Testing a website for cross-browser/multiple-version support

Question

This is a multipart question:

• Is there a tool that let's me view my site in all the major browsers along with different versions of each?
• If I have to actually download and install the different versions, where can I find them all?
• What's the oldest browser I should support within reason?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I like Browsershots.

It lets you test all of this online.

Answer 2

Two good ones come to mind.

BrowserShots.org is free and great if you don't mind waiting 30-40 minutes for the results.

BrowserCam.com is great if you want a commercial service, low wait time, and even supports remote access to log in to a server with the browser installed, and use it manually to test your site as much as you like.

As for what browsers should you support, I would go by the W3 browser statistics page. This is really a personal choice that you need to make, and it is always good to make those kinds of decisions based on data, not opinion.

Answer 3

The best way to test IE6 (which is probably the oldest browser you should test) is in a virtual machine of it's own. Microsoft provides a free image of XP with IE6 (link) if you're running windows.

Answer 4

Usually, you need to support the browsers listed in your spec.

Where you genuinely have free rein, I suggest that you needn't support further back than Gen6/c.2001 unless you need to demonstrate your ability to do so (i.e. your personal site as a web dev /your corporate site as a web dev shop). Gen 4 is considerably tougher than the others, so you'll have to consider the cost/benefit for yourself.

Fwiw, virtualisation tools are a great way to do x-browser testing, but a respectable guerilla option exists in Multiple IE (IE being the only real problem in this regard, as per...)

Browser Timeline fwiw

Answer 5

IETester lets you see pages in IE8 beta 2, IE7, IE 6 and IE5.5

IE 6 is the oldest browser you should support.

Answer 6

CrossBrowserTesting.com provides remote vnc access to a bunch of different configurations. They have a paid 'by the drink' options or monthly subscription, and they allow free use for 5 minute sessions. Shows Mac, Linux, and Windows w/most browsers.

Answer 7

As splattne said, SuperPreview will help with IE6-8 testing. Something to keep tabs on though is the upcoming Meer Meer. Meer Meer comes out of last year's Adobe MAX and aims to be a desktop Browsershots (which is acceptable for small testing if you don't mind waiting).

I still consider the user-testing to be the best job though. I have a selection of friends who I know are on a Mac or have a VM with IE6 running and I usually pester them for browsers I don't/can't run :)

Answer 8

Litmus is a nice commercial solution. They charge $24 for a "Day Pass", which gives you access to all their browser testing tools for one day.

However, BrowserShots is pretty good considering it's free.

Steve

Answer 9

There is a new web browser screenshot application (www.browserseal.com) that you may find useful. It currently supports FF, IE and Safari. It is still in beta, so more features and new browsers will be added in the new future.

Fully functional free beta version is available for download from www.browserseal.com