A couple interesting observations

[bloom25]

I've recently completed a major overhall on one of the computers I use to play AH.  The funny thing is that it was actually easier to get kills on my older (slower) computer.  First of all, I will list the system stats for both of my computers:

System 1: 466 celeron, 96 MB pc 100 ram, 8.4 UDMA HD, V770 Ultra 32MB video card (4.02 diamond driver), Aureal Vortex 2 directsound accelerator card, ethernet connection (fast) to web. Average ping time to HTC: 65ms
System 2: 366 celeron, 64 MB pc 100 ram, 8.4 Gb UDMA, 8 MB ATI Expert@work Vcard (rage pro chipset .4771 drivers), SB16 PnP soundcard, 56k USR modem (connection averages about 26400 bps.) Average ping time to HTC arena: 200ms
On both systems I use my Sidewinder P Pro (USB) and both have identical configurations within AH. (800x600 32 bit color)

On system 2, even with a much inferior framerate, I can get easier kills.  It seems to me that bullet trajectory is much flatter, making deflection shooting 200% easier.  Also, fewer hits seem to be needed to do damage.  Since my connection is slower on system 2, hits seem to have a delayed effect on planes.  The next observation is a complex one:  Lets say I set up for a bnz bounce on the 6 of a lower fighter.  Now, lets say I close to around 500 yds and then open fire.  I land 15 hits at ranges from 500 yds to 200 yds.  In my experience this is the result on my two different systems.  System 2, about 1/2 second after the last hit, the plane generally explodes.  System 1, the plane usually loses a wingtip after the first 4 or 5 hits, but rarely explodes.
Another observation:  System 1: Planes are much more erratic when evading you.  System 2: Planes generally react quite slowly after landing the first hit.  This is probably due to lagtime increases on system 2.  Since system 1 receives updates much more frequently than system 2, the enemy planes react much more quickly to your own actions.

FYI:  On system 1 I average 50+ fps.  System 2: 25 fps max.  Both are quite playable, but system 1 is much smoother.  My conclusion so far: The faster connection is making it much more difficult to score kills.  Does anyone else have experience with more than one computer with vastly different performance?

[bloom25]

I thought I'd add something else.  On system 2, when icons are painted the screen will studder for about 1/2 second.  I think Yeager mentioned this happening to him once too.  (It does not happen on system 1.)

bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[Wraith]

Hey that's interesting... I'll put my old 56K modem and use it in AH.. would be sad if it beats my cable modem in performance!

Perhaps your modem ISP has less traffic (or better backbone) to the AH server?

Oh the Irony!  

[bloom25]

No, I can't say that the connection using System 2 with the modem is better.  I live about 20 miles from the ISP, and ping times are running around 200 - 300 ms recently at 15 hops.  (It is through sprint-net if you are interested.)
IMO these observations I've made probably have to do with the smoothing code more than anything else.  Since the modem receives fewer updates per unit time (factor of around 5 in my case) the planes just react slower to damage or pings.  As for the difference in bullet trajectories, I don't know what is causing this.  I can tell you that system 1 has the new hires patch and system 2 has the old one.  On system 1 you can also see more tracers when you fire.  I will have to try to find (or make) films on both computers to illustrate these differences.

bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS