How can I test in IE6 or use IE on Mac?
These days most people are using IE7 or IE8 and designers, being up to date types, almost certainly are. However figures suggest that 15-20% of all users still use IE6 as their main browser. Whether this is good, bad, or sane on the part of the user is another debate but what it does mean is that if you’re designing a site or more specifically a site that is attempting to sell something, then you must still take IE6 into account.
So how can you test your code and design out in IE6 if you’ve upgraded to IE7 or 8. What do you do if you use a Mac?
XP Users
For the XP user it’s really rather simple to get IE6 installed alongside other versions. Tredosoft have a product called “Multiple IE” which allows you to install a copy of IE6 onto your machine. For the comedy factor you can install right back to IE3 if you desire. Further info on Tredosoft site. Or the Direct download link.
Vista Users
Unfortunately Multiple IE doesn’t work on Vista but there is a program called IETester. It doesn’t install standalone versions of the particular IE you’re interested in but allows you to view sites using the rendering engine in IE6. IETester link.
Mac Users
Obviously it becomes a bit trickier for Mac users to install IE. You can try installing VMWare Fusion and then a copy of XP and then a copy of IETester. This can probably be a bit annoying.
Other methods to test your code
BrowserShots allows you to submit a URL and select from a myriad of configuration options to see how your design looks on different browsers and platforms.
