Browser Redirect

If you want to test your site in MSIE, IETester could also be a solution. It works great for me.

The other side of the coin is to confront IE6 head on and work with it.

Most of the IE6 issues are well documented. The several well known bugs and the way that IE6 calculates the box model are the major stumbling blocks. Leaving the issues of PNG files and alpha transparency support aside there are some good guidelines to dealing with IE6.

Most of them are dealt with by setting up the layout a certain way: avoid cramming layouts into their containing elements. Choosing between adding margins/padding to the containers or to the content is important. Knowing when to use floats and percentages carefully will go a long way to avoiding how IE6 figures out the math.

I found that chapter 7 of Andy Budd’s book, "CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Solutions" was a great reference to this topic. He also has a good section on all the known IE bugs and traps. Its worth reading.

Its all about picking your poison. When is better to work around IE6 (and maintain clean direct code) and when is better to bother with adding multiple style sheets, javascripts or page redirects?

Quote from: rhetorik at Apr 17, 2008, 12:59 PM

I actually used to have a very similar set-up for my working environment. I also just got a MacPro and I am running XP with Parallels so I am considering selling my PC now that it’s just taking up room on my desk.

I really like not having a PC anymore. I went for broke and purchased the 30" Apple Cinema Display and ditched my previous dual monitor system. I am a photographer by trade and the color accuracy and screen real estate of the 30" ACD is just jaw dropping. My Mac Pro seems to run Windows XP better than my PC did. I use VMware Fusion and love it. Using Apple Leopard’s Spaces I can bounce from OS X, to IE6, to my FTP agent with one mouse click. Unless you need heavy gaming performance I think this is the best way to run Windows.

I need to figure out how to run IE7 & IE8 without dumping IE6 or using Vista though. But most of the time I find that actual live testing in IE6 and the web browser shots of IE7 does the trick.

One thing with running OSX and Windows XP on the same display: you really notice how much better the Apple text engine is when compared to Windows. Even my PC using friends are amazed at how much better text looks with the Apple OS X system...

I agree 100% that windows does indeed look much better on my Mac Pro. Check this out... it will at least get you more versions of IE for testing...

http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE

As far as IE7 and IE8 go, I downloaded IE8 Beta from Microsoft here => http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/default.mspx which has a built in IE7 Emulation "mode" that allows me to switch back and forth between IE8 Beta and IE7. The only downside to this emulation built into IE8 is that you have to restart the browser every time you switch between the two.

Hope this helps!

One more cool thing I just stumbled across a few minutes ago:
http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/
Could be helpful for those who don’t have an XP disc laying around to install a virtual machine.

Quote from: rhetorik at Apr 17, 2008, 03:55 PM

One more cool thing I just stumbled across a few minutes ago:
http://www.kronenberg.org/ies4osx/
Could be helpful for those who don’t have an XP disc laying around to install a virtual machine.

I tried this and could never really get it to work. Very slow, missing menus etc. Not ready for prime time IMHO...

<sigh> Looks like my poor little G4 iBook is getting closer to being replaced...

I still have a G4 tower, but ever since I got my MacBook I just can’t work on the G4 anymore since it is just tooo slooow...in comparison that is. I turn it on every once and a while and use it as a backup in case I drop my lap top (again). I can’t wait to get a desktop mac to replace the G4, but it will be a while still since there are other prorities at the moment.

I tried the ie4osx and it worked fine. It runs on wine so you need to install that first. I don’t use it because I am weary of using unproven apps on my work horse, just keep it down to the minimal needed to avoid any unexpected side effects...call me paranoid

Quote from: rhetorik at Apr 17, 2008, 12:29 PM

@dev_cw:
Netrenderer is a pretty nifty tool! Thanks for the tip.

Cool indeed, for those times when I just need to check one thing or two, and don’t want to launch Parallels
Thanks !!!

Thanks all for you ideas and thoughts, sounds like everyone here would have a small party if ie6 died!!
I think i will have to go down the route of seperate style sheets (but the extra work!!!).
Will start saving for the Mac!!
Thanks again.