Scoble points out that MSN’s new search engine is XHTML. Nearly valid too.

Some of his commenters took him to task with some choice comments:

Quite funny considering the fact that IE can’t even handle some simple CSS stuff properly… Probably that’s the reason why they give Firefox screenshots to the media ;-)
Ralph Scheuer • 11/28/04; 6:32:33 PM

It doesn’t quite validate, actually. Good effort though. I’m a real stickler for this sort of thing, and it’s good to see MS adhering to standards (or at least attempting to).
Matt Hamilton • 11/28/04; 6:43:51 PM

I too noticed (with some amusement but no real surprise) that it doesn’t validate, but unlike Matt, I’m not willing to give MS credit for making an effort. Anyone can stick a doctype at the top of a page. If it doesn’t validate, it doesn’t count for much.

Har har. Need more rope, to hang self with? :)
Christopher Coulter • 11/28/04; 7:14:11 PM

Fun.

Didn’t really take me long to come up with a response.

Namely that:

Google doesn’t validate either. Neither does the Mozilla homepage (or it didn’t last week anyways).

Validation isn’t the key. It’s the results of whatever non-validating code you have: what is the actual effect it’ll have. That is far more important.

If you check the 4 validation errors they’re minor and will have NO effect on anyone or anything.

Feel free to see for yourself here.

So, yes, they do deserve credit. Or, is credit only do for perfection?

Oh, and really these types of comments don’t hold weight without proof, RIGHT?

Here’s Google’s validation issues (40)

Here’s Yahoo’s (257).

Oh, and just for SOME REAL FUN.

Here’s SpreadFireFox.com. An astounding 22.

Bloody inconsiderate, shortsighted, hypocritical websites.

Does validation matter? Damn straight. But the number of truly valid XHTML Strict websites run by major corporations can probably counted on 1 hand. If SpreadFireFox can’t get it right, and Mozilla occasionally has issues… Can you really, really, in all good conscience slam Microsoft for 4 minor XHTML validation errors?