“The problem with this design approach is that the resulting site may be very “plain vanilla,” since the oldest browsers don’t allow for much interactivity beyond simple links. Designing exclusively for older browsers can severely limit the appeal of your Web site for audiences with later browsers, who can make up a significant majority of any given target audience. The latest browsers — Netscape and Internet Explorer 4.0 and up — are used by 70 to 98 percent of Internet users, according to various studies. Is it worth limiting that many people to a lowest-common-denominator Web site?”

…and then…

“An alternative approach is to design to the highest common denominator, and to accommodate down. Design a Web site to be used by the latest browser that the target audiences are likely to have, and that degrades to accommodate older browsers. This approach preserves the appeal of the site for audiences with the latest browser, while not denying site access to those with older browsers.”

These two paragraphs let you play Mr. Plain Vanilla or Ultra Developer Superstar. Work from simplicity from the get go and stick with it, or instead, go all g-whiz but build in fall back code for “lame” users. Sweet.

Learn more about rolling with a design approach that makes you feel comfortable…