My MacBook runs a little sluggish which, considering it’s only a few months old, is not a good thing. I kinda figured it’s because I have a lot of stuff running and when I showed it to the Apple Guy in the shop he did raise an eyebrow. But thankfully memory is relatively cheap these days (or at least it is when you go through Crucial, as recommended by said Apple Guy as a better option than Apple doing it) so I’ve ordered another Gig. But while that’s stuck in the postal strike backlog I thought I’d have a look at the activity monitor and see what’s sucking up my memory.
I was expecting Firefox to be a memory hog. It’s well known that it just guzzles and guzzles the stuff and my habit of keeping 20-30 tabs open at any given time doesn’t help matters. But I kinda need Firefox for my high-falutin’ power user uses so it’s a sacrifice I’m happy to make.
But that’s not the biggest drain on the memory. Neither is Lightroom or the pre-Intel version of Photoshop I run. It’s NetNewsWire, the RSS feed reading program I pretty much live my life around these days. This screen grab was taken after I’d reloaded it. Prior to that there was over a gig in virtual memory.
Now I wouldn’t want you to think NNW has bad memory management. For all I know it’s a well behaved diner at the chip shop. But I can state that when you load it up with, um, well I don’t actually know how many feeds I’m following at the moment. 500? 600? Something like that. If you do that then you’re gonna need a bigger Mac.
Or, as I’m contemplating, moving online to Google Reader. (Bloglines is so 2005 I hear).
Google reader is the way to go.
My McLaptop’s a little on the slow side at the moment too. In fact, maybe you can help. I’m considering experimenting with video podcasting, using the built in iSight camera on the MacBook and iMovie HD — but there’s about a second delay between pictures and sound.
Is that a memory thing… or is there something I’m not doing right?
I don’t run a Mac but I’d suggest anyone with a “sluggish” machine stuff some more memory in. Even if it doesn’t work, memory is so cheap these days you might as well have a go. My desktop box was starting feel a bit treacly compared to my shiny new laptop, so I stuck an extra Gig and bingo! All is lovely again.
I struggled with 512 for ages, putting in 1gb has made this a new machine. Reader is awesome, esp with the keyboard shortcuts.
600 feeds. Gulp.
When do you get time to check all those? I think I run 30 or 40 here, but I do read them all. Oh and there are a few left in Bloglines somewhere, but you’re right, it’s over between us.
Most of my readers seem to be coming through from Googlereading services. The best out there atm, allegedly.
Memory came in the post today. Wow, we’re rocking now!
Brenda – it’s actually 615 (NNW displays the count when loading) but a lot of them are thinks like Flickr feeds which I don’t always check and alert things that don’t update very often. Actual blogs and news feeds probably counts for 300 or so, but bear in mind I have to cover everything that’s going on in Birmingham, even if I just skim through it. Probably takes an hour a day to pick out the useful stuff.
I haven’t watched it but looks like bloglines is getting updated…
http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/technology/1674/bloglines-makes-reading-feeds-more-fun
I am an RSS newbie using iGoogle which I like
Yes, the best thing you could do is what you’ve done! I reckon a RAM infusion to an older computer extends its life by a year at least. But you may as well put in the maximum straight away, assuming the budget works. One of the really annoying things is that manufacturers may put two 512MB chips in the two available slots, meaning you have to throw them both away when upgrading to 2 x 1GB chips.
Now I am going to have to try Google reader. . . .
Thanks for mentioning Crucial – we just got a new mac, and I was looking for a reliable supplier of RAM cos I didn’t want to pay the £450 the Apple Store was quoting. All sorted now.