Chat, Macs, and Java Update
 

I know there aren't many of us Macintosh users here, and even fewer using OSX...but ever since I installed the Java 1.3.1 update, I've had nothing but problems on chat. The chat window freezes, or often doesn't scroll...I get stuck in the "Settings" window and can't get out...logging out and logging back in fixes things for awhile, but in a few minutes, it's freezing here in tropical paradise again.

Any one else in the same boat, or any advice?

TIA and aloha.

I am a Mac (and MacOSX, Explorer:Mac 5.1.3 version) and gave up trying to chat (had to),

I have some advice, but for this system's admins, not for you. They should dump the nasty, bloated Java crud that hogs system resources, when it works at all, or just crashes browsers.

There are perfectly good chat plugins around (eg. ichat) and chat systems that give options (eg. offering all Java, Ichat and HTML as 3 options). This board has one of the worst chat systems available on the net.

I was hoping Java 1.3.1 Update 1 would fix the "I can't copy and paste" problem ... but it doesn't. DigiChat definitely exhibits erratic behavior after installing the update: scroll bars disappear, text entry scrolls horizontally instead of wrapping, etc. I haven't had any problems with the chat window freezing, however.

There really aren't any good web-based non-Java alternatives.

We use Macs here at FlyerTalk, and as a OSX user I understand your frustration. The chat just doesn't work right with OSX's java, and it never has. You could boot back into OS9 to use the chat -- the systems that the Chat moderators uses here are all OS9 systems.

We checked out ichat last year as a possible alternative to digichat, but their platform wasn't compatible with our inhouse systems. They also don't have a hosting option... our internal ISP is even moodier than our webhost.

I've been swapping emails with ichat lately to see if they've changed anything with their backend technology, though.

Kremmen, what other chat systems can you recommend that allow moderated chats? We searched a few times last year, but other than digichat and ichat, all the non-java solutions were just front-ends on IRC servers.

TalkCity was one that we used to use, and they're pretty accessible, but they're ungodly expensive.

We'd be interested in a hosted solution that doesn't require the user to download any plugins and has a solid moderator system.

Misery loves company, so thanks all for your responses http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I really hate booting back into System 9.2.2, but that may be the only way. I wonder if I installed MRJ to my Classic system whether I could run in Classic...

Time for a little experimentation, I guess.

Aloha.

I'm proud to report that I haven't had any chat-related problems in a while. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

OK, here's a solution that seems to work, at least for me:

Install the latest version of Macintosh Runtime for Java (MRJ, version 2.3.3, you can get it off apple.com) into the OS9 system you use in Classic. Using the OS9 version of Internet Explorer running in Classic, Digichat seems to be fully functional again.

Rudi and others, HTH.

Aloha.

I'm not aware of any public version of MRJ more recent than 2.2.5.

It seems stupid to have to launch Classic for chat. I haven't used the Classic environment in months...