Youtube Stutter On New Macbook Air

[tubbymac]

After nph brought up his concerns about HD content on the Airs I went to the Apple Store to check it out for myself. I tried watching HD youtube videos on the highest end Air (rev B 1.8 ghz / 128 ssd) and on the lowest end Macbook and Pro. I let the videos fully load before watching them to eliminate variances in network lag. Please do the same if you wish to verify the results.

The MBA stuttered every few seconds throughout the video. The MB and MBP unibody machines were able to play the video without stutter. CPU use on the MBA fluctuated between about 130 - 170% while it was about 130 - 140% on the MB and MBP according to activity monitor.

What are your results with rev A and rev B MBA machines on the following short HD video? Does it stutter for you or are you able to watch the full video without any stutter? What changes have you made compared to the stock install from the store? Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RyaRBTGCoI&feature=hd

 

[andreab35]

Hi tubbymac!

I just tried out your YouTube link.
I let the video load fully. After, I let it play.
Yes, there is a ton of stuttering, but it's not enough to be a bothersome factor.

Oh well.

 

[mhnajjar]

The processor and VGA both should be enough to handle such short video. What is wrong with Apple?

The more such things appear, the harder it gets for me to convince people how cool the Macs and the OS are. Last night I was trying to show someone that a Mac can do everything a PC can and even better. However, I couldn't since the video file using ActiveX didn't play fully even while having Flip4Mac and VLC installed. There is an Ad right before the actual video, and the Mac only play the Ad and reaches a dead end!

 

[zedsdead]

I tried it on both my Rev A Air SSD and my iMac, and yes, there was mild stuttering during some of the panning shots on the Air. It wasn't awful, but I agree that it should not happen, especially not on the Rev B.

 

[HLdan]

The processor and VGA both should be enough to handle such short video. What is wrong with Apple?

The more such things appear, the harder it gets for me to convince people how cool the Macs and the OS are. Last night I was trying to show someone that a Mac can do everything a PC can and even better. However, I couldn't since the video file using ActiveX didn't play fully even while having Flip4Mac and VLC installed. There is an Ad right before the actual video, and the Mac only play the Ad and reaches a dead end!

Yeah, I understand your point but you can't really blame the Macintosh for that. It's all about Microsoft's BS. At least Apple isn't petty like Microsoft. Apple doesn't create videos in a specific Mac-only codec in Quicktime so Windows users can't play them.
Microsoft, on the other hand does this crap to Mac users. There's absolutely no reason to have ActiveX embedded in videos other than to prevent anyone who's not using Windows to view them. Booo to MS.

 

[Hey Jude]

I tried it on both my Rev A Air SSD and my iMac, and yes, there was mild stuttering during some of the panning shots on the Air. It wasn't awful, but I agree that it should not happen, especially not on the Rev B.

I have the Rev A SSD model, and played the video in question. I counted three, ever-so-slight, stuttering in the early parts of the video but none towards the middle or end.

It is a very short video, but I hope it is indicative of the performance I can come to expect from this unit.

Jude

 

[dlblarg]

I have the Rev A SSD model, and played the video in question. I counted three, ever-so-slight, stuttering in the early parts of the video but none towards the middle or end.

It is a very short video, but I hope it is indicative of the performance I can come to expect from this unit.

Jude

Not sure what your asking exactly, but that's a test with LOTS of variables -- what version of flash, download speeds, network congestion and so on. I don't know that I've ever watched a video on YouTube that played as well as a video on my AppleTV . . . so the point is? Flash has always sucked on the Macs for whatever reasons.

 

[nph]

I just tried this specific video on my first gen MBP as well and boy does it stutter!
If there was only partial stutters or a three mild ones on the MBA then it does beat my MBA for sure!

Weird, watching an episode of CSI Miami does nothing like this, it was like 1-2 FPS with this vide.
Does youtube use Flash? I will try and update to a later version.
If it does then it begs the question what is used on the cbs website since that doesn't stuter at all on this machine?!

Will update Flash from 9 to 10 right now and post the results.

Thanks

 

[waltah]

I'm interested in everyone's results with this as i'm planning on getting a Rev A MBA later this week. I tend to watch lots of streaming video and i'm a bit worried now. I'm using an old Acer running Linux right now so I could not watch that video past a few seconds anyway.

 

[nph]

Totally confused...

Ok, I just upgraded to Flash 10 and I am still getting max 2-3 fps with the video on youtube!
What is going on? This is a MBP (first gen but still) with ATI XT1600 and it should be able to handle a simple video...

If Rev B just stutters once or twice in this video it is way ahead of this MBP...
Here I was afraid I wouldnt get enough performance but that sure doesn't seem to be the case with Rev B...

 

[tubbymac]

I have the Rev A SSD model, and played the video in question. I counted three, ever-so-slight, stuttering in the early parts of the video but none towards the middle or end.

That is actually quite surprising. Your results are BETTER than the results I experienced with the top of the line rev B unit at the store. You only got three slight stutters while I got stuttering every few seconds through the entire 2 minute clip.

If Rev B just stutters once or twice in this video it is way ahead of this MBP...
Here I was afraid I wouldnt get enough performance but that sure doesn't seem to be the case with Rev B...

