Apple internet worse than PC internet?

gozo

I am in the market for a new laptop computer and will probably switch on over from the dark side and buy a Mac. From what I've been reading in this forum, it sounds like there are some internet problems on Mac I've never encountered on a PC. Is internet access on a Mac more difficult with more problems?



Thanks for any help.

ghost_user_name

What kind of Internet problems do you refer to?



I've found that connecting to the Internet is far easier on Mac OS X than on a Windows PC.

buonrotto

There are two basic tradeoffs to be made. Microsoft Internet Explorer can understand and run pretty much any web page out there, but it is relatively slow. There are a slew of web browsers like OmniWeb, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape, Chimera, and iCab that have problems with a fairly small number of web pages but are much faster. On top of those two basic issues, some of the applications behave a little better, look a little better and have different features. So there's no ideal web browser right now, but you have lots of choices.

ghost_user_name

BuonRotto, I think he meant that there may be fundamental problems with networking in OSX, not the web browsers. The browser scene is indeed a fascinating one for the Mac, but the networking actual process of connecting to the internet are rather hassle-free, AFAIK.

buonrotto

Whoops! <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />



In that case, it's even easier. Macs are astoundingly easy to get online with. Scary easy. Like you though you missed something easy.

brianmacos

I found connecting to the Internet rather easy on my new ibook when I switched a little over a week ago, it isn't as easy as XP because with any broadband service with ethernet XP will set it all up and be running before you can snap your figures. All you need for OSX is a few DNS numbers from your ISP and then you are on your way. It is very easy.

brianmacos

Oh, yeah I forgot to tell you IE 5.2 is pretty nice for OSX... IE has a few more features on Windows but that is expected since it is made by Microsoft. I also heard that Surfing the Internet is slower on a MacOS but I haven't noticed it being slower on my Mac. It would be a good decision to switch over to Apple, I used Windows for over 10 years and followed Apple for about 5 years, and finally just decided to buy one. All I can say is I will never go back... I'm not jumping on the Bandwagen!!! I have followed Apple long enough.

robo

well, to counter the IE fans here, i'd recommend trashing IE as soon as you get your Mac (uninstall by simply dragging the app icon to the trash) and downloading Mozilla.



It's more stable, more compatible, and much faster.



But as for internet related problems, I can't think of any off the top of my head, other than that no current Mac browser is as fast as IE 6 for Windows. IE 6 is an unbelievably fast browser, but Mozilla and OmniWeb under MacOS X are perfectly useable.



-robo

gozo

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure I knew exactly what I was asking. I had been reading the discussion on browsers and thinking that it sounded like a lot more "freeze-ups" and other things than I have been used to with IE for Windows or Netscape for that matter. The answers have been helpful, however, particularly the options to IE that, as a soon-to-be-converted-from-Windows Mac user, I had never thought of before.

eman

[quote]Originally posted by robo:

<strong>well, to counter the IE fans here, i'd recommend trashing IE as soon as you get your Mac (uninstall by simply dragging the app icon to the trash) and downloading Mozilla.



It's more stable, more compatible, and much faster.



</strong><hr></blockquote>



The thing that sucks about Mozilla is that the UI is slow.

ghost_user_name

[quote]Originally posted by EmAn:

<strong>The thing that sucks about Mozilla is that the UI is slow.</strong><hr></blockquote>And it's poorly threaded, only taking advantage of one processor if you have duallies.

progmac

[quote]Originally posted by gozo:

<strong>Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure I knew exactly what I was asking. I had been reading the discussion on browsers and thinking that it sounded like a lot more "freeze-ups" and other things than I have been used to with IE for Windows or Netscape for that matter. The answers have been helpful, however, particularly the options to IE that, as a soon-to-be-converted-from-Windows Mac user, I had never thought of before.</strong><hr></blockquote>



i can say with a fair amount of certainty you will have a more pleasant browsing/online experience with X. if IE, for example, crashes for a mac user, they are surprised and come and post it in the forums. if IE crashes for a window user, they are probably used to it and won't post it because they no there isn't any good solution. JMTC

graphiteman

[quote]Originally posted by starfleetX:

<strong>And it's poorly threaded, only taking advantage of one processor if you have duallies.</strong><hr></blockquote>



Doesn't OS X handle this by itself?

ghost_user_name

[quote]Originally posted by graphiteman:

<strong>Doesn't OS X handle this by itself?</strong><hr></blockquote>Yes and no.



