we need you to have a browser that can interpret and use the functions properly.
Usability
Just like functionality, older browsers can only display pages in particular ways – while new browsers allow us more flexibility and options in displaying a page. Most websites we design in our office we make sure are backwards compatible. But in the case of this program, we wanted to use some of the best user layouts and styles, which aren't available in older browsers.
Speed
Probably the most noticeable difference in a new browser is speed! In simply upgrading from Internet Explorer 7 to Internet Explorer 8 there is a speed improvement of almost 23%! And there is a similar gain with the other browsers as well. And when you are working with many packages each day it really speeds up your system and your experience to have the newest browser!
But I am required to keep using an older browser by another group? What do I do?
We know that some groups haven't upgraded their sites/systems to work in newer browsers yet. But it shouldn't be a problem for you to run a second browser on your system. In fact, if you have a group requiring you to stay on an old system for their program, you are better served by using the old browser for their group only, and using an upgraded browser for your general internet surfing and our system. Your overall internet experience will be better!
So which one?
If you have no requirements, use whichever one you like the best. Each have their own quirks and perks. We do have our favorites (Chrome!) but any of the current browsers listed above will work great!
If you are required to keep an older browser version, just be sure to pick one that isn't from the same company as the older one (i.e. you can't easily have two versions of Internet Explorer or Firefox on the same computer, instead use a different company's browsers for your secondary one).