At the store it stuttered a lot. Not just once or twice but consistently every few seconds until the clip was over. Not sure why your MBP can't handle it though, doesn't it have a faster processor than the MBA?

 

[Hey Jude]

That is actually quite surprising. Your results are BETTER than the results I experienced with the top of the line rev B unit at the store. You only got three slight stutters while I got stuttering every few seconds through the entire 2 minute clip.

At the store it stuttered a lot. Not just once or twice but consistently every few seconds until the clip was over. Not sure why your MBP can't handle it though, doesn't it have a faster processor than the MBA?

I watched the clip on my white MacBook before switching to the Air, and the performances were almost identical.

My computer's video performance has been a bit surprising, in light of the negative comments floating around this forum concerning the Rev A Air. It seems to be a serviceable machine for my needs, and either Rev A or B should serve your needs quite nicely, regarding video performance.

Please also bear in mind that I have yet to install CoolBook, so I just may get better video performance and surely a cooler computer.

Jude

 

[nph]

Ok, dont really know what happened but this morning after a restart (again) I tried to se the video and it looked great with almost no stuttering.
Hm... It stuttered once or twice but that was is.
So that tells me that a Rev B MBA is about equal to my original MBP.
To me the huge difference was Flash, installing Flash 10 made it go from 2fps to at least 20fps.
Wonder if the difference is the same in MBA rev A and B?
Remember seeing on the postings on the net about similar performance increase.

To those who tried this at the Apple store, did the MBA have Flash 9 or 10?
I will pop in today and ask them to install Flash 10 after first trying this video on Flash 9 and see the difference.

 

[kaku945]

i was just fine with my MBA, merely watchable.
with rev b SSD configured with coolbook, 0.925v @ 1.86GHz.

 

[acfusion29]

There's something wrong apparently with the new Flash version... that's why it's stuttering.

 

[DeuceDeuce]

There's something wrong apparently with the new Flash version... that's why it's stuttering.

I agree, Im still using 9 and it works better then when I had 10

 

[dlblarg]

I agree, Im still using 9 and it works better then when I had 10

A better test would be to go to Apple's Trailer site and test those -- Flash isn't a good measure on Macs.

 

[nph]

Granted, but flash media is what is out there so I want something that I can use to watch videos on streaming from the internet...

But it seems that with flash 10 it should e decent on Air so I will try and convince one store to install it as comparison.

 

[Consultant]

1. What OS version
2. What flash version

 

[GoCubsGo]

I tried it on both my Rev A Air SSD and my iMac, and yes, there was mild stuttering during some of the panning shots on the Air. It wasn't awful, but I agree that it should not happen, especially not on the Rev B.

I counted two stutters, one within 15 seconds and one nearly halfway through the video. I empties my cache and I think it stuttered once, but I had to really pay attention.

Rev B HDD base model.

 

[nph]

Jessica,

How does the HD videos on cbs.com play for you?
Do they run good and what does it do to your heat?

I have been testing CSI Miami but any program should do.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Jessica,

How does the HD videos on cbs.com play for you?
Do they run good and what does it do to your heat?

I have been testing CSI Miami but any program should do.

I watched 13 minutes of CSI Miami on CBS.com in HD. Here's a shot of my temps, my load (see the menu bar) and you'll see how much of my memory is used.

It spiked a bit in temps of course but the Air is on a pillow on my lap and has been for the last 1.5 hours.

 

[tubbymac]

My computer's video performance has been a bit surprising, in light of the negative comments floating around this forum concerning the Rev A Air.

This is great news for the flood of refurb rev A owners who will be getting their machines soon

Ok, dont really know what happened but this morning after a restart (again) I tried to se the video and it looked great with almost no stuttering.

To those who tried this at the Apple store, did the MBA have Flash 9 or 10?
I will pop in today and ask them to install Flash 10 after first trying this video on Flash 9 and see the difference.

Glad you got things fixed on your older MBP. When I was in the store I didn't know how to check the version, so I'm not sure what version of Flash was running.

i was just fine with my MBA, merely watchable.
with rev b SSD configured with coolbook, 0.925v @ 1.86GHz.

Also good news. Thanks! I'm not sure why the one at the store was so bad. Good to know that it runs fine using coolbook though.

A better test would be to go to Apple's Trailer site and test those -- Flash isn't a good measure on Macs.

The only problem with the trailers is it's not something I frequently watch in terms of streaming video. Youtube, Hulu, CBS, and the like are much more likely to be things frequently watched.

I counted two stutters, one within 15 seconds and one nearly halfway through the video. I empties my cache and I think it stuttered once, but I had to really pay attention.

Thanks jessica. Everybody's results, while not perfectly flawless and free of stutter, are much better than what I observed at the store. I'm thinking the store models must be loaded with a bunch of junk or something to cause that much stuttering. If it's mostly smooth playback on machines people have received it puts my mind more at ease.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Unless you go in and do a complete little maintenance check on the in-store machines, I would not trust them. Those machines are used heavily and probably have a lot of random crap on them from the numerous websites visited each day.

 

[whatjones911]

My MBA revB stutters on youtube hd but it fine playing HD video from apple trailers which is higher quality than youtube.