How compatible are Macs with website hosting?

[SallyDP]

I want to think that having a Mac is not a terrible problem when it comes to setting up a website... I keep reading all around and I see people mainly using PCs. Now, I have an iBook, and always been using Macs. I have to put up with stuff like not having full features with internet programs: From using MSN groups to even MSN Messanger, the features for Mac users were not all available (I believe Bill Gates is behind this )
How easy, or better yet, how compatible are Mac systems when one wants to set up a website? Are there tutorials available? Or it is something only reserved for PCs? Sorry about my ignorance, but here is the perfect place to ask these questions!

[jmarcv]

Setting up a website isn't the problem. There is adobe GoLive and Macromedia Dreamweaver for that. The problems come in when using Javascript. Safari just aggrevates me everytime I use it! I think Steve has Gatesitis! Like Bill, they have their own quirkyness that is just a horror to debug. The Console is basically worthless. Looks like I have to upgrade to OSX 10.4 to get proper tools, but thats because I am programming highly interactive sites. For normal sites with maybe a forum or ecommerce, there should be no issues for you. The problem is that these other sites set up THEIR websites to be windows-centric, but that doesn't mean YOU have to.
So I would say you should be just fine. Firefox for the Mac is excellent!

[SallyDP]

Thnak you so much! This is like an exploration to me. I know NOTHING about real programing, but even one of my friends was telling me that there are tutorials that can guide me "step by step" while setting up a website. Also, just few days ago I downloaded FireFox, and I'm surprised because it is very fast, but something weird happened: I was trying to input some info required by a site and didn't allow me to do so! Then, I changed browsers and used Safari, and I could do it. I think the Firefox for Macs is still not "widely compatible".

[jmarcv]

I was trying to input some info required by a site

I'd be interested in the link. What I find is that Firefox adheres to the standards more than IE or Safarim so I would say the SITE wasn't compatible (g) - but I do find in many ways that Safari is closer to IE when it 'breaks the rules'

[SallyDP]

The site is a financial site, Fidelity.com, banking basically, and it wouldn't allow me to input anything. Good thing I was on the phone at the same time with the representative, and he was the one guiding me into the process, so when I couldn't input anything I told him I was using FireFox and it was newly installed. I changed to Safari right away and proceeded to complete the whole process. I guess maybe FireFox is not "accepted" by everybody yet? Just a wild guess...

[jmarcv]

Hmmmmm........
I just logged into my fidelity account, viewed positions, went to sell some shares and got to the preview all without issue.
But thats the world of computers for you....

I think Firefox is WIDELY accepted as a viable browser and has taken some usage away from IE.

In any event, I think the main answer is that for the most part, the Mac has a place and should not compromise your ability to create a site.

[Matt]

Oh, and Macs are VERY compatible with cPanel hosting. The guys that write cPanel use Mac computers, which is something that surprised me.