Browser Version Testing

axer · 19-02-2008 01:44PM #1

When it comes to testing on web browsers - how far back version wise should a website be expected to look right?

When I check the current stats on the old development of a website I am working on, the breakdown goes as follows:
IE7: 41.25%
IE6: 39.85%
FF2: 11.65%
FF1: 3.22%
Safari: 1.92%
Opera 9.x: 0.66%
Others: 1.45%

Would it be right in thinking that if a website validates, is semantically layed out and looks fine in IE7, IE6, FF2, FF1, Safari and Opera 9 then that would be enough bases covered?

Or do people out there still ensure a website looks ok in IE5.5- and netscape etc?

Thanks for any help/advice,
Noel

Goodshape · 19-02-2008 01:56PM

axer wrote: »

Would it be right in thinking that if a website validates, is semantically layed out and looks fine in IE7, IE6, FF2, FF1, Safari and Opera 9 then that would be enough bases covered?

That works for me.

Ph3n0m · 19-02-2008 02:14PM

axer wrote: »

Would it be right in thinking that if a website validates, is semantically layed out and looks fine in IE7, IE6, FF2, FF1, Safari and Opera 9 then that would be enough bases covered?

Yup for me thats standard, anything else is customer specific requests and would time/costs for extra testing

DJB · 19-02-2008 02:15PM

If you can get it working in that list (IE7, IE6, FF2, FF1, Safari and Opera 9), you should be fine.

I never test for IE5.5 anymore - waste of time for so little users.

Axwell · 19-02-2008 02:39PM

On a similar vain but not trying to hijack your thread, what do you guys use to compare the site in the different browsers? Like i know you can install them in various machines etc but is there any interesting software to show you how it appears via diff browsers. I know Dave you had something like that in your blog for diff versions of IE

Goodshape · 19-02-2008 02:49PM

Download and install all the browsers that you can normally, and then Multiple IEs and/or Browsershots.org for the rest.

Ph3n0m · 19-02-2008 03:17PM

I dont trust multiple ie for anything more then a visual check - as I find that it has a tendency to b0rk when you test any decent scripting on it.

Functionally I get people with different version to have a look, and I test what I can locally

axer · 19-02-2008 07:53PM

Goodshape wrote: »

Download and install all the browsers that you can normally, and then Multiple IEs and/or Browsershots.org for the rest.

Also you can install FF1, 2 and 3 by using a different profile for each.

For IE do as Goodshape says.

For Opera just install the latest version.

For safari just install the safari for windows beta version - from what I know it renders the same way as the mac version (anyone confirm?)

Browser Version Testing

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