Optimize performance for dedicated email and web use?

Question

Just bought one of the new MBPs. I am now using the G4 as a dedicated workstation with an external monitor exclusively for email and surfing. Email performance is fine, but it takes a long time to load web pages. What can I do to tweak its performance?

Answer 1

Ah, I see you have a lot of catching up, and many questions.
You appear to be running OS10.4.11, which is fine. In the future, upgrades for bugs and security will diminish as Apple phases it out.
OS updates: Have Mac running and connected to the internet. Under the Apple menu, choose "Software Update." This connects to the Apple software servers and determines if you need any Apple software updates on your Mac. Follow instructions and do all updates it tells you about. After doing this, run Software Update again until it says all software is up to date.
Flash and Shockwave are software plug-ins that Adobe makes for your web browser (like Apple's Safari). These plugins are generally used to display animations or video in the browser. They tend to use a lot of CPU power, thus potentially slowing down the computer. You have to go to the Adobe site and check for the latest free versions of these plugins for your computer.
Java and Javascript are programming environments that can work with the OS to display various tricks on web pages, such as drop-down menus. Sometimes they cause security concerns, so the Preferences settings for web browsers allow turning them off or on. When running Safari, under the Safari menu column, choose Preferences..., then in the resulting preferences window, choose the Security tab. There are checkboxes for Web Content for Java, Javascript, plugins and popups. It would be faster and more secure to NOT run these, but you wouldn't see a lot of many web pages. Java is updated from Apple Software Update.
Many other general aspects of your computer affect speed.
-For best speed, you want as much RAM (memory) as the machine can take in your case (probably 2GB on 2 DIMMs IIRC). I run with 1GB however, and fine it adequate for email and web. Under the Apple menu, choose "About this Mac" and the resulting popup tells how much RAM you have.
-You want at least 10% of the space on the hard drive to be free - it's used for virtual memory when real memory runs low. Click once on the icon of the main hard drive, usually named, "Macintosh HD." Then under the FILE menu, choose "Get Info." The resulting popup describes, among other things, the total capacity of the drive, how much is available, and how much has already been used.
-For speed, you should also run from AC power pack. There are some settings in System Preferences/Energy Saver that can reduce CPU speed during battery operation.
-You should avoid running any software that steals CPU power. There should be no need to run tricky software for just email and web, so getting rid of all non-essential software should help. How to check everything is beyond the scope of this post.
-Check the speed of your internet connection. There are several free, online net speed testers. Note, they usually use either Flash or Java/Javascript! one is http://www.speedtest.net Note that the speed will varying depending on time of day, location of test endpoint, and a zillion other factors.
-The Powerbook G4 is getting old and slow compared to the latest machines. I just got the New York Times homepage in about 5 seconds on my Powerbook G4 (ethernet, cleared Safari cache and history first). On a MacPro dual 3GHz Intel Xenon, it's maybe half that time. There are many factors you have no control over. On many web pages, advertising forms a lot of the page, and those ads come from other servers, often slowing down the page. I avoid even trying to play Flash videos on the G4.
You could have other problems, too, hardware or software. Sometimes, it just pays to buy a newer model.