So I have been having issues trying to use the forum for a while now, but lately it has gotten to be a real PITA. I am posting this from my phone because I can't post it from my Mac. Every time I get on the forum via the laptop, it goes to the home page, then forum page, no issues. But anything I do from there either goes to a cached version, or goes to a page that tells the the server unexpectedly dropped the connection, this sometimes occurs when a server is busy, wait a few minutes and try again." Even if it goes to a cached version, it will go to the other on the next click, and I'm toast after that. I can start over but it's the same result.

This is an internet issue, but also a forum issue. I say this because all the other forums I frequent work just fine on my wifi connection, however if I change over from my wifi connection to my cellular hotspot, this forum works just fine. I don't understand why it's just this forum i have problems with. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks all.

I use this forum on a mac...  No problems here.  However, macs are finicky about internet connections.  Plus this new update seems finicky altogether.  Youtube only works 10% of the time now.  This forum uses different software than most so that is probably the issue but it's also probably a combination of mac/forum software/etc.  I've had a lot of stupid issues with my mac and I'm not exactly seeing the benefit of it over windows.  The build quality, touchpad, shortcuts, all 10000x better than windows, but jesus the issues are worse than windows.  Theres tons of little things like these that I've been noticing.  

Agreed, I truly haven't been a fan if my Mac since I bought it, but I haven't had any virus problems either since I've owned it. I am not very Mac savvy and lose my patience with it quite often. I get mad just having to track down a recent download because I have no option of its name or where it's going. Little crap like that make me hate it, but the forum issue is just an annoyance. I will try to dive into it a little more and see if I can locate anything useful. Thanks for the insight.

Edited July 12, 201410 yr by Gamble

I have a macbook air 13" and it is so light and like I said the build quality is superb.  I can have it on my lap and never notice it and it lasts 12 hours on a single charge.  Better yet, it only takes like 30 min to charge it.  I love that I can open and close it without having to close anything and it never screws up and goes right back to where I started (something windows seems to be hit or miss with).  

 

But yes, it has to restart for updates just as often as windows 8, a lot of things truly don't quite vibe with it.  The maximize thing flat out drives me insane (however, a new version of mac OS is coming out that is supposed to fix this issue by putting the button on the actual window rather than hiding it in the taskbar).  I hate that there is no windows button I can just pop up and click on the recently used program that I uh, recently used.  The finder thing is the same as opening a search box on windows and searching for the program you want, every time, its ridiculous.  The files yes, are a pain to find.  Who knows where they end up.  

 

However, the mac (when it works) is way more efficient than windows.  Videos play effortlessly without every jittering.  The zoom with your fingers and scroll with fingers is perfect, which again, windows cannot even come close to, and even thats a compliment.  The only time I hear the fan on this thing is when I open VMWare Fusion, which is an emulator to run windows 7.  Oddly enough all the youtube plays within windows, which is within mac.....  

 

In hindsight, I do think it is worth the price because of the longevity derived from the build quality.  Windows stuff is flat out banged together with a rock and hammer.  Mac stuff is a work of art.  I can't even get a windows laptop apart that you don't have to rip apart, whereas mac stuff has perimeter screws and then the bottom comes off in one perfect flat piece.  The longevity means you aren't going to be buying a new one in a long time.  Meaning it lasts as long as 2 if not 3 windows laptops, so the double the cost means it is the same if not better than the cost of windows in the long run.  Plus, OS changeovers are now free.  

 

And I just flat out wouldn't trade this macbook air for the world.  It is so light and the battery lasts so long that it's usefulness goes past my ability to stay awake with it.  Having VMware to put windows back on it means I can use something that does work as well.  If windows had something with some build quality to it, apple would have no edge.  

For the downloading issues, go to your APPLE symbol in the upper left hand corner, select system preference, select the general tab. In the lower portion of this selection you can tell it where the download should go. I selected to the download folder, then it is always centralized and I can move it wherever I want later.

 

There are several freeware programs out there that cleans your memory AND will let you correct your 'permissions'. when your new to a mac, you tend to load and unload many new programs and such, and in doing this can offset / rewrite your permissions. My wife was having problems and this corrected hers, plus sped it up again. Onyx or CCleaner are free and will do it.

 

As for viruses, they tend not to screw with the mac for now, but the reports are sooner or later, they may try. There are freeware protections out there for the macs and I recommend looking into them. You might not need now, but if you have a good one, you will be ready incase. I use Sophos. http://www.sophos.com/en-us.aspx   Check out their free programs, they have one for non commercial home use and their ratings are high from the companies that test programs. Worth the look see.

 

As for using this forum, I have a mac desktop, a laptop and iPhone and have never had an issue using this sight. Well, I did when Mike changed the site to this new sight, but that was corrected when I found out where everything was.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

By the way, I will never go back to a windows again. I'm to happy now.

Edited July 12, 201410 yr by anoldbiker