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Using Safari Slows Your System?

Posted by kdawson on from the need-for-speed dept.

sandoz writes "Macenstein has up an interesting article with some evidence that running Safari seems to slow down unrelated programs. While the speed with which a browser renders a Web page is an important measure, the difference between browsers is usually a matter of a few seconds at most. To my mind, a more important measure of speed is how a browser affects the overall speed of your system." Some responses to the article suggest that memory handling in WebKit may be the culprit. The Safari developers have already responded to this article on the webkit.org blog. They explain why the slowdown might be occurring and how it's (probably) already been fixed in the nightly build. And they request more minimal test cases.

12 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. my test case by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have a 5-1/2 year old iBook. Running anything slows my system down... : p

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  2. Bloomin' OS X copycats by tttonyyy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't you realise Windows has this technology already - it's been slowing down unrelated programs for years! (Sorry, I know it's cheap, but I couldn't resist!)

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    biopowered.co.uk - catalytically cracking triglycerides for home automotive use since 2008. Just say no to big oil!
    1. Re:Bloomin' OS X copycats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
      Don't you realise Windows has this technology already - it's been slowing down unrelated programs for years! (Sorry, I know it's cheap, but I couldn't resist!)


      No, Apple has had this technology for years and Microsoft just copied it, as usual.

    2. Re:Bloomin' OS X copycats by lanswitch · · Score: 2, Funny

      yes, but who owns the patents on this?

    3. Re:Bloomin' OS X copycats by cyfer2000 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Xerox, as usual.

      --
      There is a spark in every single flame bait point.
    4. Re:Bloomin' OS X copycats by jZnat · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'd suspect Sun holds this patent..

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      'Yes, firefox is indeed greater than women. Can women block pops up for you? No. Can Firefox show you naked women? Yes.'
  3. Of course it slows your system by Timesprout · · Score: 1, Funny

    Going on Safari is supposed to be a chill out vacation isn't it. And because nature is so balanced, life speeds up for all the wildlife who have to run like fuck when they see you approach with your high powered rifle.

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  4. But I wonder by raynet11 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If a train leaves Boston with an I-MAC running Safari doing 40MPH heading west and a 2nd train leaves Chicago doing 60MPH heading East with an mini MAC running Safari and Quake 4. How many I-PODS will be sold funding more "Hi I'm a MAC" comercials before: a. My Karma can be kicked down another notch b. The code will be fixed ? c. This post will be changed to flame bait d. This post is silly and you can't believe your still reading it?

  5. Re:I concur by loafing_oaf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just switch to Firefox. I'm using it right now on Windows XP, and I haven't noticed any problems with memory le*$@!!- NO CARRIER

    --
    Always someone has power over you. The thing to consider is this: Is the power good, or bad?
  6. Re:I concur by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 2, Funny

    However, since 10.4.5+, I have noticed that (as a whole) there appears to be an inability of OS X to free RAM up as efficiently as it used to. Programs like Safari, after many hours of usage, will remain as a HUGE RAM/virtual memory sink

    They must be using code from Firefox...

    (ducks)

    --
    "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
  7. Re:it's the memory stupid by SporkLand · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've never seen a weird mistype like footprint -> offtprint. Are you typing like 2 hoojillion words a minute and those are the sort of strange errors that occur?

  8. I get it... by petermartin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Safari slows down other programs so that it can look faster in comparison. So that's the secret of their success!