Two unfortunate facts face those who build websites: (a) each browser has its own characteristics, and (b) website visitors will use whatever browserbrowsers they want.choose or have available. The challenge of getting one's webpages to work in all browsers is daunting. With complex, dynamic, database-supported, software-driven websites such as those offered by Wetpaint.com, it simply isn't possible for websites to work equally well in all browsers.

Browsers differ in three fundamental ways (warning: technogarble ahead!):

• Basic features offered (example the Opera browser offers a sophisticated built-in email program);
• HTML renderingprocessing - how the page formatting language basic to all webpages is converted into a visible page;
• Javascript features and performance.Theperformance last(Javascript, twoa considerationsprogramming particularlylanguage, impactis howbuilt wellinto Wetpaintmost worksmodern inbrowsers, abut browser,how soit ifis you'reinterpreted havingvaries a problembit andfrom NOTbrowser usingto abrowser).

The last recommendedtwo browser,considerations aparticularly logicalimpact firsthow responsewell mightWetpaint beworks toin switcha browsers.browser.

Recommended browsers:
(as of December 2006 - note that these recommendations may change over time)

• Windows platform computers - MS IE7IE6 or 7; or (notFirefox 6)1.0.7 or Firefox.higher.
• MacIntosh computers - Firefox.Firefox 1.0.7 or higher.