What do you all think about designing for browser compatibility? Up until recently I had just been concentrating on optimizing my sites for Internet Explorer; which I thought was the most common browser. I have heard a lot more lately about Firefox and Netscape browsers and how they can display content differently.

I downloaded both of these browsers and viewed my site in all three and I only noticed minor variations. Mostly it was minor text sizing and spacing issues. The image boarders appeared expanded a bit in Firefox and Netscape too, and the default window size is bigger. (Myself as well as most people that I know, usually view the web in a 800x600 IE window and my sites are disigned to best fit in this siz window as well)

So I don't see these minor variations as that big of a deal to worry much about. The viewer would still get the same info from my site if they were on any of these three browsers. But I saw a couple of other sites that looked way off in Firefox and Netscape over IE. Maybe I am doing something right?!

I wonder how many people actually use these other browsers anyway. Now that I have seen all three, I still like Ie much better and I have never had any problems with it crashing or anything.

Anyway, I was just curious about what others thought and if you all made it a point to optimize your websites for more than one browser.

Thanks,

~ Flutter

It's important to try and cater for as many browsers as possible. Obviously Internet Explorer is the dominate force at the moment in terms of users.

Taking a lot at yours websites stats might be a good idea. I find that one or two of the sites I have worked on in the past have more firefox users. It depends on the type of site and your audience.

Its a good idea to develop using Firefox then apply hacks and work arounds to cater for the likes of Internet Explorer. Don't forget Mac users either.

The more you take into account when building your sites the better. It doesn't have to look identical in all browsers, the main concern is that it is actually readable and usable content. Hope this helps out a bit.

Personally, I take IE6, Firefox & Safari as my browsers to optimize for. Anything else is useless, unless a certain situation requires it (For example, a heavily mac oriented site might warrant optimizing for IE5/Mac)

Yeah, I forgot to mention "within reason".

It's pointless losing sleep because you can't get your website to behave itself in something like IE 4 or Netscape 4

I'm the same as Brak. IE6 is the priority for most projects followed by Firefox and then Safari, the most used browser on the Mac. If you have time and the budget allows you to worry about more, or it it required then it's always nice if you can.

Thanks for your reply Dan! I will look at some stats and get a better idea of my audience.

So what would I need to think about for Mac users?

~ Flutter

I have never heard of Safari, I will look into that one too. Thanks for all your help!

~ Flutter

Ok, the Safari browser appears to be Mac based. Is this the common Mac user's browser? So what can I do to try an optimize for this if I do not have a Mac?

Thanks!

~ Flutter

www.browsercam.com

Other services like that, or pick up an old mac for cheap. Safari is a very popular mac browser (May be the most pouplar, not sure what the stats between Firefox / Safari are on the Mac)

I will check out the browsercam site, thanks!

~ Flutter