Thanks to everyone who wrote with suggestions regarding the browser
issue with my old, hot-rodded Pismo PowerBooks running
OS X 10.4 Tiger (see End of the Road in Sight for
OS X Tiger and My Pismo PowerBooks). Floodgap Software's Cameron
Kaiser suggested trying a test build of TenFourFox 10.0.5,
which I did, but no joy. I think his observations that Mozilla stopped
supporting the older JavaScript compiler in version 10 may have
pinpointed the problem - and that it's possible the bar is getting
higher than the older CPUs in the Pismo can reach (I also suspect that
the Pismo's puny graphics card is a major contributor to the issue) has
likely pretty much nailed it.
Austin Leeds asked whether I'd tried Camino, and I hadn't lately, so I
decided to download the latest build (2.1.2), which I was delighted to
discover still supports OS X 10.4. It also provides pretty lively
performance - at least relatively speaking. Consequently, I think it
will be be the key to another reprieve from the eventual
inevitable.
Try a TenFourFox Test Build
From Cameron Kaiser:
Hi Charles,
I'm trying to determine based on your recent column when the
problems started to occur: Was it around the 8-9 timeframe, or within
the current 10.x series?
By 10, Mozilla stopped supporting the older JavaScript compiler we
used from 4.x through 9.x. Maintaining it would have been nearly
impossible. In 10.0.6 I am going to be introducing a minor improvement
to compiler latency, though I am unsure how much improvement that will
be on your systems (it will, however, particularly benefit smaller
scripts which have a proportionately higher compilation penalty). So if
the problem occurred between in the 8.0 to 10.x timeframe,
unfortunately I have no means of "going back." You could see if 10.0.6
helps you when it comes out in about three or four weeks.
On the other hand, if the slowdowns were within the 10.x series,
then I wonder if something else is afoot. For the last several
releases, that branch only gets security fixes. It might be worth
moving to the unstable branch just to see if it's better there, but I
wouldn't have any good explanation for you otherwise, other than the
usual suggestions of a clean profile. I use TenFourFox personally on a
1 GHz iMac G4 and a
1.33 GHz iBook G4 as well as my desktop G5 Quad, and even though I am
the chief ringleader, I am happy with how well my Power Macs still
perform. However, it is certainly possible that the bar is getting
higher than the older CPUs in the Pismo can manage, and Mozilla is
evolving the browser at a considerably faster rate which doubtlessly
magnifies the problem.
I continue to enjoy your columns.
Sincerely,
Cameron Kaiser
PS: I should also mention that there is a test build of 10.0.5 you
can try with that patch in it:
http://tenfourfox.googlecode.com/files/TenFourFox7450Test-10.0.5.app.zip
Hi Cameron,
Thanks for the interest and contact. It was around
version 8 when the slowdown problem cropped up, although it
subjectively seems worse with version 10.
The poor old Pismo has a 550 MHz G4 processor upgrade
and 1 GB of RAM. The Rage Mobility 128 and 8 MB of VRAM may well
be the worst bottleneck.
I've downloaded version 10.0.5. Maybe a bit livelier,
but still awfully sluggish.
Charles
Pismos to Pasture
From Brian:
I was interested to see your article about putting the Pismos out to
pasture. My brother has been on a Pismo until quite recently, although
I'm helping him move to a newer machine - incidentally, a 2008 aluminum MacBook just
like you have.
I see you don't mention Apple's own Safari in your discussion of
Tiger browsers. Apple updated it until recently - 4.1.3, the latest for
Tiger, was released in November 2010, a lot more recently than
Navigator 9. Any quick thoughts?
Best,
Brian
Hi Brian,
I've never been much of a Safari fan, although I use
it extensively on the iPad.
The OmniWeb version 5.11.1
that I'm using on the Pismo is WebKit based and I think on the same or
a later version than Safari 4.1.3. It's probably the best of the bunch
at this point.
Charles
Safari and Leopard WebKit
From John:
Hello Mr. Moore,
I have enjoyed your comments on Low End Mac for several years. I am
emailing about "End of the Road in Sight for OS X Tiger and My Pismo
PowerBooks."
I am still using Tiger on my WallStreet G3 (300 MHz) and
my "new" 12" Aluminum 867
MHz. Just checking, I nearly quit Tiger, but the Flash 11 hack
described in Low End Mac is very good and at least allows some activity
on both machines. Probably will move to OS X 10.5 Leopard next tax season,
but plan on Tiger for yet another summer.
I wonder if you saw the Lepoard WebKit build at http://code.google.com/p/leopard-webkit/
Since I do not own Leopard now, I cannot test it, but perhaps before
popping the old Pismo in the closet you might try?
John
Hi John
Thanks for the comment, and glad you're still getting
service from the old PowerBooks.
Unfortunately, the Pismo is not supported by Leopard.
Hacked installs are possible, but not something I want to gert into on
a work machine.
Charles
Publisher's note: I've been using the new Leopard
WebKit on my dual 1 GHz Power Mac G4 for a couple weeks now. It works
by forcing Safari to use its version of WebKit instead of Apple's, and
while I can't say I've noticed any real difference (I've never been a
big Safari user, but that has been changing in recent months, even on
Tiger), but I haven't seen any issues with the WebKit update either.
Worth a try if you're running Leopard on a PPC Mac. dk
What About Camino?
From Austin:
Have you tried Camino?
Hi Austin
Yes, TenFour Fox was faster. Maybe worth
another look.
Later: Downloaded version 2.1.2. It seems to be a
service life extending solution.
Thanks!
Charles
Pismos Have Passed Their Prime
From John Hatchett:
Sad to hear, Charles. In all honesty, I have not fired up my old
Pismo in quite a while. Okay, just did. I'm running TenFourFox for a G3
processor, and it seems to be running over the Net okay. I guess I
should use it a little more often. You're right, the time of this great
old bird is gone.
We will never see it's like again.
Hi John,
Too true.
Charles
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