Re: Graphical WWW Browser for 8 bit Apple II computers

[jeffr@bnr.ca (Jeffrey Robertson)]

In article <56vtvi$amb@news.wco.com>,
Charles T. Turley <cturley@wco.com> wrote:
>While others have been working on the development and release of a Graphical WWW
>browser for the Apple IIGS, I've seen no such efforts discussed or considered for
>the 8 bit, Apple II computer models. With about 90% of all graphics presented on
>the WWW being simple gif images, ranging in formats from 256 colors down to
>simple 16 color grey scale, it should be very possible and rather useful (IMHO)
>to develop software for the Apple II computer that would allow ISP connections
>for graphic WWW browsing.

The primary problem with this premise is that most pages are designed to
be viewed on screens with greater horz and vert resolution.  For
example,  They'll have something like this:

+------+ The
| GIF  | Useless
+------+ Page

o Content
o etc.

This GIF is often so large that it can't be displayed on a hires screen,
much less print text next to it.


Now, I don't know the state of Internet connectivity for an Apple, 8 bit
or otherwise, but I think a better starting point would be a native
text browser, a la Lynx.

Let's face it:  Most sites contain content which is either mostly
text, and which can be viewed with Lynx, or which is massivly graphic
and sound intensive, that it far exceeds the capability of a GS.
Let's admit that we can't support those sites, and concentrate on
covering the rest.

(Personally, I don't care about the first class, so I'd be quite happy
with this solution.)

Cheers,
-- 
-------------------------------------+----------------+-----------------
Jeffrey Robertson                    |  jeffr@bnr.ca  |      BNR, Ottawa
"I speak for myself, not BNR" - Me   +----------------+       (Meriline)
"Verbing weirds language" - Calvin                      OC-48 FiberWorld