The operating system delegates different threads to the separate processors to balance the load. However, if an app only runs on a single main thread, there are no tasks that can be split onto different processors. OmniWeb is VERY threaded, from networking down to page rendering, and fully utilizes a dual processor setup. Mozilla and IE are, well, not.



This is the fault of bad developers, not Apple. Mac OS X is doing its job as well as can be done -- it's just that the developers aren't taking advantage of functions and features that they should. If you have a dual processor Mac and use Mozilla or IE, the browser will hog one CPU (when in use), leaving the other either completely idle or available to do other tasks in other applications.

mac's girl

[quote]Originally posted by gozo:

<strong>Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure I knew exactly what I was asking. I had been reading the discussion on browsers and thinking that it sounded like a lot more "freeze-ups" and other things than I have been used to with IE for Windows or Netscape for that matter. The answers have been helpful, however, particularly the options to IE that, as a soon-to-be-converted-from-Windows Mac user, I had never thought of before.</strong><hr></blockquote>



I.E. hasnt given me any grief. it "unexpectedly quit" once, but i wouldnt call it a crash, since i just relaunched it and continued whatever i was doing. in 6 months of using os X, that's called heaven!



not to plug microsoft or anything (god forbid), but rather for convenience's sake, try I.E. before switching browsers. i find that for what i do, it's more than sufficient. and it's still just as fast if not faster than I.E. on my brother's P4 1.4mhz using the same internet service and router. and i like the mac I.E. interface much better than the windoze one.



all you other ppl-- stop scaring the guy now. tee hee.

cyko95

I just converted from PC to Mac less than a month ago and love it. I bought a new iBook 700, and I can tell you from my opinion of switching that you'll love it. Since i've done System Administration for the past 5 years, going home to my PC just wasn't fun anymore. I got tired at looking at computers. But after I bought my iBook that all changed. My wife gets mad because i'm on it so much. And yes Networking, and Internet are easy, effective, stable, and IT WORKS. Thats the nice thing. It works. Man, I sound like i'm on one of those new switch commercials.



Tip for Apple - Include an Apple "D-Paper" upgrade option. When it arrives, just give that to your wife. When she is ready she can send the pre-paid postage letter to the Apple lawyers so they can just file the Divorce papers as the leasing department is about to send your first Apple Payment for your recent purchase. All-in-one. Makes it easier.

anders

Wow :eek: There must be a leak in the internet today. Something just dripped from <a href="http://www.apple.com/switch/"; target="_blank">www.apple.com/switch/</a> onto <a href="http://www.appleinsider.com"; target="_blank">www.appleinsider.com</a>

mac's girl

[quote]Originally posted by cyko95:

<strong>

Tip for Apple - Include an Apple "D-Paper" upgrade option. When it arrives, just give that to your wife. When she is ready she can send the pre-paid postage letter to the Apple lawyers so they can just file the Divorce papers as the leasing department is about to send your first Apple Payment for your recent purchase. All-in-one. Makes it easier. </strong><hr></blockquote>



nah, you dont need D-papers. just get two macs. (one for the spouse.) the only way i can have a conversation with my husband is to IM him from the next room!!!!

cyko95

[quote]Originally posted by mac's girl:

<strong>



nah, you dont need D-papers. just get two macs. (one for the spouse.) the only way i can have a conversation with my husband is to IM him from the next room!!!!

</strong><hr></blockquote>



Not bad at all...she does think my iBook is neat looking Maybe i'll get her one...

groverat

Internet access w/ PC &gt; Internet access w/ Mac



PC has the two fastest browsers: IE 6 and Opera 6

Mozilla for Windows is much better than Mozilla for MacOSX (for OS9 sucks).



Internet setup is child's play on both platforms.

torifile

[quote]Originally posted by groverat:

<strong>Internet access w/ PC &gt; Internet access w/ Mac



PC has the two fastest browsers: IE 6 and Opera 6

Mozilla for Windows is much better than Mozilla for MacOSX (for OS9 sucks).



Internet setup is child's play on both platforms.</strong><hr></blockquote>



Agreed. And there are too many bad webdesigners/masters that code poorly or use proprietary stuff that is Windows only. Internet is quite acceptable on a mac, but it surely is better on a pc. Unfortunately...