Print Page - Kicked Off the Internet

Archives => 2009 => Topic started by: Delaware on October 29, 2009, 01:15:07 PM

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: Delaware on October 29, 2009, 01:15:07 PM

I'm new to Techsurvivors. My mother told me about you guys! I have a PowerBook G4, OS 10.3.9. with 512 MB RAM ( I think). I added 256 upon purchase. I love this laptop but in the past few months, with increasing frequency, I'm denied access to advanced pages for purchases (ie .....ebay, kodak gallery, southwest airlines, etc). I put my pointer on the "continue" button and there is no action. Also, Safari just quits on me and I get bumped off. This occurs on utube videos regularly. My husband has a new Macbook Pro and I can do all these things on his computer, but not mine. I keep the Activity Monitor open to see if I'm overloading and generally have about 185 MB memory free.

By the way, my use of this computer is fairly simple. Internet, Word, Excel - plus some photos and music - but not excessive at all. I'm a light user.

My solution is to consider buying a new Mac, but I wonder if there is a way that I can save myself the $1000 and continue to use this one.

thanks.

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: jchuzi on October 29, 2009, 01:50:11 PM

One very strong possibility is that you are using an outdated version of Safari. The newest version of Safari is incompatible with OS 10.3.9 so you could either upgrade to 10.4 or 10.5 (10.5 requires a processor speed of 867 MHz or better and 512 MB RAM, but I would recommend at least 1 GB) so that you could use the latest Safari or you could try a different browser. The latter is a cheaper solution. Two free possibilities are Camino and Netscape. iCab is an option but it isn't free.

There aren't that many browsers that still work in 10.3.9 so you may be backed into a corner. Firefox, for example, is a fine browser but it requires 10.4 or later. If you opt to upgrade your OS, FastMac has different versions available but be careful. Don't get a machine-specific version (gray label) because it will work only on the computer for which it was designed. You want a full retail version (black label). There is a 10.4 Upgrade version that requires that 10.3 be pre-installed so that's an option but if you ever have to reinstall, you'll have to erase the drive, install 10.3 and then install 10.4. 10.6 will not work with your computer.

If I were you, I would get a new computer (assuming that your budget permits). Your powerbook is definitely limiting you. Good luck, whatever you decide.

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: Texas Mac Man on October 29, 2009, 01:57:37 PM

Try using Firefox for OS 10.3 http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html
You'll still have problems on a few sites, but it's better than Safari.

I run Tiger 10.4.11 on my G3 400MHz Pismo, so upgrade to Tiger on your G4

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: krissel on October 30, 2009, 12:49:50 AM

to TS!

Let me put in a plug for Camino. It is one of the few up to date browsers that will run on Panther (10.3.9). It is a close competitor to Safari and I use it a lot. In fact when I have trouble on a site with Safari I punch up Camino and it works.

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: sandbox on October 30, 2009, 04:13:15 AM

OS10.3.9

I use Firefox 2.0.0.20 primarily

and the new

Opera 10.01 http://www.opera.com/browser/download/

as well as Opera mobile

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: jchuzi on October 30, 2009, 05:32:27 AM

I didn't recommend Opera because this VersionTracker page claims that it requires 10.4 or 10.5. VT is often inaccurate so I'm not totally surprised that it works for you in 10.3.9. I could not find any system requirements at Opera's web site, so that's a failing of the developer.

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: Delaware on October 30, 2009, 07:06:25 AM

Thank you all. I'm going to try Camino to see if I can squeak my computer out a bit longer but may have to bite the bullet. Just trying to balance summer trip with husband against new computer. Tough one!

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: Jack W on October 30, 2009, 08:23:13 AM

QUOTE(jchuzi @ Oct 30 2009, 06:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think a lot of developers are being conservative and don't list prior OS versions since they didn't have access to test their software on them.

Now, if it says "Intel only", then it definitely wouldn't work on 10.4 or prior.

Just my 2¢

Oh, and I forgot to say

to TeeEss Delaware!

Title: Kicked Off the Internet
Post by: sandbox on October 30, 2009, 11:33:52 PM

QUOTE(jchuzi @ Oct 30 2009, 06:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jon,
I'm not sure about version-trackers introduction. I acquired my version from an automatic upgrade inside Opera 10.0.0

It works fine so far.