ASP.NET on Macintosh OS X

[N4709L]

We are developing an application using ASP.NET technology. Our
users/customers make use of Macintosh PCs. In theory, since ASP.NET delivers
"plain HTML" to the client, we wonder if there are any problems that others
have found that would prevent an ASP.NET application from being successfully
operated by someone using Safari or Microsoft Internet Explorer V5 as the
browser client on the Macintosh OS X platform.

What is Microsoft's plan for enabling the use of ASP.NET browser-based
applications on the Macintosh platform? Are we going down the wrong path to
expect to be able to use ASP.NET to provide a browser-based application on
both the Windows/PC platform as well as on the Macintosh OS X environment?

Thanks, -Ron

 

[Steven Cheng[MSFT]]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for posting here. From your description, you'd like to develop a
browser-based web application, and you're currently planing to use the
ASP.NET. And you're wondering on the ASP.NET's surpport on multi-platform
compatibility such as on both WINDOWS/PC and Macintosh PC., yes?

As for this question, here are some of my suggestions:
1. Generally, as for a browser-based web application, the platform
compatibility is not the most obvious problem. The most critical problem is
focus on the different browsers used on the different platform. In other
word, we need to mostly consider the mult-browser compatibility when
developing WEB-BASED application. Also ,this is a common issue no matter
which dyniamic-document tech we are using (such as classic ASP, PHP, JSP or
ASP.NET).

2. In ASP.NET, the multi-browser support containing the clientside script
compatibility, Control Adaptors ...
All this relied on the BrowserCapability detection in ASP.NET, below are
some related reference in MSDN:

#Multi-Browser Support
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnaspp/html/aspnet-jspmig-multibrows
ersupport.asp?frame=true

#Authoring ASP.NET Server Control Adapters - An Introduction
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnaspp/html/aspnet-authorsrvrcntrlad
apters.asp?frame=true

#Cross-Browser Compatibility
http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/using/migrating/phpmig/whitepapers/compati
bility.aspx

#Detecting Browser Types in Web Forms
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/vbcon/html/vbtskdetectingbrowsertype
sinwebforms.asp?frame=true

Hope these help.


Regards,

Steven Cheng
Microsoft Online Support

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[N4709L]

Thanks. I'll review the materials you have pointed me to.

Yes, your assumptions are correct. I was hoping that perhaps Microsoft was
going to provide a very compatible browser for the Macintosh, similar to the
browser that is available for Windows. Or that compatibility issues between
Safari on the Macintosh and MSIE on Windows were minimal.

I was hoping to hear from others about the extent of problems that must be
addressed when attempting to get a browser-based client ASP.NET Web
application to run on both MSIE on Windows and Safari on the Macintosh. Of
course, we'll be using Microsoft servers to host such an application.

-Ron

 

[Steven Cheng[MSFT]]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your followup. Since such compatibility problem can't be
concluded simply by some certain tutorial or documents. I also agree that
some one else(who have experience on this) 's suggestions will be very
helpful.


Regards,

Steven Cheng
Microsoft Online Support

Get Secure! www.microsoft.com/security
(This posting is provided "AS IS", with no warranties, and confers no
rights.)

Get Preview at ASP.NET whidbey
http://msdn.microsoft.com/asp.net/whidbey/default.aspx