minimizing bandwith usage

[VJ]

Hello,

Sometimes, I need to connect via GPRS (approx 43 kbps). Any suggestions on minimizing the bandwidth used by a computer, and minimizing the amount of traffic it generates?
This is configured:

• disabled online updates/checks for various programs
• browser not loading images/java/javascript
• mail client is only fetching subjects

Any other suggestions?
Are there perhaps technologies (like Opera Mini uses) to shrink web traffic?

Is it possible to set Firefox to only display cached images (there is the imglikeOpera plugin, but I'm not sure it always works correctly)?
(Opera has this setting..., I know, az )


Jörg

[az]

You could increase your browser cache, set it to only check document changes on reload, so that other content is always pulled from cache if available.

[VJ]

You could increase your browser cache, set it to only check document changes on reload, so that other content is always pulled from cache if available.

Hmm, Firefox has no settings concerning *when* the cache is reloaded...

Presumable, Opera has?


Jörg

[VJ]

Any comments on FasterFox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=1269&application=firefox

According to many of the opions, it abuses the internet to speed things up (by prefetching stuff).

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&id=1269&&page=comments

http://fasterfox.mozdev.org/faq.html

One of the comments states that while this can be true if you use it on fast accesses, this won't be an issue on slow connections.
I'm a bit weary about using a plugin with that type of comments, allthough prefetching can be disabled (which I think is necessary for my situation: my guess is that prefetching increases the amount of data transferred).

Any comments?


Jörg

[az]

I notice you're trying to get firefox to behave like another browser...

[VJ]

It does begin to sound that way, doesn't it?



Jörg

[Nowhere]

Google web accelerator on top of that all? (with prefetching of pages turned off of course)

[VJ]

I checked it out, but they claim it only accelerates on broadband.

I think they use up more bandwith in order to deliver faster.


Jörg

[Nowhere]

Actually, they claim it is tweaked best/gives best results on broadband. But there is "dialup" setting also.
(and I don't think it uses more bandwith...it caches a lot and zips everything)

[VJ]

Ok, I'll also give it a go...
(but it does seem pretty close to FasterFox)

edit: http://webaccelerator.google.com/support.html#basics3

3. Can I use Google Web Accelerator with a dial-up connection?

Dial-up users may not see much improvement, as Google Web Accelerator is currently optimized to speed up web page loading for broadband connections.

Jörg

[TnT]

The full Mozilla has a lot more preferences then Firefox.

You can also muck around the hidden config. Type in the address bar:
about:config