This problem pre-dates my downloading of version 4.1.7076.4458. Google Earth is CONSTANTLY crashing on my iMac (details below under system info), and it is taking my computer down in a hard way when it does.

My feeling is that the problem is related to buffering the incoming data stream. The crashes almost always seem to occur when I am trying to do a fly-by or manually scan terrain. First the mouse becomes unresponsive... and then anywhere from 10-30 seconds afterwards the computer powers down.

I realize this version is beta, but I downloaded it yesterday to see if it would alleviate the crash problems I am experiencing. It did not... in fact it seems to have gotten worse. Prior to downloading this version, I was sometimes able to use Force-Quit to exit Google Earth but salvage the shell environment. However, in the past 24 hours I have had the computer go to black screen six times -- requiring me to unplug the computer, hit the reset button, reboot, defrag the hard disk, and then run Google Earth again.

If the dam thing runs on Linux (which I know it does, I have used it), it should be a fairly simple matter to port it to MacOS X. So what's up? This software CLEARLY is not ready for prime-time on the Macintosh.

Hire some skilled Macintosh people, please...