I have an idea for an EXCELLENT resource for web designers/developers. I've been developping for the web for quite some time, and never have I seen this. If this exists somewhere on the web, PLEASE let me know...

But here's my idea. Somehow get a copy of the install file for ALL the major versions of ALL the most popular available browsers out there. Then, have it all on one webpage so that people can download whatever browser(version) they want/need.

The problem is, as you're writing and testing your code, you want to be able to say "it works in IE 5.0" or "it works in Netscape 3 for the Mac", etc. However, a google search produces no results for these browsers. You would think that netscape and IE would post these previous versions up, but I can't find them anywhere. They seem to want people to forget that older versions exist and just download the latest version!

It would be so much more convenient to have all this on one page, so whatever platform/version you need to test in, you just download the install file and go from there.

Does anybody know where I can find this kind of resource? Or if not, will anybody help me make this resource possible? I'm willing to post it up on a website if I can get people to find and send me previous versions of popular browsers.

Thanks,
kvarnerexpress

It's been done already - Evolt browser archive.

Looks like a very useful resource. The idea was good but it seems there were done already

I never knew that the Evolt "browser archive" existed...thanks for the link!!

why would you possibly want to have your pages optimized for older browsers let alone non-standard browsers such as IE?

If it doesn't work properly on these, tough, they should upgrade... thats what technology is all about.

In the real world it doesn't work like that. People will still use whatever they want; you can't force anyone to upgrade. And if you're paying someone to make the website as compatible with as many browsers as possible, then you would expect those people to have some of these older browsers installed.

Yeah, people are not willing to update just becouse.

I used to be like that, and im still like that. Instead of searching for the right plugins to see a given 'anything' from the web, i would look for the compatible 'anything' that works for me. Or even sometimes change to a close machine.

Sometimes (like when i changed, err UPGRADED to firefox) i do so to test things, but truth is people are lazy (myself included) so you can never persuade someone to download next version browser. Besides, there are users (internet users) who actually dont know how to download a newer version, so there you go...

Anyway, glad you posted this, its going to be very helpful.

-10730

You need to be able to make pages degrade nicely for those who don't upgrade.

those users who do not upgrade will probably not be able to appreciate your efforts in bringing them a compatible web page so it doesn't matter anyways.