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Why do sites like apple.com, creative.com, and many other coporate websites still use tables and not

6
2006-07-30 11:30:11, Category: Programming & Design
Is it because tables are compatible with all (new and old) browsers and CSS is not?

Answers

  1. Web-designer ©

    On 2006-07-30 11:33:02


    Maybe they love the Old Fasion Way...

  2. mrresearchman

    On 2006-07-30 11:36:32


    You might be correct Burnt, but more than likely it's simply a matter of costs and priorities.......

  3. nhitchmough

    On 2006-08-03 02:24:06


    CSS is compatible with the largest range of browsers available on the market today. Only certain parts of the CSS 2 specification are poorly implemented in certain modern browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 on Windows. Apple.com etc are still using tables as it's a huge job to convert a site to CSS ensuring that everything works okay. Google's currently got 11,300,000 pages indexed on Apples website so you can imagine how long it will take. Tables are not good - ask anyone who uses a screen reader and they'll tell you. I don't agree with Railgun's comment "CSS still has a lot of overhead in maintaining and update a layout using only CSS" - if Railgun's referring to time then possibly yes but only if your attempting to do a complex layout that works on older browsers (Netscape 4, IE5 Mac etc), if Railgun's referring to browser download overhead then I disagree again, as a well designed CSS page will always be a lot smaller and therefore quicker to download than it's equivalent tabled page - as your repeating your layout in every single page instead of in a single CSS file. CSS might be still a bit flaky in some browsers but for any new site it's worth doing it as it will give you a range of benefits. It's good for Search Engine Optimisation, accessibility and allows rapid redevelopment of a website and it's layout. One small change in your CSS file can have a site wide effect - try doing that in tables without having to update every page on your site. Please see some of the references below for more detailed answers.

  4. Dizynman

    On 2006-07-30 12:55:09


    CSS still has too many issue in compatibility. I wish all browsers would get on the same damn page as far as how to read the web.

  5. Railgun

    On 2006-07-30 11:38:01


    Of course tables are compatible. MOST web sites still use tables control layout. In fact, the 508 accessibility standard DOES NOT say you can not use tables to control layout. Unless you are targetting a single browser, CSS still has a lot of overhead in maintaining and update a layout using only CSS. Somday this will change, but not yet.

  6. Rawlyn

    On 2006-07-30 11:50:22


    Umm... this may be too obvious a question... but why not? Is there some law against it? Rawlyn.