Re: OT: Canadian Census 2006
On Tue, 2006-02-05 at 14:00 -0700, Stephen Mirowski wrote:
Canada now allows the Census to be done online. I tried to login and
got the current
version of the browser not supported error. It recommended using
Firefox, Mozilla,
IE, Netscape, or Safari (also mentioning to use JRE > 1.4.x). Funny, I
was using Firefox.
So, next I tried Mozilla Suite, then Seamonkey, then Opera. No good.
BTW, I am running
JRE 1.5.0_06.
I did some forensic analysis after Googling for the website.
They check for browser spoofing and the specifically only support
browser that match these strings :
Win (netscape|firefox|Microsoft)
Mac (safari)
It appears they do not even support Netscape, Firefox or Explorer on
Macs.
If you want to check the script yourself :
wget http://www50.statcan.ca/census2006/js/browserCheck.js
The reason for what they support appears to be :
"// Check if the browser version is supported by Entrust TruePass"
But if you check Entrusts web site they do support Linux.
http://www.entrust.com/internet-security-software/specs.htm
Write your MP and tell them of your displeasure.
Time to call the help line (going to try to submit a bug report to
the
poor call centre =).
Well, big lineup, I stayed on the line since I wasn't going anywhere.
It did recommend
me to phone back at non peak hours and gave some times. 1st problem, it
didn't give time
zones with the times. Canada has enough timezones that that can be
slight problem.
Staying on the line ...
After what seemed to be 30 mins, I got to speak to a rep. I mentioned
my browser wasn't
supported, he said I could download Firefox, etc. I said I tried that.
Asked what my OS
was. Linux. There followed some Ums and Ahs. Paper shuffling. Well
it supports
Windows and and and Um. NEways, I held for a moment while he found the
supported
OS lists. When he got back, he started asking about browsers, so I
listed what I had tried
and my Java version. Again the question what OS? Linux - Fedora Core
5. Oh, that's the
problem. It supports the majority of Windows version and Mac. Okay,
thanks.
It is actually their script is not allowing you, but not for any
compatibility reasons.
What could have saved me a heap of time? Well, the browser detection
could have used
some novice JavaScript to detect my OS version and say NAE, you aren't
supported.
Instead there's code to say your browser isn't supported so go download
a supported browser
which is the very one you are using right now.
What is the point of advising people to use multi-platform browsers and
basing it on Java
which is also multi-platform, yet only have it work with Windows and
Mac? Why has
every other Gov't Ca. website I have been to work with Firefox and
Mozilla?
Because they are not using this script to deny you access.
The Census is to find out who I am, and put me in the Stats.
Thankfully, when I finish
filling out my paper Census, I will be able to fill in Comments section,
submit some
bug reports and give them a freebee stat that isn't in the
questionnaire: I am one of the
Canadians whom doesn't have Mac or Windows on his computer.
Stephen Mirowski
How can you be a Canadian if you don't use Windows or a Mac?
:^p