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Lattimer · Sep 19, 2003, 09:10 AM

I'm just wondering, is there ANYTHING I can get software wise, or scripting I can do, to make my life easier to cope with online. My connection is HORRID! Half the time the pages won't even load, and when they do, it's mind numbingly slow!

Right now I'm on a WinXP machine, but I will be OSX enabled within a week or so.

I'm mainly looking for faster web page loading, and the ability to keep the connection active.

On a side note - Does anybody make a program that could detect a phone call when you're online? Nobody can get ahold of me know since I always have the phone tied up with the comp.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Doug

gorickey · Sep 19, 2003, 09:15 AM

Actually, the answer to your second question is built into OS X....

Arkham_c · Sep 19, 2003, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by gorickey:
Actually, the answer to your second question is built into OS X....

Hey, cool! I have not really used the modem in OSX (have had a cable modem for 5+years now), but that's pretty neat.

Lattimer · Sep 19, 2003, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by gorickey:
Actually, the answer to your second question is built into OS X....

I'll have to look into that, thanks!

Any info on the first question by chance? =)

Visnaut · Sep 19, 2003, 10:40 PM

Wow! That 'notify me of incoming calls' part doesn't appear in my modem panel. I'm assuming it has to be supported by the modem hardware itself, right? With the two macs i use regularly, a Sawtooth G4 400 and a Rev. A Ti PB 400, that option simply doesn't display, it's just an empty area.

thePurpleGiant · Sep 20, 2003, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by Visnaut:
Wow! That 'notify me of incoming calls' part doesn't appear in my modem panel. I'm assuming it has to be supported by the modem hardware itself, right? With the two macs i use regularly, a Sawtooth G4 400 and a Rev. A Ti PB 400, that option simply doesn't display, it's just an empty area.

Me too. Not on dialup anymore - but I would have *loved* that feature when I was :/

RoofusPennymore · Sep 21, 2003, 12:37 AM

Thats probably for a V.92 modem, which new Macs should have. But your ISP has to have them too.

Sarc · Sep 21, 2003, 02:03 AM

yup ... it's a v92 feature.
a friend of mine got 15K/s transfers on a v.92 on newer phone lines with a v.92 supported ISP

PubGuy · Sep 21, 2003, 12:25 PM

Regarding your dial-up speed with XP (or any version of Windows), OS X will be faster!

Reason: Windows is not optimized for internet connections out-of-the box.

I've gotten and tested various software for Windows machines to optimize network speed. I have seen up to a "200%" improvement in connection speed. ---> Now, this doesn't mean the physical connection is any faster...it still connects at 48,800 or whatever...but the throughput speed of the connection is increased by changing buffer settings, etc.

There are some websites that let you test your connection speed (DSLreports, etc). I run a baseline test of the connection first, then optimize the Windows internet settings --- reboot, of course --- then connect again and rerun the tests. I have ALWAYS been able to speed the connection.

Conversly, OS X is highly optimized, even for the internet. Although there is BroadbandOptimizer to help speed broadband connections even further, most "out-of-the-box" settings for OS X are superior to Windows and thus your internet connection --- at the same speed --- is faster with OS X.

Cool, eh?