Testing a web app for macs - is IPad ok?

Many of my clients use Macs and I'm getting weekly emails about bugs in my web-app software that are Mac only issues. I have a limited budget so I'm hesitating going out any buying a $1,200 Mac for testing.

Would an 开发者_开发知识库iPad work?

Or would that not be the same kind of browser rendering as a Mac Book?

can I recommend a $700 mac then?

The biggest benefit is, that with virtual machines, you can now create a testing environment for nearly every system you wish to be a client on

The iPad Safari is more based on the iPhone mobile safari rather than the desktop Safari. You may have better luck getting a Mac Mini, or searching eBay for a used Mac.

Uhm… why has nobody mentioned yet, that Apple distributes Safari for Windows? For free.

You are not very specific about the kinds of problems your uses report. I would be very interested in which of those are not testable with Safari on Windows!

There are better ways to mimic common mac browsers than buying common mac hardware. Look into browser emulation products like browsercam.

Since no one said it directly yet, iPad does not render exactly the same as Safari on 10.6, nor can interactions be tested because one is gesture and touch based and the other is keyboard and mouse. You're cheapest option is the $700 Mac Mini plugged in to your existing input devices.

Unfortunately, because apple forbids the virtualization of it's OS (PDF:Section 2.A), you can't find anyone who will take browser shots in any reasonable amount of time. Of course, screen shots will only really help you if it's a rendering bug. If it's interaction, $700 isn't all that much more than $500, plus, you get a Mac! ;)