real player performance problems (not ubuntu specific)

[david]

Greetings,

I seem to be having problems with Real Player (still). When first using
RP8 I had loads of problems. RP8 was (rightly) described to me as a
P.O.S. The play back would cut out after 10 minutes or so and would NOT
come back without a reboot. Then, version 10 of real player came out and
things were more or less normal for a while. But recently the old
problem is back. I can't reliably listen to Radio 4 (BBC) for more than
10-15 minutes before the player cuts out and reports that "no such
stream exists". Restarting the browser does not work, reloading the page
doesn't work, only a reboot works. Frankly this is rubbish. This is with
the "live radio". The playback service the BBC offer where one can
listen to already broadcast programmes works flawlessly. Because I use
Ubuntu for internet/email/music/work and Mandrake for gaming I thought
I'd try Mandrake with RP10 but it's the same.
To put it in perspective - on a windows box on 56k dial up I use to have
the radio on for hours at a time. Now, with Linux and broadband it's an
exercise in futility. 
Any pointers would be most welcome.

thanks

David