[dabigkahuna]

The first one is about the tendency in Safari (Beta 4) to get ads. Specifically, Netflck. Sometimes it will appear in its own tab and other times it is completely separate from the Safari window I'm using.

So, since I get it so much, I figured others must have experience with it - and maybe have a solution?

I do not recall if the same thing happened with Firefox - I switched to Safari fairly quickly after getting the computer.

The other problem may or may not be related to Safari.

My computer is usually on, though it goes to sleep between sessions.

When I go back to it, it will seem fine for awhile, but then, while using Safari, it will get that little spinning wheel and I can't do anything. I haven't timed it, but it might last 10 seconds or more. Usually, just after it gives me back control, it will come right back, but for a shorter time. I'd say that's about the normal situation, though a short time ago, it came back quickly two additional times before settling down.

Trouble is, I can't say it is the browser for sure - it could be coincidence because most of the time, it is the browser I'm working with.

I normally also have Mail open plus Numbers (several files open), and quite often also have Pages and iTunes open.

I have time machine active (normally don't see that icon spinning when this happens though) and also sync to my mobileMe acount.

It doesn't seem to happen when I first bring it back from sleep, but sometime later. Maybe something like 15 minutes? Never timed it though so I could be way off.

[dabigkahuna]

Dang, it just did it again, maybe 10 minutes after the last time. Lasted about 20 seconds this time.

[dabigkahuna]

It just did it again! Lasted pretty much exactly 20 seconds. I was counting it in my head, but since I teach music, I'm pretty good at counting that way.

After the last time, I did make some changes to try to see if it made any difference. I quit every program except Mail, Safari, and Numbers.

[smax013]

As to the Safari issue, it would help if you have some example sites. Personally, I have never encountered such an issue, but then I don't generally browse a whole lot outside of a relatively small number of "core" sites. And I will note that I do not use Safari 4 Beta.

As to the OS stuff, I have found that sleep (aka power settings) can cause some slow downs upon wake. I find the same "general" type of problems with power saving option in Windows too. The best I can attribute it to is like when you wake from a nap...you tend to be a little hazy for a while and it generally takes you a little while to "shake the cobwebs"...it kind of seems to be the same thing with computers.

Now, it could be something specific, but if so, then it might be a little tough to track down. The one possibility is RAM...I forget, how much RAM did you get in your MacBook? Having a bunch of programs open can lead to needed use of the hard drive as virtual memory, which can cause slow downs.

[dabigkahuna]

If it happened almost right after waking up, I would suspect that was the issue - but it happens later. For example, I got back home around 12:45. Something like an hour later is when it first happened this time. About 15 seconds the first time, a few seconds without it, then another 7 seconds.

Last night I even restarted the computer and this time only had mail and Safari open. I left it on overnight so, of course, it went to sleep. Was fine when I started work on it in the morning, but I only had about 15 minutes before heading out. Left it on and had the above result again.

And I have 4 gb of memory on my new style macbook (2.0 ghz).

Between cutting down what I had on this time plus the memory I have, it shouldn't be that issue.

I guess I could go back to Firefox for a day or so and see if the problem shows up there.

Meanwhile, hopefully someone will have experience it and no the answer. Like maybe someone didn't have the problem with Safari 3, but it showed up with Safari 4.

Do you get the Netflix stuff?

I usually have about 8 Safari tabs open at one time and will have others temporarily as I check out links on one of the pages. For example, I'll have Drudge report open, but when reading articles, open the link in a new tab.

BTW, I know the Drudge report automatically reloads, but usually when this problem happens, I don't see it reloading. Further, I've been on the page when it is reloading and it doesn't bog down like this.

[smax013]

Have you cleared out the cache for Safari?

And I don't use NetFlix.

[dabigkahuna]

I did clear the cache before without success. Someone on another forum suggested using OnyX and having it do three things which included some cache stuff which may have been different. Didn't get the problem since, but I won't be confident about it unless it doesn't come back at least today either.

Another person recommended I use adblock for Safari and so far I haven't seen the Netflix ad in its own window or its own tab - but that problem has always been more sporadic so I'll have to wait to confirm that as a solution too.

When I know more, I'll report back.

[dabigkahuna]

Oops, the delay stuff just came back - about 20 minutes after coming out of sleep while using the browser. First it froze, but no wheel for about 5 seconds then the wheel appeared for a few more. After a couple seconds where it worked somewhat jerkily (trying to scroll the page), it came back for 3 more.

It was on my most common site so I guess my next test will be to try to confirm if it happens elsewhere or not. That could take awhile since this thing usually only happens once after each time it wakes (though there have been exceptions).

[smax013]

Do you have AC in your house/apartment? I know that some in Hawaii don't. It could be a heat issue if you do not have AC. I have noticed that with some MacBooks, if the fan kicks on, things slow down. My mom's (older style MacBook) will do this on occasion.

[dabigkahuna]

Yeah, I have AC so that isn't it.

As for the MB fan, I've never noticed it coming on. I usually have TV on so maybe I just don't hear it. I do have it propped up a bit so it isn't sitting flat on the desk. I started doing that with my last computer to increase heat dissipation. May not really matter, but I figure it can't hurt.

[dabigkahuna]

Just got back and started on the computer - after a bit (didn't time it, but within an hour, it locked for about 25 seconds and moments later for another 15.

So far, since I've really been trying to keep track, it has always been on the same website (a discussion forum). Yesterday I tried real hard to spend almost all my time on other sites and it never happened.

More testing will be done, but has anyone ever run into a website that does this? Not all the time, just occasionally?

[smax013]

Could be a scripting issue. Most forum sites run software that uses scripts to power the forums. This takes processor time. For example, this forum runs a LOT better on both my MacBook Pro (a Core Duo) and my new Windows desktop (a Core 2 Duo) than it did on my old desktop (a P4)...that is because both have faster processors.

