OS X Tip #108
The World Wide Web is supposed to be platform agnostic. But unfortunately, so web designers simply do not follow web standards or test their website across different browsers and platforms. The result of this is Safari just may not work properly for some sites. Especially, very Windows centric sites built to work for Microsoft Internet Explorer on the Windows platform. This is especially true in large company Intranets or sites that feature applications that require ActiveX controls.

You may be able however to get your Mac to work with most of these websites with a few of these tips.

Try a different browser
If the default Safari browser does not work for a particular site try another browser. You may already have Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac on your computer, try that. Microsoft no longer offers this download, but it can be found in other places around the Internet. It was still offered here last time I checked.

Download Another Browser
Firefox, Camino, or Opera may also be good choices. Try these.

User Agent
Sometimes a website will look for the browser’s “user agent” and will only allow access to the browsers it wants. You can tweak your browser to change its “user agent” identity and masquerade as another browser, so the website thinks is it another browser type.

Here’s how:
In Safari you can change the user agent by starting the debug menu. You do this by launching Terminal, do not be scared, it is not hard.

Start Terminal which is located in Applications -> Utilities.

Type this at the Terminal prompt (copy/paste if you wish):

defaults write com.apple.Safari IncludeDebugMenu 1

Hit enter. Start or restart Safari. You should now see a new menu in the Safari menu bar called Debug.

Now go to the drop down Debug menu -> User Agent and choose Windows MSIE 6.0. Now the website may be fooled that you have joined the “dark-side” and are one of them.

Note: if you are still afraid of the Terminal even though I gave it to you step by step, download Safari Enhancer and it will also activate the Safari Debug menu as well as some other features.

Firefox
You can change the user agent easy with Firefox with an extension, see here.

Changing the user agent will not work all the time, but it is worth trying. Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac, Firefox and the user agent extension cab be a Mac users best weapon for compatibility with these sites.

If this still does not work or the site needs activeX control to applications like some Intranets inside of some companies. Probably no Mac browser will work. If you need to do this consider running Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp, Parallels, or Virtual PC.

If this is a website on the Internet for a company or organization that you are a customer. COMPLAIN! I do. The World Wide Web is supposed to be platform agnostic and follow standards. Let them know they are alienating users.

    | Tags: Firefox, firefox extension, mac tips, user agent