So I admin a company that has a web based program that only works in IE7/8 and two outside sales people have Macs and keep telling me that the website will not work.
I have suggested VMWare, fusion, parallels, Bootcamp, etc, but they keep telling me that their Apple "Geniuses" tell them not to use them.

I do not use Mac at all, so I have no personal experience with any of these programs.

They both have Mac Books and OS 10.

Does anyone have any recommendations for ways to get IE7 or IE8 to work reliably on a Mac? Why do the geniuses keep telling them not to use any products that enable them to use IE?

Thanks in advance!

 

Probably because they're all a kluge to run a horribly insecure piece of garbage software on an OS that doesn't need it. You can have them just run a copy of doze on their machines, but most will balk at that kind of hassle to get around a problem that shouldn't exist in the first place.

Best solution: Have said web-based application re-written by someone who knows how to build one properly.

Alternatively: Have them use RDC and log into a doze box somewhere, which is the lease invasive and fastest solution.

 

Thanks for the reply Simba. The software is not going to be Mac compatible anytime soon, and is completely out of my control, so that is a non-starter.

I will consider allowing them to log into a desktop at our office, but I am not a big fan of that, since it just gives me more to do when they have problems.

She can buy a cheap windows laptop for less than it will cost her to buy Windows and pay someone to set it up for her as a dual boot.

So, bottom line is that you wouldn't suggest using any programs that allow IE7 to run? They all suck? Or running IE7/8 is a bad idea even though those programs work?

 

But it doesn't have to be Mac friendly, just written for another browser like Firefox. Wouldn't that be a simpler solution?

 

In a perfect world, you are correct, but it doesn't work with any other browsers and I can't change that. Sucks...

 

I have a similar problem (I think...based on the computer jargon I could understand here).
One of my job locations utilizes a web portal that I unfortunately must have access to 24/7. Unfortunately again it is incompatible with Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari. and any version of IE newer than 7. Even says so clearly on the login page. Tried working thru it remotely on my Mac via my desktop in my office. Still doesn't work. Contacted IT and they told me no ifs, ands, or buts with no plans for ever 'fixing' this problem. Way to stay current with technology. Morons.

 

$200 Win XP Netbook. This is EXACTLY why I have one. The $200 is easily amortized over all the time I do NOT spend arguing with backwards IT departments.

 

I don't see why Parallels would be a problem?

Its THE best solution to running windows on a Mac barring actually installing windows and running bootcamp.

Its also the only virtual like solution that can directly access the hardware instead of having an interpretation layer in between like VMware.

I run IE on my Mac almost every day for work using Parallels and its fantastic.

 

Prallels = meh. Run bootcamp and make a SmackBook.

YouTube - SmackBook

 

That video doesnt show bootcamp, it shows multiple desktops.

You'd have to 'boot' with windows to use bootcamp. Or use VMWare to access the bootcamp partition.

Either way, its a less easy solution than Parallels. The VMWare is slow because of virtualized hardware, and the native windows requires a reboot.