Tack that onto a potentially slow connection(somewhere along the path to the server)/slow server and it could make sense.

[dabigkahuna]

I guess what I'll try next, maybe after one more day of trying to see if this happens elsewhere, is go back to Firefox for a bit - long enough to see if it does the same thing on the same site.

Thing is, I don't recall this on my much slower (and less memory) PC. But that could be that in the months (years?) leading up to buying my new computer, I had lots of times that computer would stop working. So all the various problems may have made it hard to recognize that one was when using the browser.

I'm kinda hoping it is just the site, even though it would be fairly inconvenient since I'm on it so much. I prefer to think that my computer and, hopefully, my software is doing their job!

I am a bit bewildered about why a site would have this problem, but normally just one incident a session. I do pretty much the same stuff every time:

1. Be in one discussion area.
2. Open threads in a new tab.
3. If I want to reply to a post, I do that in a new tab.
4. After going through all the threads I want to read, mark them as "read".
5. Check another forum doing the same process as the first.

That's about it. Seems if there is an issue, it should happen over and over!

[smax013]

I don't really know if this is the issue or if it is something else...but keep an eye on it and see if Firefox helps. Keep in mind that different browsers read pages a little differently.

[dabigkahuna]

Well, I've been using Firefox for awhile now on that site (and Safari for everything else - both are open apps all the time.

Haven't seen the problem since so far so I'm now going back to Safari full time and see if it comes back.

Oh, for the record, this is the site:

http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=37

Don't know if the problem would occur if someone was not a member and just reading posts. It happens to me when just reading, but I'm logged in as a member.

[smax013]

If I get a chance, I might check out the site to see anything happens on my Mac.

[dabigkahuna]

That would be cool, but keep in mind that I don't think it ever happens right away. I'd guess usually 15 minutes of pretty constant usage and I know it has taken as much as an hour - so don't take up more time than you want.

My "constant use" amounts to reading new messages in threads I'm interested in (in a new tab), responding to some (in a new tab), closing tabs as I finish these chores so I can continue to the next interesting unread threadlet.

Then, after going through an entire forum's unread messages, clicking a button that says to mark all messages as read. This takes me back to the forum list where I select something else. Most of that you can't do since you aren't a member.

I know the problem happens a lot while scrolling through a thread, but that's what I do the most. I know at least once it happened when I clicked the button to post a new message (the new screen came up which normally follows that action, but I couldn't scroll it for a bit).

I don't recall if it ever happened WHILE I was typing a response (I don't think it did, though).

[dabigkahuna]

Should have added the reminder that all the times I can actually remember, this all occurred after coming out of sleep - then the extended time I already mentioned. Don't know if it happened if I turned it on from scratch because I usually have it on. Also, with only a couple exceptions I can recall, once it happens (usually twice, a few seconds apart), it doesn't come back unless the computer has gone to sleep.

I do have some more test stuff to consider, if it happens again (as I expect). I have a "Develop" item on my menu bar (can't recall how I got it, except it was from advice on one a discussion forum - maybe this one). Anyway, from that I can select "User Agent" and then "Firefox 3.0.5 Mac".

I may try doing that and see what happens. The problem with that is that the selection only holds while in the same tab. Since I'm constantly opening things in new tabs, it is a real hassle to keep changing it! Might be worth the effort though, to see if this can be figured out.

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, got some more info. I'm trying to keep "Activity Monitor" where I can see it, though I'm not sure what the best thing is to have it set on. I also have iStat Nano as a widgit which comes up if I move the cursor to a corner.

So, I was in the usual forum and the spinning thing came up. "Activity Monitor" was on "Memory". At a quick glance, nothing caught my eye (in all the time I've had it on, it only shows "Page ins" at 168.16 MB. I assume that just keeps increasing until you turn it off. Pages outs shows zero. I think free memory has never gone below 2 gb (right now it is at 2.16 - the lowest I've seen it).

Anyway, I quickly clicked the CPU option. I don't know how to measure that - probably should have focused on the stuff on the left which shows percentages, but I got focused on the graphic representation. The top one had a fairly long stretched where it was lit up all the way to the top. The bottom was not as high, but it was pretty close to the top. I do not know what each one depicts. Usually when I look at it, it stays one dot high or none at all. Occasionally I'll see two.

Oh, wait, as I'm typing this, it suddenly jumped to over 3/4 up (lower one maybe one dot less than the top). It went right back down and then up again, but not quite as much. Now it is back to almost nothing.

Another thing that happened while writing this just before that - the spinning wheel came up for about a second. No time to really check anything other than the graph since it scrolls slowly to the left. Didn't show anything - unless there is a long delay in the measurement and the jump I saw referred to the earlier spinning. Not sure how long the gap was, but probably something like 20-30 seconds. Maybe more. So I doubt they are connected.

Back to the bigger incident on the other forum, I then brought up iStat Nano. Of course, this was a bit after the actual problem as I looked at the Activity Monitor first. But when I looked at iStat, it showed the the User CPU usage around 50%. The two thermometers at the bottom were both pretty high (top one the highest - again, I don't know what each represents). Remember, this was a least some seconds after the actual problem and at this point I wasn't noticing a computer problem. But then, I wasn't trying to scroll either. The situation with iStat lasted for some time which surprised me - far longer than I would normally have trouble with the computer - but it eventually went down.

Right now the User % just runs around 2-3%.

Well, that's what I have so far.

[smax013]

For Activity Monitor, stay on the CPU screen and click on the CPU column. This will sort the processes by CPU useage. This will allow you to see which process is eating up CPU cycles the most.