[OSM-newbies] Multiple problems

[Rick Collins]

I am not getting along well with trying to learn how to add to the 
map.  I am having multiple problems with JOSM, mostly the user 
interface does not seem to work well.  I have the newest versions of 
Sun JavaRE and JOSM.  I have always seen problems with Java apps.  Is 
this a typical thing with Java or is there something wrong with my 
installation?  I see very odd things such as clicking on one menu 
does nothing, but when I click on the next menu, the first drops 
down.  I also see similar delays in many commands such as using the 
scroll wheel to zoom in or out.  For example, if I click multiple 
times in one direction and a final click in the other direction, the 
last scroll click does not happen until I move the cursor.

I also can not currently see the map at OSM.  It brings up the page, 
but there is no map content or map controls.  Any ideas?

I would much prefer to use a binary app such as Merkaartor.  Does 
anyone know if this is being worked to make it compatible with the 
new API on OSM?