Does the newer Bitcoin clients download the block chain faster?

[CurbsideProphet]

So I'm not really a newbie but sort've feel like one since I haven't logged on in a while.  Anyway, fired up the old program and remembered how painfully slow the block chain takes to "catch up" when you haven't run the client in a while.  Is the latest version faster?  I see this as a problem for new users, I already had about the first 150k blocks, I can only imagine how long it would take to start from scratch.

[mccorvic]

So I'm not really a newbie but sort've feel like one since I haven't logged on in a while.  Anyway, fired up the old program and remembered how painfully slow the block chain takes to "catch up" when you haven't run the client in a while.  Is the latest version faster?  I see this as a problem for new users, I already had about the first 150k blocks, I can only imagine how long it would take to start from scratch.

I don't know if it's faster, but it does still take forever.  It is highly recommended to use a light client unless you're willing to wait.

[CurbsideProphet]

So I'm not really a newbie but sort've feel like one since I haven't logged on in a while.  Anyway, fired up the old program and remembered how painfully slow the block chain takes to "catch up" when you haven't run the client in a while.  Is the latest version faster?  I see this as a problem for new users, I already had about the first 150k blocks, I can only imagine how long it would take to start from scratch.

I don't know if it's faster, but it does still take forever.  It is highly recommended to use a light client unless you're willing to wait.

What is a light client?  Is that MultiBit and/or Electrum?  If so, which is recommended?

[DannyHamilton]

So I'm not really a newbie but sort've feel like one since I haven't logged on in a while.  Anyway, fired up the old program and remembered how painfully slow the block chain takes to "catch up" when you haven't run the client in a while.  Is the latest version faster?  I see this as a problem for new users, I already had about the first 150k blocks, I can only imagine how long it would take to start from scratch.

I don't know if it's faster, but it does still take forever.  It is highly recommended to use a light client unless you're willing to wait.

What is a light client?  Is that MultiBit and/or Electrum?  If so, which is recommended?

blockchain.info/wallet is a web wallet where you retain control of your private keys so the operator of the website doesn't have the ability to spend/take your coins.  It is quite convenient.

[Bendur]

I'm pretty sure the latest release of bitcoin client is supposed to be slightly faster than previous versions. But to me it seems just as slow as ever.

As for the other clients, blockchain.info is pretty sweet, very nice to look at, plenty of features and fast, but i personally would never store large amount of coins there.

[cxaxukluth]

I'm pretty sure the latest release of bitcoin client is supposed to be slightly faster than previous versions. But to me it seems just as slow as ever.

As for the other clients, blockchain.info is pretty sweet, very nice to look at, plenty of features and fast, but i personally would never store large amount of coins there.

why not?  what're you worried about?

[live627]

Cold storage is safer than hot storage I hear.