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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Estella on August 28, 2006, at 22:52:16
at work i have a mac. it has safari. the trouble with safari is that it doesn't load the pages properly. it would take two or three days for the new pic to roll over sometimes. i'd delete my cookies and my cache and my history but none of that would help. sometimes when i post a new post it doesn't appear on the computer for a couple days (even after i take those measures)
so i installed firefox. firefox doesn't like to startup. i have to ask it to startup around... ten times. clicking on it around ten times (yes i try a right click menu startup too) and it still takes forever to start up. and YES i dragged it to the applications folder.
someone or other said safari was better for mac. more compatible. so i've switched back to safari but now i remember the problems i was facing with safari.
my home laptop pc won't give me the new indicators. i delete my cookies and cache and history etc and then i get them. once i've refreshed the page they are all gone and they STAY GONE. it takes me a long time to check the boards because it won't do new indicators. loging on and off babble doesn't seem to do it either. that was when i was with IE. now i'm with firefox but same freaking problem.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY FREAKING COMPUTERS?????
it has been like this for MONTHS now and it is driving me NUTS
Posted by flipfloppy on August 29, 2006, at 3:08:27
In reply to stupid computers, posted by Estella on August 28, 2006, at 22:52:16
Have you tried Camino? You can download it at: http://www.caminobrowser.org
As for the "new" indicators, it's normal that they disappear when you refresh the page. Also, Firefox is wellknown to take a long time starting up compared to other browser.
Can't help you with the other issues I'm afraid.
Posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2006, at 8:09:54
In reply to stupid computers, posted by Estella on August 28, 2006, at 22:52:16
I'm a mac user but always used pc's at the jobs I've had. I use Safari as my browser, and find that unless I block pop-up windows (it's on the Safari drop down menu at the top of the page), it's cumbersome. I do get images that won't load; I think it's due to not having the right pc-based software loaded to view them. This happens with video clips alot.
CS
Posted by llrrrpp on August 29, 2006, at 10:32:11
In reply to Re: stupid computers » Estella, posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2006, at 8:09:54
Estella,
I just spent 18+ hours diagnosing my sick mac. Eventually ended up wiping the entire harddrive, and reinstalling OSX, and then using my laptop as an external harddrive to transfer necessary files back on to the sick iMac.Good news is that it's better than new. Bad news is that it took for EVER!
Your problem sounds fairly straightforward. Macs can fix themselves, if you let them
are you running OSX? if so, go to the little blue apple in the upper corner of the screen, and select SOFTWARE UPDATE from the drop-down menu.
It's possible that you need to download some patches and stuff, because your computer hasn't been updated in a while.
Next stop is to repair your file permissions. This could take 20 minutes if it's been a while, or if your harddrive is more than, say, 150 gb. Go to Applicatons/Utilities/Disk Utility, and select the option to "repair file permissions". Basically, this sorts your files and makes sure that your computer has them linked to the proper applications, users, and directories. It's comparable to disk defragmenting on a PC. Regular maintenence that usually happens overnight on most macs, but occasionally gets turned off.
Finally, how much memory do you have? If your mac only has 256 (or less) mb of memory (RAM) then some things are going to be slow to load. The tricky thing with macs is that closing a window doesn't necessarily close the application. You may have several unnecessary applications running, which will totally slow down an older mac, given the large files that make up webpages nowadays.
Finally, I wanted to say that I have NEVER done any substantial computer geek wizardry in my life. Everything I learned about how to set up my mac laptop and fix the problems on the sick iMac I learned from the HELP icon located at the top of your screen, or from going to http://www.apple.com/support and searching for the particular problem. Apple help is really good for nincompoops like me, and it's gratifyin to see a happy result- like a happy zippy iMac, restored to it's original glory!
-ll
if all else fails: application of blunt projectiles at high velocity has been known to soothe the soul.
Posted by TexasChic on August 29, 2006, at 19:51:54
In reply to Re: stupid computers, posted by llrrrpp on August 29, 2006, at 10:32:11
I recently switched from Explorer to Safari and have seen no difference whatsoever. I suspect your problem may lie elsewhere. Yeah, that's a big help, right?
-T
Posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:38:08
In reply to Re: stupid computers, posted by flipfloppy on August 29, 2006, at 3:08:27
> Have you tried Camino? You can download it at: http://www.caminobrowser.org
Thanks. I think I'll try that.
