Speed DSL vs Windows

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Speed DSL vs Windows
started by: Ted

Posted by Ted on Oct. 09 2005,10:12

Hi,

Damn small question ;)

How fast (snappy) is Firefox - DSL vs speed of Windows - Internet Explorer?
PC - 800 Mhz - 256 MB

Regards,
Ted

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 09 2005,13:55

For the majority of applications, DSL is typically always faster on the same hardware. But when it comes to Firefox you might find that Internet Explorer is faster, at least faster to start up. I'm not looking to argue (i don't use windows at all, so that should say something about my personal opinion), just stating fact. IE in windows already has the majority of its required files loaded at windows startup, so loading it on demand is probably the fastest for a gui browser i've seen. You can see the same type of difference with other browsers just within Linux. For example, when running KDE the Konqueror browser starts up pretty quick, but try to start it from Fluxbox and you can go get yourself a cup of coffee while waiting.

Once the apps are loaded it's a different story....the Firefox 1.x browser is faster and more stable than IE in my experience.

Posted by RoGuE_StreaK on Oct. 09 2005,15:15

Also, those system specs should be good for running DSL toram, (type "dsl toram" without quotes at boot), this loads and runs the entire operating system and applications purely from RAM, making it extremely snappy. As mikshaw says, IE is an integral part of windows (hence the court cases...), so starts very quickly, but running firefox from RAM will give it a run for it's money. Maybe a bit slower out of the gate, but after that, BAM!

Posted by cbagger01 on Oct. 11 2005,16:44

Also,

If you use the Opera myDSL extension, runtime performance should be faster than either Windows' IE or DSL's firefox

FYI, you might get faster performance with the GTK2 version of firefox instead of the builtin DSL firefox.

GTK2 firefox is probably optimized for speed, while DSL firefox is optimized for minimum disk space used.

Posted by Your Fuzzy God on Oct. 11 2005,17:52

Check out some browser speed tests:

< http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html >

Posted by linuxgimp on Nov. 19 2005,15:36

Just got the Fanless BareBonesMini-ITX,
512 MB Ram,
DSL on 128 DSL Pendrive for system,
myDSL on 512 SanDisk,
USB Aopen CD/DVD
Epson C86.

Wondering where in the system I can enter the info needed to get Sylpheed or Thunderbird to FireFox when I click on a URL in an email.

Tried the Mozilla site for preferences but got really snowed. I think it is in the system like KDE control panel in Mepis but not sure.

Would appreciate some help. So impressed with DSL but really on the bottom edge of the learning curve (Noob)
Thanks in advance.

Posted by cbagger01 on Nov. 19 2005,21:40

My guess is that it is either in your Firefox settings, mime types or in an environment variable.

If you can't find it in your Firefox settings menu, try typing:

about:config

in your address box to see more Firefox settings.

Hope this helps.

Posted by linuxgimp on Nov. 20 2005,04:18

Thanks for the help ... I think.

I did as you suggested and am faced with 'data overflow' in this 63 year old head.

I haven't a clue what to look for in all that information.

I set find for browser, then mail and default. Still to much info for a noobie. Really thought there would be a default setting like in KDE control panel to set what the default browser and mail programs would be.

Since everything else I have done is done on the command line or in Emelfm, I was looking in that area.

Could you please give me a clue of what and where I should be looking.

Thanks,
vince

Posted by linuxgimp on Nov. 20 2005,23:42

Reading my last post, Its clear I don't know enough to even ask a question.

I have found that if I right click on the URL link to copy, I can then paste it to an open Firefox window and get where I want to go. That is sufficient.

I'm beginning to think that if you don't know linux, you just are setting yourself up for failure in DSL.

I think that what I want the Mini-ITX box to do is basic.

provide Firefox, Thunderbird, Gaim and Skype.
Print out some basic letters and webpages. Got that when I borrow my wifes USB printer.
Play my audio CD's occasionally, but most the time just boot off pendrive and go do the internet stuff.
Maybe later be able to watch DVD's.
:laugh:

Posted by cbagger01 on Nov. 21 2005,06:59

OK,

Looks like I only got you halfway there.

Read this post for "the rest of the story".

< http://www.linuxquestions.org/questio....1883300 >

You will need to enter the path to your e-mail program of choice.

Posted by linuxgimp on Nov. 21 2005,12:52

chagger01

Thanks, with a little research, that did it

The article left out that the pref.js file for Thunderbird located in /ramdisk/usr/bin/mozilla-thunderbird must be modified also

user_pref ("network.protocol-handler.app.http", /usr/local/firefox/firefox");

The firefox addition can be put in the address line as described or added to the firefox pref.js file at /usr/local/firefox/firefox.

user_pref ("network.protocol-handler.app.mailto, /usr/bin/mozilla-thunderbird");
user_pref ("network.protocol-handler.app.http", /usr/local/firefox/firefox");

I haven't modified Sylpheed yet but no problem now.

Thanks you so much.
I really appreciate it!