Scroll Bars

Lizo,

All the scrollbar "properties" were made up by Microsoft as another attempt to bring more users over to MIE. Kinda like back in the day when as soon as Netscape developed JavaScript (LiveScript), Microsoft changed it and packaged it up as JScript.

You see scrollbar properties a lot because TONS of people use MIE predominately as their default browser (read: all Windows users lol). So developers thought, "Hey, since like 90% of users are on MIE, lets just use those special Microsoft properties because we're almost guaranteed that our users will see it!"

The reason that these are not part of the CSS specification, is because the World Wide Web Consortium is more concerned with the presentation of website information, rather than just a catch-all, user-interface language.

Microsoft is notorious for stealing things, rebranding them, and then telling everyone they're better. Have you ever heard of .NET "technology"? That entire framework was derived from the already freely-available Java language; but Microsoft stripped down Java, changed some stuff, and then told everyone it was their "brand new" language C#.

You're right, if you use the scroll bar properties then your CSS will not validate. Unfortunately, many developers/designers don't care if their code validates or not.

-Mike

Thanks

I had a sneaking suspicion that it might be something to do with Bill Gates and his attempt to own the internet. lol

I kinda view the scrollbar stuff as harmless eyecandy since nonsupporting browsers won't ruin your layout. However, to many people use the wrong colors and make it really hard to use. Then again, that's true of all eyecandy

I'm with TGecho - it's hard to justify making a fundamental user interface element visually unfamiliar.

Opera 7.11 supports colored scrollbars.
Something to be happy about?