Testing a web app for macs - is IPad ok?

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Testing a web app for macs - is IPad ok?

Hello, Many of my clients use Macs and I'm getting weekly emails about bugs in my web-app software that are Mac only issues. I have a limited budget so I'm hesitating going out any buying a $1,200 Mac for testing.

Would an iPad work?

Or would that not be the same kind of browser rendering as a Mac Book?

thanks!

+2 A:

can I recommend a $700 mac then?

The biggest benefit is, that with virtual machines, you can now create a testing environment for nearly every system you wish to be a client on

KevinDTimm 2010-09-13 18:52:49

+2 A:

The iPad Safari is more based on the iPhone mobile safari rather than the desktop Safari. You may have better luck getting a Mac Mini, or searching eBay for a used Mac.

Robert 2010-09-13 18:54:15

There are better ways to mimic common mac browsers than buying common mac hardware. Look into browser emulation products like browsercam.

marr75 2010-09-13 18:56:58

+2 A:

Uhm… why has nobody mentioned yet, that Apple distributes Safari for Windows? For free.

You are not very specific about the kinds of problems your uses report. I would be very interested in which of those are not testable with Safari on Windows!

hop 2010-09-13 19:00:04

Agreed. There is no difference in how OSX renders content, since it's the browser doing the work.

jeek 2010-09-13 19:06:45

@jeek: not so fast! there are differences. font rendering comes to mind.

hop 2010-09-13 19:15:13

@jeek: Also, there's Chrome/Firefox/Opera for Mac. Some browsers are updated on the Windows side that aren't updated yet on the Mac, Chrome for example.

Robert 2010-09-13 19:25:58

@hop/@robert - This I do agree with. These are very minute differences though, and not _too much_ you can do about them. If it's CSS3 and bleeding-edge features, then you shouldn't really be using those to begin with on a live environment if it's crippling the UX on browsers who don't support it. Take -webkit properties for example. Awesome features, but not very practical in a live environment.

jeek 2010-09-13 19:29:41

ok, so I load this page on win XP with Safari,http://billetagent.eweb703.discountasp.net/vejledning.aspx the "offline image" is not a link. Client has a fancy super mac and is running firefox. He says it's a link.

aron 2010-09-14 15:21:28

@aron: why do you test it in safari when your client (the one with the problem, i assume) uses firefox? also: should there be a link or shouldn't there?

hop 2010-09-14 16:40:27

Since no one said it directly yet, iPad does not render exactly the same as Safari on 10.6, nor can interactions be tested because one is gesture and touch based and the other is keyboard and mouse. You're cheapest option is the $700 Mac Mini plugged in to your existing input devices.

Unfortunately, because apple forbids the virtualization of it's OS (PDF:Section 2.A), you can't find anyone who will take browser shots in any reasonable amount of time. Of course, screen shots will only really help you if it's a rendering bug. If it's interaction, $700 isn't all that much more than $500, plus, you get a Mac! ;)

Tim Visher 2010-09-13 19:34:02

ansaurus

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Testing a web app for macs - is IPad ok?

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