[ducky_rh]

When logging in to BBO, we have first one interminable wait while the player list is loading, and then another while the table list is loading. I suspect that many of us do not care about either list. When I log on, a list of my "Friends" is all I really need. Would it be possible to make the player list and table list optional? A screen that offered "Show Player List" and "Show Table List" as options, along with a "Friends" list, would be very pleasant and save about 3 minutes. This is especially important when having connection problems, when all we want is to get back to our table as soon as possible. What do you think?

[the hog]

"save about 3 minutes"

You must be running Dos on an 8086 with 1MB ram!!!! Lol.
It takes me about 4 seconds to log in.

[helene_t]

Ron, how long have you been teaching compuyter science? I've expected you to know that DOS for 8086 can't mannage more than 640 kb. (I've tried to include unused graphics memory in the heap to get 768 kb but it caused my PC to crash).

Also, I think it depends more on modem speed.

[uday]

The client design requires the table list and full player list. Unlikely to be optional anytime soon..

[the hog]

"I've expected you to know that DOS for 8086 can't mannage more than 640 kb."

Ah but Helene, did you ever use "Ramboost"? God, showing my age now....

[dogsbreath]

...er.. whats a 'modem' ?

Rgds Dog

[ack_hh]

helene_t, on Mar 16 2005, 02:13 PM, said:

Ron, how long have you been teaching compuyter science? I've expected you to know that DOS for 8086 can't mannage more than 640 kb. (I've tried to include unused graphics memory in the heap to get 768 kb but it caused my PC to crash).

Decent EMM/XMS- and DPMI-handlers together with programs
which are aware of these programs can handle a lot more
than 1 MB RAM.

Sharing video RAM might work - depending on the mainboard
chipset, the graphic adapter, the memory manager, and properly selected video modes.

[Walddk]

ack_hh, on Mar 16 2005, 06:07 PM, said:

Sharing video RAM might work - depending on the mainboard
chipset, the graphic adapter, the memory manager, and properly selected video modes.

Could you translate this from Computerish into English please Andreas

Roland

[Brandal]

uday, on Mar 16 2005, 08:33 AM, said:

The client design requires the table list and full player list. Unlikely to be optional anytime soon..

I guess only way would be to load lobby first,then
tables,but taking 4-5 seconds I don't see the benefit.

A slow connection will be slow no matter what me thinks.

And on a fast one you won't be able to tell the
difference.

[ducky_rh]

It takes a full 3 minutes to load both the player list and the table list at the BEST of times, and much more when there's 5,000 to 6,000 players on line. And it's a royal pain when you've been disconnected and just want to get back to your table as soon as possible. I can leave the computer and go do a chore and come back before it's fully loaded.

[the hog]

Ducky, sorry for the previous frivolous reply. Seriously if it takes this long to load, you clearly have a VERY slow conection. I would check with your ISP.

Roland, don't worry, its only us old computer geeks who can remember EMM, (Extended Memory Manager) etc.
Windoze handles all this memory management now. The good old DOS days are gone forever, sigh! (Anyone remember configuring QEMM?)

Ron

[ducky_rh]

My connection is fine for all other purposes, and while I dont have the fastest computer in the world, it's far from the slowest, about 6 years old and 450mhz I think. I timed it again this afternoon...with 5600 some-odd players, it took almost 4 minutes to load both lists. Soon I'll switch to cable from dial-up, which should get me more like the 4-second response you describe, Hog.

[keylime]

QEMM?? That's old school.