Java in libraries and homes with light bulbs!

[The Big Glee Bopper]

On Wed, 13 Dec 1995, Stan Kasper wrote:

> The 32-bit version of Netscape will not work with Windows 3.x even
> when using the WIN32S addon.  

A slight digression. You folks do realize that there is an inside/outside 
dichotomy you are dealing with? You have an inside limitation because you 
are running win 3.1, but _many_ of your users are actually _outside_ your 
library and can run Netscape 2.whatever which deals with Java. Many of 
these _outside_ users aren't actually interested in coming _inside_ the 
library but are interested in getting/using information from the library.

Why not have an aspect of your service devoted to outside users and
include java apps for them who can view them. You could develop them on a
stand alone machine in the library either win95 or linux, and include them
in apps for the outside users. This gives you a chance to play and keep up
with these _slight_ changes. Eventually things get fixed, machines get
more powerful, whatever, and you are ready. It isn't perfect but not much
is. 

I think the estimate at the moment is that there are 10 million folks
online in the US out of a population of 265 million folks. 10/265, or .04
of the american population. Sounds pretty small but at one point in time
that number could be coming from homes with glass windows, light bulbs,
phones, radios, TVs, and computers ... the only thing certain is change.
So get ready for it in whatever way possible. 

--Thom