Netscape 4.x and Speed

Just wondering what are people here finding regarding Netscape 4.x versions and speed on the net?

Do you find it's bogging down more... very slow loading pages, sometimes not at all. Half loaded pages... on UBB6 based boards is it being a real pain in the derriere?

It's giving Mac users a hard time especially on the UBB 6 boards... using any versions of NS4.x. I'm using NS4.76... and it's a problem. NS4.79 is no relief on that front.

The only thing I've found that helps a "lot" is setting NS's cache for 0kb.

I'd appreciate any feedback and opinions... except that is "Dump Netscape!"

 

I use Communicator 4.7 and have not noticed any slow downs browsing the net. There are a couple sites that do seem to take awhile to load, but no longer then usual. Everything does load, provided I'm patient enough. For me, the IBM Support and Microsoft sites take longer then others to load. My cache settings are 1024 and 7680.

 

*LOL** Yes, well that's the problem sometimes...

Boards using the UBB 6 software seem to be a very major problem right now if you're running anything other than IE, and even they have complained a time or two.

http://www.techsurvivors.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

This is a Mac board running UBB 6... that I'm trying my darndest to help get the software to play well with several browsers.

The members use all of them amongst the bunch... IE, NS4.x, NS6.x, Opera 5 for Mac, iCab and one called OmniWeb which is just for the newest OS X.

Pesonally I have a hard time on NS4.76 at
http://whatis.techtarget.com/
It's almost impossible at times for me to get it to load. I've generally been using the same Cache settings as you.

 

Dreambird,

Maybe I should clarify what I meant. It's not the browser, it's things not moving fast enough sometimes! I tried the link you had for whatis.com and it came up in about 15 seconds. I'll check every once in a while to see if it changes load times for me.

 

Really!?

Thanks so much for letting me know about that site... that's interesting because it's been such a %^&)@)#*$ pain for me. I'm on cable so it sure shouldn't be the connection.

If you get a chance try a search there... those are a "neverending" Netscape icon for me... I've almost always lost patience before it's loaded...

 

Don't hate me. I just tried the site and it took 20 seconds to load. Tried a search for memory and in 20 seconds, it loaded with 25 results. Sorry.

 

I have a 56k modem and connect at 45k.
Most all speed test have me at 33k to 37k.

Ok I have Netscape 4.70 and clicked on http://whatis.techtarget.com/ and it took 42 seconds to load.

http://www.techsurvivors.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi took 20 seconds to load.

 

Just tried the Techsurvivors site. It loaded in about 8 seconds for me.

 

*LOL** No worries about "hating you "... I am however incredibly jealous that it works so well for you... and me on a cable connection too! I dunno what it is...

I appreciate the feedback from anyone who cares to give me some.

Aside from the whatis site, which doesn't load for me very well no matter "what" settings I use for Netscape... the UBB 6 boards like TS most definitely work immeasurably better if I set Netscape's Cache for 0kb... it's dumbfounding several of us over there. More !! We're finding that's the "key" for some reason... the cache setting... and while 0kb works fine for me on cable, some folks with slower connections really do find the need for more of cache.

I'm honestly curious if it's mainly a UBB 6 software related thing which there's strong indications it is... but also how much Platform figures into it. I love my Macs... they've been such a pleasure and easy to use... but I'm aware that a lot of things work differently and sometimes better on PC's running Windows.

Our aim is to produce a board that will be useable by as many people with the browser of their choice... boy it sure ain't easy though! And a good many of us are diehard Netscape users and fans...

 

Hey DB,

I'm ripping across the Internet today at 40,000 bps! WooHoooo Used to be 19-24,000. At any rate, here are my results for the TechSurvivor site:

4.79......15.0 sec
6.2.1.....11.6 sec
Opera6.....9.0 sec.

The Whatis link took 36 sec using 4.79, with lots of doubleclick business flashing by on the Location Toolbar.

Cache settings for 4.79:

Cache.........2000 KB
Disk Cache....7680 KB

I have a 20 GB HD.

Ramona

P.S.
Forgot to add that I recreated your Search for memory, and it took 46 sec to complete the search, with results for 103 topics.

Hey, this Forum is in top shape!

Ramona

 

DB & Ramona,

Okay, I'm going through the web at 1240Kbps right now. Techsurvivors loads in 6 seconds. Whatis.com loads in 16 seconds. A search on memory loads in 11 seconds with numerous finds.

It seems like a definite Mac problem. Bummer for you DB! Hopefully, you can find a solution for it soon.

Hey Ramona, can you send me a few gigabytes? I really need to break down and buy one. Keep hoping that MWave settlement will come through.

 

Hey Mikie!

Will you trade me for some of that speed????

I thought the MWave business was a done deal, no? Guess they are slow in parceling out the money. They were sure in a hurry for yours tho, weren't they.

 

Speed for hard drive space... if only it was possible!

You know how it goes... keep moving that date back as much as you can. At first, I heard that payments were to be made at the end of December. Then it was after January 6th. Well, that's obviously past but no new date has been mentioned. Who knows. It would be nice to see the check, but I'm afraid to try and cash it when it comes.

 

MinnesotaMike,

Just get a new PC. You know you want one.

 

Thanks guys... this all really helps me, honestly! It's the sort of feedback that might help us iron out the problems we're having...

Could you do me just more one favour... please... if you have the time.

Set your Netscape Cache for 7680kb... Just the "Disk Cache "... Mac doesn't use both like Windows... and try the TS site again... but this time try looking at a thread or two and then click on "post reply" to someting... you won't be able to of course if you aren't registered... but tell me if the page loads for you... quickly and fully. I should mention... if you change the Disk Cache you should shut down NS and restart before trying the site.

A lot of us keep getting aggravating "half pages "... nothing below the reply box... I don't know if you're not registered if you'll even get that far, but it would help me to know if you can and what happens.

I don't know if the lack of the other cache setting not being on a Mac's NS version matters... but I know where I can get a small program to set that... You've given me a idea about that...

Thanks... Most grateful!

 

Hey DB,

Communicator 4.79, with Disk Cache at 7680 (always keep it there, but had a typo on the above post )

When using "Post Reply" to 8 different threads, the max load was 6 sec. I always got a full page.

 

DB,

I also have my cache set to 7680 at all times. Here are my times though.

7 seconds to load the site.
3-8 seconds to load a thread (depending on size).
6 seconds after hitting reply (before registering)
16 seconds to reply after registering. (large thread)

I hope that helps a little!


hewee,

You're right, I would love a new computer. Maybe someday! Just waiting for the second coming of the MWave!!

 

OK... thank you all very much for the helpful feedback... this sheds a bit of light on things. You've been great about it!

I'm going to try installing the little program I mentioned which allows one to control the two cache settings that Windows has but is missing in Mac. It's the only thing I can think of that's a major difference since the Disk Cache setting seems to make such a difference on Mac. Maybe controlling the "memory cache" via the program might help.

 

Mike,

You will not be able to buy much with the money from IBM.

 

DB,

Let us know how the program works for you. Hopefully, it will do the trick.

hewee,

I was hoping that they would bring the MWave card back for their new systems! The $100 will go towards a new hard drive, if I ever see it.