Ever hear news which almost forces you to jump, smile, and sing simultaneously…

…then be bitterly disappointed?

That’s just what happened to me, as I read breaking news from Techcrunch about the release of Google’s new development, Chrome Frame.

I’ll let Google explain what it’s all about:

“With Google Chrome Frame, developers can now take advantage of the latest open web technologies, even in Internet Explorer. From a faster Javascript engine, to support for current web technologies like HTML5’s offline capabilities and , to modern CSS/Layout handling, Google Chrome Frame enables these features within IE with no additional coding or testing for different browser versions.”

What this means for web developers across the world, is that people can experience the standards compliant Chrome, while still running their ancient IE6 browser.

Sounds great! Initially.

After a little contemplation, I now don’t get it.

Before I share my disappointments, I add that I’m aware Chrome Frame is in its infancy. Nevertheless, I fail to see how anything I say will change sufficiently.

The perpetual problem…

The problem with Chrome Frame, is that it’s a plugin which needs to be downloaded by the user.

So, in essence, the user has to do something similar to what is required to get them to move away from IE6 altogether.

See the problem?

Now, fair enough, requiring a plugin to be installed is a smaller hurdle to get people to jump than downloading a more modern browser.

In spite of that, from what I can gather in my experience, most computers using IE6 are in public libraries and large businesses, where only the administrator has the capabilities to download and install plugins and the like.

Call me a sceptic, but I just don’t think they will. If they cared, they’d already be running different browsers.

Add to that, only those of us who suffer the ill effects of IE6 understand the need to move away from it. Meaning, Google’s big news is simply preaching to the converted!

Call me skeptic, but if I’ve grasped this all correctly, then this idea (though nifty), is almost a waste of time.

Am I wrong?