Re: Graphical WWW Browser for 8 bit Apple II computers

[rubywand@aol.com]

In article <Pine.PMDF.3.91.961121203202.1784033B-100000@OBERLIN.EDU>, Toby
Reiter <str4552@OBERLIN.EDU> writes:

>> ....
>> Adalbert Goertz responds >>>>>>>>>>>>
>> ][gif would not be the best viewer to try  this, but you could use
>> SHR.VIEW
>Adalbert, SHR.View is a reasonably good graphics view, but as has been 
>said before, even though it is a ProDOS 8 application, it is for use in 
>viewing super high resolution pictures, which cannot be seen on anything 
>other than a IIgs.
>


     SHR.View is a very nice, very flexible GS graphics displayer. It will
be fun to disassemble the program and study it.

     Probably, the main barriers to web browsing on most pre-GS Apple II's
are speed. RAM, and mass storage. If an 8-bit II is running an accelerator
and has, say, 1MB of Slot RAM plus a hard disk, there should be a way to
handle net input.

     For example, large graphics do not need to be displayed. They could
be represented by icons generated by the browser. Blocks of Text do not
need to be fully displayed either. The browser could display a few words
from each and allow the option of clicking to get a pop-up, scrollable
window to view the entire contents.

     Naturally, this would be easier on the double-hires monochrome
(560-dot) screen; but, if you've got speed, RAM, and an HD, it could be
done in hi-res. The main trick is having a user-friendly way to represent
web inputs.

     A slightly different approach, is to go to plug-in hardware. A Web
Card could have in-ROM routines to handle displays and I/O on 8-bit II's
as well as GS plus a high-speed interface for connecting to modems, cable,
etc..         



Rubywand