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Thread ID: 57983 2005-05-18 04:27:00 what do dbl. monitors in systray tell us? mark c (247) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
356184 2005-05-18 04:27:00 I used to think it was indicating the speed of data transmission through the internet coneccton, on 56K dial-up anyway, but now I know it doesn't.

I've been to a few speed check sites and the speed is lower than indicated by the double-monitor icon.

So what is this icon for (apart from indicating a connection)? What's the point of this supposed speed indicator? What does it tell us?

Is this an example of MS's 'bells and whistles"?

What? What? What?

Sincerely puzzled..........m :badpc:
mark c (247)
356185 2005-05-18 05:31:00 it tells you that you are connected. it also gives the approxamite speed at which the modem connected to the ISP, which gives you a rough indication of connection speed. tweak'e (69)
356186 2005-05-18 05:49:00 OK thanks tweak'e. A rough indication and I guess the other variables are the comp, RAM, processor etc, and the local and not so local phone lines. Thanks for that.....m mark c (247)
356187 2005-05-18 06:26:00 I guess the other variables are the comp, RAM, processor etc, and the local and not so local phone lines
it only displayes the connect speed at that exact moment it connects, not an average data flow speed. also the speed is rounded off which is why it always stays the same.
its possible to rewrite it so it says whatever you want (eg if you have an annoying person who thinks their modem should always connect at 56k, you simply rewrite it so it always reports 56k connection reguardless of what speed it connects at ;) )
tweak'e (69)
356188 2005-05-18 06:35:00 it only displays the connect speed at that exact moment it connects,

Ha yes I figured that. Tried connect. disconnect. connect etc and noticed that although the speed changed every time I connected it never changed while I stayed connected.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

P.S. Should have mentioned that the browser was also a variable, considering all the great debate that goes on here. :)
mark c (247)
356189 2005-05-18 08:53:00 Should have mentioned that the browser was also a variable
the browser has nothing to with the logon speed at all.
tweak'e (69)
356190 2005-05-18 09:22:00 Just to confuse things:

Depending on your modem/dialup settings it may give you the speed at which the modem is communicating with Windows, eg, 56, 115, 128, or if you connect through a LAN/DSL it will give the (theoretical) LAN speed, eg, 10 or 100mbs depending on your ethernet card and settings.

So, the speed you get when you hover your curser over the little icon in systray is not always related at all to the speed of data coming to and going from your computer, but just an internal speed at which the components can talk to your software.
Murray P (44)
356191 2005-05-18 09:22:00 OK didn't mean the logon speed, but some browsers are 'faster' than others right? I tried it ages ago with Opera vs IE at the same sites more or less at the same time. Opera was faster at loading the same page. Isn't this what the Firefox zealots are on about? ( and the security issue ). :confused: mark c (247)
356192 2005-05-18 09:35:00 is not always related at all to the speed of data coming to and going from your computer, but just an internal speed at which the components can talk to your software .

Geez Murray P now I'm as confused as a scrambled egg . "is not always"?

Sometimes is, hey . sometimes isn't . If it's about an internal speed why does it say X Kbits out and Y Kbits in at such and such speed?

Is it an "internal system" speed? I could understand that, the overall averaged speed of data running around the machine from RAM to processor to HD to chipset to display adaptor etc . , but isn't that "average" a bit meaningless . Well no maybe not if that's what you wanted to know but why depict as internet connection speed?

Thanks for the reply anyway . Feel a bit of a brain-ache coming on . Lots of people ask me about this and every time I have to give them a diff . answer . :groan: :eek:
mark c (247)
356193 2005-05-18 09:41:00 C'mon all you lurkers of 75 views. Can't tell me you never wondered about this either. Bet you "hover over the monitors" and think "Ooooh yeah, ripping along at 53.2. Hot!"

Am I the only one puzzled about this? Am I all alone. I think I'm going insane. Aaaaaagh. Yes that's it. That's it! The only person in cyberspace who can't figure it out. AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh again.
Many thanks, sincerely crazy person
mark c (247)
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