Internet connection problem
I have two macs, one is a powerbook (Power PC G4) running 10.4.11, the other is a Macbook running 10.5.8.
I have had absolutely no problems accessing the wireless internet on the Powerbook. The internet connection works perfectly and works when the computer is woken up after sleeping.
However the MacBook continues to have major very frustrating problems to the point at which I am considering going back to a windows machine.
This is a controlled experiment, since the two machines are both running off the same wireless internet connection and in the same location, and that I have problems with the one mac but not the other. I have run the experiment with a different router model, and had exactly the same results. Again, no problems at all with 10.4.11 and horrendous problems with 10.5.8. It is clear that something in the 10.5.8 operating system is broken compared with the 10.4.11 OS, in spite of what Apple says. It is nothing to do with the router (I have tested two of them). I have so far wasted hundreds of hours (so much for Mac productivity!) researching the internet for a solution and nothing has worked.
I suspect the problem is due to interference with other devices in the apartment block. The internet connection worked fine for 12 months, until someone visited me with an iPhone. Whenever the iPhone was turned on, I could not access wireless on the 10.5.8 macbook. When the person with the iPhone left the area, everything was fine once again for four months. Then some more internet connections appeared in the neighborhood and I am no longer able to access wireless, although occasionally I have managed to get onto the wireless connection when I move the computer very close to the router (within three feet - not a good solution!).
I have tried every solution found on the internet for this problem except that I cannot change the channel because the internet router does not allow me to do that. The internet company sets the channel to automatic and there is no way to change it on the router.
At this point, I will need to throw the computer away unless anyone can suggest another solution. However it is clear to me that it is an apple OS problem, not a problem with my router or my settings. What I don't understand is why apple cannot go back to the software they had in 10.4.11?.
Over the past few years the mac operating system has had a lot of (mostly superficial from a users point of view) interface improvements, at the cost of losing the most critical functionality. It's a question of not seeing the wood for the trees from Apple's point of view. It is very sad to see Apple's emphasis changed from usability (which is why I have until now been a loyal mac user from when the very first macs were made), to sexy interfaces which are all flashy image and no substance from a usability point of view.
What happened to Apple's HCI (Human Computer Interface) expertise? I suspect these people still exist inside of Apple but are being overridden by marketing people who seem to not understand the fundamental principle of marketing, which is that in order to survive in the long term you need a USP (unique selling proposition). Usability used to be Apple's USP. Now it has lost it.
If someone from apple could respond to this posting I would be grateful.
I have had absolutely no problems accessing the wireless internet on the Powerbook. The internet connection works perfectly and works when the computer is woken up after sleeping.
However the MacBook continues to have major very frustrating problems to the point at which I am considering going back to a windows machine.
This is a controlled experiment, since the two machines are both running off the same wireless internet connection and in the same location, and that I have problems with the one mac but not the other. I have run the experiment with a different router model, and had exactly the same results. Again, no problems at all with 10.4.11 and horrendous problems with 10.5.8. It is clear that something in the 10.5.8 operating system is broken compared with the 10.4.11 OS, in spite of what Apple says. It is nothing to do with the router (I have tested two of them). I have so far wasted hundreds of hours (so much for Mac productivity!) researching the internet for a solution and nothing has worked.
I suspect the problem is due to interference with other devices in the apartment block. The internet connection worked fine for 12 months, until someone visited me with an iPhone. Whenever the iPhone was turned on, I could not access wireless on the 10.5.8 macbook. When the person with the iPhone left the area, everything was fine once again for four months. Then some more internet connections appeared in the neighborhood and I am no longer able to access wireless, although occasionally I have managed to get onto the wireless connection when I move the computer very close to the router (within three feet - not a good solution!).
I have tried every solution found on the internet for this problem except that I cannot change the channel because the internet router does not allow me to do that. The internet company sets the channel to automatic and there is no way to change it on the router.
At this point, I will need to throw the computer away unless anyone can suggest another solution. However it is clear to me that it is an apple OS problem, not a problem with my router or my settings. What I don't understand is why apple cannot go back to the software they had in 10.4.11?.
Over the past few years the mac operating system has had a lot of (mostly superficial from a users point of view) interface improvements, at the cost of losing the most critical functionality. It's a question of not seeing the wood for the trees from Apple's point of view. It is very sad to see Apple's emphasis changed from usability (which is why I have until now been a loyal mac user from when the very first macs were made), to sexy interfaces which are all flashy image and no substance from a usability point of view.
What happened to Apple's HCI (Human Computer Interface) expertise? I suspect these people still exist inside of Apple but are being overridden by marketing people who seem to not understand the fundamental principle of marketing, which is that in order to survive in the long term you need a USP (unique selling proposition). Usability used to be Apple's USP. Now it has lost it.
If someone from apple could respond to this posting I would be grateful.
Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
