Sick of AJAX Login Screens

This is my WTF of the day. AJAX login screens. I’m getting really, really tired of seeing AJAX login screens. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an AJAX-hater. When used well, it adds tremendous functionalty to a site. Reducing page loads means a more responsive website and less server-stress, especially on large sites. But contrary to popular belief, there are still people out there who use a browser that gets seriously pissed off when it encounters AJAX. Consider, too, the growing number of people accessing the internet from their mobile phones. The mobile web is not a seperate internet! And then there’s me. I do much of my posting from Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. Well, most of my internet use on my Nokia. After all, it’s an INTERNET tablet. It just so happens that, even though I’m using a relatively robust version of Opera web browser, I can’t make full use of AJAX scripting. Specifically, I can’t log into any site using an AJAX login script. And they keep popping up everywhere! What is up people? Accessability 101! Why on God’s rapidly warming earth would you use a script that excludes people from your site?? Believe me, no one cares if your login page doesn’t magically slide away if you enter your password correctly. More beautiful to me is a nice simple HTML form that lets me in to see the good stuff. The KISS theory has always been the glue that’s held the internet together, mostly because, as a programmer, you are never sure what the capabilities of the end user’s device will be. As far as I know, AJAX-laden programmers are not excluded from this. I end with a plea: People, let me in! Don’t leave me at the door scratching for HTML! If you MUST create an AJAX login to your site, code an alternate HTML login page for the sanity of all involved. We’re hearing more and more about Web3.0 and are seeing some hazy outlines of web4.0 already. No one is really sure what’s coming down the pipe, but no matter what I seem to read, it’s all still going to be based on humble HTML coding.