Re: Web browser for Apple IIe?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Rob wrote:

>Paul Allen Panks wrote:
>> Mark,
>> 
>> The Contiki Web Browser currently supports the C64 and Atari 800XL. Why 
>> wouldn't they also support the Apple II series? Both the C64 and Atari 
>> 800XL clock in at just over 1 Mhz, and both have 320 x 200 resolution 
>> capabilities. It should very much be possible on the Apple II if both of 
>> these systems can do it.
>> 
>> Paul
>One problem is that the Apple ][ has a much greater diversity of 
>hardware with all of those slots and several major variations of the 
>Apple ( ][, ][+, ][e, //c and //c+)

The obvious path forward is to pick a lowest common denominator
8-bit Apple II system (it is not difficult to be "upward compatible"
from there), and port to that platform.

If I consider the proliferation (and cost) of Apple II family systems,
I think I would choose the 128K unenhanced //e with a super serial
card.  That hardware base seems quite capable enough, and very
easy to come by.  I've seen few cases where 65C02 code saved
more than a couple of percent over 6502 code, and there are
still lots of unenhanced //e's out there.  (This would also make it
easier for someone to down-port the package to a RAM-equipped
][+ or ][, if that seemed worth doing later.)

An unenhanced 128K //e port would run fine on all //e's with a
64K 80-column card and SSC, and all //c's.  With a little driver work,
it would run on IIc+'s and IIgs's.