> As for the "new" indicators, it's normal that they disappear when you refresh the page.Yes, but its normal that the new posts that have been posted since you loaded the board get "new" indicators when you refresh the page.
Thanks though.
Posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:38:46
In reply to Re: stupid computers » Estella, posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2006, at 8:09:54
Thanks. I always block pop ups.
Posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:44:03
In reply to Re: stupid computers, posted by llrrrpp on August 29, 2006, at 10:32:11
Hrm. Not sure that I'm on X I might be on the previous one. Damned work computers and hierarchies that means students get the old hand-me-downs of the profs.
> are you running OSX? if so, go to the little blue apple in the upper corner of the screen, and select SOFTWARE UPDATE from the drop-down menu...
I'll try all that anyway because I haven't done anything like that.
Its fully possible that I need updates because they tend to want to update at inconvenient times so I tell them to go away (bad bad me).
> Finally, how much memory do you have? If your mac only has 256 (or less) mb of memory (RAM) then some things are going to be slow to load.
No earthly idea. It runs okay on Safari it is just starting up firefox that is a nightmare. Maybe... I should look into the new indicator situation on my laptop a little more. I think the trouble with my desktop (mac) is it is storing a cache somewhere I don't know about and hence it isn't loading the babblepages it is retrieving them from memory. It is a pain in the *ss when I'm replying to threads and my post doesn't show up after reloading. I go home and check the boards and there are sometimes about 5 posts to the thread before my post that I never saw before I responded. Crappy computer :-(
THanks. I'll do what you suggested at some point.
Maybe tonight or tomorrow :-)
Posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:44:38
In reply to Re: stupid computers, posted by TexasChic on August 29, 2006, at 19:51:54
On a mac or a PC?
Posted by finelinebob on August 30, 2006, at 1:04:15
In reply to Re: stupid computers » llrrrpp, posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:44:03
> > are you running OSX? if so, go to the little blue apple in the upper corner of the screen, and select SOFTWARE UPDATE from the drop-down menu...
>
> I'll try all that anyway because I haven't done anything like that.If you're running Safari, you're running OS X.
Go to that Blue Apple in the left corner of the menu bar and choose the first item: About This Mac. It will tell you what version of the OS you're running, and how much RAM you have.
> Its fully possible that I need updates because they tend to want to update at inconvenient times so I tell them to go away (bad bad me).
Updates can be scheduled. Schedule yours for some time you won't be on and leave your machine on. That, or if you know you're going to be off the machine for a while, bring up Software Update and just run it. If you have to, download one thing at a time. Security fixes first -- not so much because someone has an exploit out there for it, but because other software often depend on the fixes.
> > Finally, how much memory do you have? If your mac only has 256 (or less) mb of memory (RAM) then some things are going to be slow to load.
>
> No earthly idea. It runs okay on Safari it is just starting up firefox that is a nightmare...It is a pain in the *ss when I'm replying to threads and my post doesn't show up after reloading. I go home and check the boards and there are sometimes about 5 posts to the thread before my post that I never saw before I responded. Crappy computer :-(Sounds like RAM if Firefox is choking. How about your connection speed? Broadband?
And remember, there are other people posting (especially in prime time) besides you. You refresh the page, and they beat you to it because they said less or started earlier, but didn't post by the time you loaded the page.
Posted by Estella on August 30, 2006, at 5:42:45
In reply to Re: stupid computers, posted by finelinebob on August 30, 2006, at 1:04:15
> If you're running Safari, you're running OS X.
Yeah OS X. But a very early version of OS X (I didn't realise there were different versions of that).
> Go to that Blue Apple in the left corner of the menu bar and choose the first item: About This Mac. It will tell you what version of the OS you're running, and how much RAM you have.Yep. RAM is okay. It is an early version of OS X though and as such I don't have the check for updates option from the menu. I found the list of available updates from the apple help page, but I don't know which of those may be installed already.
> Updates can be scheduled.Currently it asks me if I want to proceed with updates. So I figure it is waiting for me to arrive to work and asking me whether I want to update. How do I schedule it to update automatically?
> Sounds like RAM if Firefox is choking.
I just have to request it to start up around 10 times before it actually will start up. Once it has started up it runs okay. Safari starts up okay but I have this other problem with Safari.
> How about your connection speed? Broadband?
Yeah. But it is fairly slow broadband because everyone in the university is using it...
