I use Gmail exclusively for utah-astronomy postings, and it has worked well. No delayed or lost posts (so-far). But a few days ago something new started, and I was hoping that other Gmail users or tech-savy folks could help. Gmail can't keep up with my typing speed. I have to type only about as fast as the cursor flashes, in other words, very slowly. It's as if there is no buffer at all. When I type my usual 65 WPM, only about one character in four makes it to the screen. This isn't a problem with my word-processing program or Notepad- I can type there as fast as possible and it all makes it to the screen. Also I haven't noticed it on Yahoo or AOL, but sometimes the slowdown is evident on message boards on two other on-line (non-astronomical) clubs I belong to. One is for Airship enthusiasts/historians, and the other is for owners of a specific, very fast car. I've been on those boards for a while; Gmail was the closest change to the slowdown, and the slowdown is most dramatic here. I haven't added any new programs, my security is up-to-date and the system scans clean (Symantec). A defrag has had no effect. Any ideas? TIA!
What are you using a commodore 64? Actually I use xmission but you have to pay $19.00 per month for it. But it's worht it becaise it will let you make mistajes as faste as you can tyoe. ;) Really! Quoting Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com>:
I use Gmail exclusively for utah-astronomy postings, and it has worked well. No delayed or lost posts (so-far). But a few days ago something new started, and I was hoping that other Gmail users or tech-savy folks could help.
Gmail can't keep up with my typing speed. I have to type only about as fast as the cursor flashes, in other words, very slowly. It's as if there is no buffer at all. When I type my usual 65 WPM, only about one character in four makes it to the screen.
This isn't a problem with my word-processing program or Notepad- I can type there as fast as possible and it all makes it to the screen. Also I haven't noticed it on Yahoo or AOL, but sometimes the slowdown is evident on message boards on two other on-line (non-astronomical) clubs I belong to. One is for Airship enthusiasts/historians, and the other is for owners of a specific, very fast car. I've been on those boards for a while; Gmail was the closest change to the slowdown, and the slowdown is most dramatic here.
I haven't added any new programs, my security is up-to-date and the system scans clean (Symantec). A defrag has had no effect.
Any ideas? TIA! _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Thanks, Guy, but- up until recently we used xmission at work, had to drop it because it was down at least 3 or 4 days a month. No big deal for most private email, but a real killer for business. If I can't resolve this problem with Gmail I'll try my AOL address. Or just pretend I'm on qualudes when posting to the astro list. I donated my Commodore 64 to SPOC. It's used to control the sprinklers now. On 5/12/07, diveboss@xmission.com <diveboss@xmission.com> wrote:
What are you using a commodore 64? Actually I use xmission but you have to pay $19.00 per month for it. But it's worht it becaise it will let you make mistajes as faste as you can tyoe. ;) Really!
Chuck, Why don't you type the note in another program, such as Word, then copy it over to the email? -- Joe
Hi Chuck, Since I directed you toward Gmail, we ought to find out why it is giving you problems. I am not sure what is going on. A few questions - are you using a Mac or PC? Firefox or IE? Is it an older computer or a fast, new one? Are you using the Gmail Chat feature? There could be many causes, and there doesn't seem to be any specific fixes in the Gmail forums... You can try using "plain text" formatting instead of "rich formatting" and see how it goes. -A
Ann, I'm almost positive that it's some setting on my computer since it doesn't happen on my (much better) office machine. I share this computer with my teenage daughter and am sure we're exposed to all kinds of junk from Websites she visits. She's also filled up incredibe amounts of memory with songs and photos- so much so that I'm about to just give her this computer and get a new one for myself. Thanks for the suggestions, we'll see how it goes. No big deal, really. On 5/13/07, Ann House <ann@annhouse.org> wrote:
There could be many causes, and there doesn't seem to be any specific fixes in the Gmail forums...
You can try using "plain text" formatting instead of "rich formatting" and see how it goes.
Chuck, A word about daughters and computers. Partway through my daughter's college career, we got her an iBook. Being typical of her generation, she stuffed the thing to the gills with videos, awful music and various pointless utilities. After a couple of years, the thing began crashing frequently. I applied all of my diagnostics, spending hours with the thing, and eventually came to believe that it had a cracked motherboard. I local service shop came to the same conclusion. I 'bought' the computer from her (gee, didn't I buy it FOR her) for a few hundred bucks and she bought another computer. It seemed pretty obvious that she'd slammed the thing around going between classes and wherever. After the computer became 'mine' I said, what the hey, let's try and get some use out of it. I wiped the drive (again) and installed just a few things I would use on a laptop. I didn't re-install any of her software. Two years later, the thing still works. Hasn't crashed a single time. I guess the point is that young folks (and perhaps a few old ones) are awfully trusting of just about any piece of junk software recommended by a friend. Aside from the obvious viral risks, there's just plain poorly written crap that extends the system and makes in unstable in many ways. The only solution is extremely drastic surgery. If you eventually give this thing to your daughter, just make sure that the rest of your home network is firewall protected--not just from the outside world, but from her. The underground lead-lined room is an option you might consider. Michael On May 13, 2007, at 8:19 PM, Chuck Hards wrote:
Ann, I'm almost positive that it's some setting on my computer since it doesn't happen on my (much better) office machine. I share this computer with my teenage daughter and am sure we're exposed to all kinds of junk from Websites she visits. She's also filled up incredibe amounts of memory with songs and photos- so much so that I'm about to just give her this computer and get a new one for myself.
Amen, brother, amen. I've come to the conclusion that I want my own computer anyway. A computer is like underwear...something best not shared... On 5/13/07, Michael Carnes <MichaelCarnes@earthlink.net> wrote:
Chuck, A word about daughters and computers. (snip)
If you eventually give this thing to your daughter, just make sure that the rest of your home network is firewall protected--not just from the outside world, but from her. The underground lead-lined room is an option you might consider.
participants (5)
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Ann House -
Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Joe Bauman -
Michael Carnes