Firefox has a CPU usage issue and, consequently, can cause overheating problems in some laptops, particularly ultraportables. That's what I've found over the last couple of years.
But don't take my word for it. This is documented on a Mozilla support page entitled "Firefox consumes a lot of CPU resources." The page states: "At times, Firefox may require significant CPU [central processing unit] resources in order to download, process, and display Web content." And forum postings like this one about a Dell Netbook are not uncommon: "Mini9 would get way too hot."
The Mozilla support page goes on to say that "you can review and monitor CPU usage through specific tools" and describes ways to limit CPU usage, such as: "A Firefox add-on, called Flashblock, allows you to selectively enable and disable Flash content on Web sites."
Let me describe my experience. I find that tab for tab, Firefox uses decidedly more resources than other browsers--Safari, for example. And in the past (when I was actively using a Windows Vista-based machine) Firefox also compared unfavorably with Microsoft's Internet Explorer for CPU usage.
More specifically, here's the behavior as I see it. When I'm accessing sites with multimedia content such as the CNET front door, Firefox CPU usage will bounce around between 30 and 60 percent, and sometimes spike higher (80 percent and above), as indicated by the Mac OS 10.6.2 Activity Monitor.
On the other hand, the Safari CPU usage with the same pages open is much lower--typically between 2 percent and 10 percent.
My theory is that most users don't notice this because in mainstream laptops, this isn't an issue. But it can become an issue in ultraportables--typically under an inch thick--which are more sensitive to heat because of the design constraints. The ultrathin Apple MacBook Air, which I use as my main machine, is a good example.
The fan is usually an audible indicator of CPU usage issues. When I'm using Firefox and I have tabs open on multimedia-rich sites (which is par for the course these days), the Air's fan will almost invariably kick on and stay on until I close the tabs. As I write this, the fan has finally shut down after I closed the Firefox tabs (e.g, CNET front door). Those same tabs in Safari are still open and not causing any significant spike in CPU usage or fan activity.
When I contacted Mozilla, a technical support person guessed that Safari is possibly better at optimizing Flash-based sites compared to Firefox. And that may be true. However, I had similar issues before when I was using a Hewlett-Packard business ultraportable (also very thin like the Air) that were not necessarily tied to Flash usage. In short, Firefox was less efficient with CPU usage compared to Microsoft's IE 8. And the behavior was similar. The HP laptop would quickly heat up and the fan would kick on.
Finally, let me reemphasize that I'm guessing that most users don't notice this because heat dissipation is not a big issue for mainstream laptops that are not necessarily thermally-challenged when accessing multimedia-rich Web pages. That said, this has been a steady problem for me because I use ultraportables almost exclusively and has forced me to limit my use of Firefox.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
If you have a Mac laptop beginning with the PowerBook G4, one feature you may or may not know about is the Sudden Motion Sensor. If you drop your computer or it is suddenly exposed to strong vibrations, the Sudden Motion Sensor will park the hard drive to reduce disk damage--even before your laptop hits the ground. When the sensor detects your computer has returned to a stable state, it "unparks" your hard drive and you can continue computing.
Adjust various parameters like number of particles, gravity, color, and sensor axis.
(Credit: CNET Networks)What's fun about this feature is that some savvy developers have made apps that take advantage of the motion sensor for less serious purposes. Our friends over at The Unofficial Mac Weblog (or TUAW) found an app called LiquidMac ,which lets you visualize the Sudden Motion Sensor function by filling your screen with simulated liquid. You can choose what color you want the particles to be, and change other parameters for dot size, gravity, and the amount of particles. After that, simply tilt your laptop and watch as the liquid flows in the direction you tilt. It also has a full screen option for a more dramatic effect.
I suppose it's mostly worthless besides showing off to your friends (or maybe testing your Sudden Motion Sensor? Yeah, that's it!). Either way, I think you'll agree LiquidMac is pretty cool.
The latest news from the Mac rumor sites says that closely following the release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple will also announce an update to the MacBook product line. Sources speculate that the update won't include major changes to the MacBook but will probably mean a small increase to processor speed. Early reports indicate this upgrade may not happen until November.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
While a little extra processing power is never a bad thing, the reason we shouldn't expect a major speed boost is because Apple doesn't want the MacBook line to bite into MacBook Pro sales. Currently, top-level MacBooks run the Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds topping out at 2.16GHz. With the MacBook Pro processor upgrades earlier this year (featuring the Santa Rosa architecture) pushing speeds to 2.4GHz, we can't expect regular MacBooks to see much of an increase until the next generation of MacBook Pro widens the gap.
Like I pointed out in a recent Daily Download post, if you're in the market for a new Mac, you should definitely wait until Leopard is released October 26. With this new info, you may want to wait just a little bit longer for the MacBook to get an extra power boost.
The chat-like interface makes Skype an easy program to pick up and use.
(Credit: CNET Networks)One of the best choices for online telephony for Mac just got better. The latest Skype update pushes the program to version 2.6, adding a call transfer feature and some new chat options so you can stay in touch with friends and family around the world. Skype has always been one of my favorite apps for its familiar chat-like interface and the ability to talk to users around the world for free (provided they're also using Skype). For a little extra money, you can sign up with Skype and make calls to anyone in the world (including land lines) at a fraction of the price of regular long distance. Got a friend in another country? Skype might be just the solution you're looking for.
In other Mac-related news, the MacBook (lower-end Mac laptop) line just got an upgrade from Apple. You may have read my recent blog entry about waiting a little bit longer to purchase a Mac laptop, and clearly I was right, but only to a degree. The big change I was talking about in that post was the rumor of backlit LED displays. Though the new MacBooks don't sport the "greener" screens, there's plenty of speculation that Apple might be making that a feature of the higher end MacBook Pro laptops due out later this year. Unfortunately, we'll just have to wait and see.
These new MacBooks definitely got a significant upgrade worthy of a look with three levels of power--all available today at Apple. The entry-level MacBook ($1,099) comes with a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a Combo CD drive. The second level MacBook ($1,299) ups the ante with a 2.16 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 120GB hard drive, and a double-layer SuperDrive. The top-end black MacBook ($1,499) offers the same 2.16 Intel Core 2 Duo processor, but upgrades to a 160GB hard drive.
The Greener Apple might change the face of the MacBook.
(Credit: CNET Networks)A lot of people I've talked to recently (both Mac and Windows users) have been talking about getting a Mac laptop. It's pretty evenly split between MacBooks and the more expensive MacBook Pros, with some of my friends looking for a portable computer to bring with them for common tasks, while others need that extra processing power for music recording and film editing. Whenever I've been asked about getting a new Apple laptop though, my answer more recently has been the same: wait a little bit longer.
Judging from the rumor mill, Apple may announce new MacBooks and MacBook Pros as early as next week. This will probably mean a significant bump in power for both laptops, but what's getting the most buzz at the rumor sites is the possibility of LED backlit displays. In an effort to listen to the eco-friendly Mac community, Steve Jobs announced that the company is trying to become a Greener Apple. This would fit perfectly with the rumor from DigiTimes (via MacLife), saying Apple has recently certified the "greener" 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch LED panels by Taiwanese companies. So are LED backlit screens on MacBooks much closer than we think? Steve Jobs said that LED screens were definitely coming in the future when discussing the Greener Apple initiative, so this rumor might just turn out to be true.
Clearly, with the possibility of new and better MacBooks and MacBook Pros in the very near future, prospective buyers should wait just a little bit longer. At the very least, the new laptops will probably make the last generation cheaper, so anyone in the market for a MacBook has good reason to see what happens in the near future.
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