user11073: Using 0.6.6.2 on a mac mini; has been running for 56 hours now, still not fully synchronised; is there a way to monitor whether the program is actually doing something or just stuck? would the 0.8.x be faster?

user10377: It takes forever and a day to have Bitcoin-Qt sync up with the Blockchain for the first time. Also try executing "netstat -n -P TCP | grep '.8333'" in a terminal window to see if you have eight concurrent socket connections into the Bitcoin network.  

11073: <p>Using 0.6.6.2 on a mac mini; has been running for 56 hours now, still not fully synchronised; is there a way to monitor whether the program is actually doing something or just stuck? would the 0.8.x be faster?</p>
 10377: <p>It takes forever and a day to have Bitcoin-Qt sync up with the Blockchain for the first time. Also try executing "netstat -n -P TCP | grep '.8333'" in a terminal window to see if you have eight concurrent socket connections into the Bitcoin network.  </p>