> And remember, there are other people posting (especially in prime time) besides you. You refresh the page, and they beat you to it because they said less or started earlier, but didn't post by the time you loaded the page.
Yep. That isn't what is happening though. My guess of what is happening is that Safari is storing a cache somewhere (but it isn't the cache I'm clearing out). As such it is loading pages from the cache and not downloading them from the internet properly. Sometimes it takes up to 3 days before it will load a new picture. I know there is a new picture because people have commented on it already and because my laptop loads it okay. I also don't get some posts showing up on Safari on my desktop for maybe three days which is strange because they show up on my laptop okay.
So...
Firefox takes 10 commands to start-up. Once it starts it runs okay. Yes I've taken the icon into the applications folder.
Safari starts up okay. But it is storing pages in a cache somewhere and I can't figure where it is storing them and I can't figure how the hell to stop it from doing that.
My home computer (laptop PC) won't do new indicators when there ARE new posts and as such they should have new indicators on them.
Best I can think of to say is... At least the problems are distributed over two computers. I have no idea what is up with either of them, however.
Posted by TexasChic on August 30, 2006, at 18:42:49
In reply to Re: stupid computers » TexasChic, posted by Estella on August 29, 2006, at 23:44:38
Posted by Estella on August 30, 2006, at 22:04:05
In reply to I'm strickly a mac girl. (nm) » Estella, posted by TexasChic on August 30, 2006, at 18:42:49
Posted by TexasChic on August 31, 2006, at 19:16:06
In reply to Re: why were you using IE? (nm) » TexasChic, posted by Estella on August 30, 2006, at 22:04:05
Man, its been a long day and I am so-o-o tired, so it took me a minute to figure out what IE was. I don't know why I used IE, I would assume I used whatever was there when I got the computer. There are some things about computers I know alot about because of my job, and some things that I'm completely clueless about. You just never know which is going to be which with me.
-T
Posted by Estella on August 31, 2006, at 20:22:31
In reply to Re: why were you using IE? » Estella, posted by TexasChic on August 31, 2006, at 19:16:06
lol yeah I don't know much about computers. When I was a kid I got an Atari ST and I used to go along to the computer club and stuff. I did a little teeny tiny bit of programming and stuff (can't remember the language, BASIC I think) but mostly just played games. Then when I started university I got a PC. I managed to figure out how to use it because windows 95 was similar enough to the Atari desktop. But I've never learned how to use the computer properly or done a formal course or anything. People try and convince me to switch to La Tech (or how ever you spell it) but I do minimal logic and it looks a bit technical for me. I was going to try and learn HTML but then I realised I couldn't be bothered really lol. Need to learn how to use powerpoint properly, though. Import pictures and do animations and stuff. One day.
Maybe IE came with macs before they made safari or something...
Posted by finelinebob on September 1, 2006, at 0:14:12
In reply to Re: why were you using IE? » TexasChic, posted by Estella on August 31, 2006, at 20:22:31
> Maybe IE came with macs before they made safari or something...
Coming from a web developer (that would be me) Mac IE in its day was hands down the best browser around. Which was typical of MSFT's Macintosh Business Unit -- even with MSFT's flagship products (Word, Excel, etc.) the MBU creates better versions than the Windows teams do.
But the moment WinIE started integrating with the OS and Active X, the days of MacIE were numbered ... forget about Safari.
Posted by Estella on September 1, 2006, at 1:07:21
In reply to Re: why were you using IE?, posted by finelinebob on September 1, 2006, at 0:14:12
oh. i thought IE was a Gates invention I didn't know you could get IE for mac.
shows what i know lol.
dum de de
doing better with firefox now.
still doesn't like to open but i have new indicators :-)
Posted by finelinebob on September 1, 2006, at 1:34:02
In reply to Re: why were you using IE? » finelinebob, posted by Estella on September 1, 2006, at 1:07:21
> oh. i thought IE was a Gates invention I didn't know you could get IE for mac.
>
> shows what i know lol.Well, it did begin on the Dark Side. But the "product manager" for MacIE was also MSFT's representative to the various web standards organizations out there. Even if he couldn't get his own company to follow the policies and rules it approved, he and his team learned to use IE's bugs to actually get it to perform "properly".
Any developer out there who has had to use the "Box Model Hack" can thank Tantek Celik, formerly of the MBU and MSFT's Web Standards Evangelist, for that one.
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