Re: bxy file woes

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer) writes...

>spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) wrote:
>
>>    At this point in time, I can't imagine not having a PC or Mac
>>for dedicated Internet access (or something similarly capable).
>>This does not at all imply giving up on the Apple II, I just think
>>setting up another system *solely* to do web browsing (plus video
>>and audio streaming) makes a lot of sense to have on the side. I
>>haven't given up on my IIgs, I consistently post and read this
>>newsgroup using my IIgs running ProTERM, but if I want to browse
>>web pages, I jump over to my PC running Netscape.
>>
>>    Price isn't an issue anymore, you can get an old 486DX2/66
>>with 16 MB of RAM, 200+ MB hardrive, 14" VGA screen, keyboard,
>>mouse and cheap 16-bit sound card for under US$50. I'm sure you
>>could do equally as well and get a Macintosh Quadra equipped
>>similarly for the same price or slightly more. Going online has
>>a whole new meaning on a PC or Mac compared with what your used
>>to on the Apple II. I'll bet this is something even Supertimer
>>and I can agree on. :)
>
>Oh I do agree up to a point.  I agree that it is nice to have
>a fast Mac or Windows PC to run Netscape on.  However,
>a 486DX2/66 is VERY pokey in processing web pages.
>I'd rather stick with lynx and the Apple II for that.

    Actually Netscape 3.x runs decently on a 486DX2/66 (though
I wouldn't say the same of anything slower) and if it isn't to
your liking, there are alternative graphical web browsers for
the PC that run faster and require less memory than Netscape
on older/slower machines. The the name slips my mind at the
moment, but I installed such a browser on my 386.

>A Pentium 75 and a 33.6k modem is the minimum that I
>would think acceptable to run Netscape on.

    Well I managed with a 14.4k modem for Netscape up until
very recently, which may not have been blazing fast, but
certainly quite servicable.

>Not everyone is so fortunate, however, Mitch.  I once
>knew someone who went over to a retirement home
>to use donated 8-bit Apple II units and modems to
>connect to the Internet via shell accounts.  These people
>don't have $50 to shell out.

    I agree with you there, that is something I overlooked.
However, if someone on a tight budget scrapes together and
spends a hundred dollars or more upgrading their IIe or
IIgs by purchasing new hardware and software, then that
arguement falls flat.

   As Internet servicable PC's and Mac's become "obsolite"
and lose their market value though, then there are cases
where money is no longer an issue as systems are *given*
away to charitable organizations.

>I can imagine very well the chance that a lynx freenet
>account plus a free Apple II and modem can do for
>these people.  It can get them on the Internet.
>
>We should give older folks like Adalbert a break.
>Ever think why his prefers ProDOS 8 to GS/OS?

    I think Adalbert uses ProDOS-8 over GS/OS because he has
no hardrive. GS/OS is hardly usable with floppy disks; when
I had no hardrive I always looked for software that booted
from ProDOS-8, booting into GS/OS meant a *long* wait and
lots of disk swapping (to the point my hands would actually
tire from inserting and removing floppies so much).

>Older folks often lack the manual dexterity to use
>a mouse properly.  It is not a crime.  That's another
>reason why they often prefer to use lynx instead
>of something graphical.

    Huh? I think you have that backwards. If anything, elderly
persons (or very young children) would find it easier to use a
point and click mouse interface with graphical visual aids on
screen. Lynx and obscure Unix commands are very intimidating
to not just to the very old and young, but anyone who is not
computer literate. I tried to get my sister started with a
shell account and Lynx, but she gave up on it after short time
because it was too complex and frustrasting for her (and she
is just a few years older than I am). OTOH, when I put her in
front of a Mac or PC running Netscape, it took her only a few
minutes to figure everything out and was exploring web pages
on her own. Although I understand Lynx, even I find it rather
clumsy and cumbersome to use, especially in a time where the
vast majority of web pages heavily rely on graphics.

    Lynx is advantageous when you want to load pages in faster
that have tons and tons of graphical information, and you just
want to get at the text information. However, you must keep in
mind you can disable the graphics in Netscape and even on the
GS, there is a nice little program extension called "SIS". :)
Also keep in mind 56K modems, cable modems and ADSL is becoming
more common, making Lynx less and less attractive as time goes
on...

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca