Baslinux mailing list

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On Tue, 1 Apr 2008, baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> Message from Steven
> ===================
> Sindi wrote:
> > The links2 javascript support is not very good and
> > won't work at any of the sites I want it for.
>
> I find the links2 javascript quite useful.  It is
> sufficient for many of the sites I regularly use.

You are lucky.

It did not work at the Palm download site.

The page I want to use most is
http://uuis.umich.edu/events/dayview.cfm?sponsor=155
I cannot access the links to individual events.  Opera works here, puts 
the description at page bottom (I have to page down and then back up again 
- I think it is supposed to open a popup box instead).

> > Opera 9.26 is 16.6MB and needs 5MB of glibc =
> > 22MB disk space.  (Older versions are smaller
> > but not up to date on the javascript).
>
> Even the older versions of Opera have better javascript
> than links2.  Are you saying the javascript in the
> older Operas won't work at any of the sites you want
> it for?

No, I am saying Opera is big and slow and I would rather not be forced to 
use it to view text because of the javascript.

> > This makes Opera not the best browser for a low-RAM BL3,
>
> I agree.  I do not recommend Opera for low-RAM, slow-CPU
> computers.  links2 is the recommended graphical browser
> for BL3.

I would appreciate a smaller, faster, NON-GRAPHICAL javascript browser 
that accesses more sites than links2 does.

> > most of the time I only want to read the text at a
> > site with javascript.
>
> If the links2 javascript isn't adequate, I suggest you
> try an earlier version of Opera.  Some of them were
> only half the size the current version.  Surely there
> must be an old Opera that had sufficient javascript
> for you without all the current bloat.

Earlier versions of Opera appear to download all the images (even if told 
not to display the images).  They take much longer to even load than any 
of the text browsers.  But I will see if Opera 6 works at my music events 
site.  Thanks for the idea.  I assume that Mozilla Spidermonkey is more up 
to date with the script stuff than an old Opera.  My music events site 
just switched to javascript in the past year.

> > I would use links2 graphical with ssl, and switch
> > to elinks if I hit javascript.
>
> Is the elinks javascript actually working for you?
> I thought you said there was some problem.

NO, that is why I keep hoping you will try compiling it.  I followed 
instructions, downloaded a js package from mozilla, patched it, did 
whatever else I was told, something seemed to be missing, and the 
configure program said javascript was not there.  See my relevant (long) 
posting.  I don't understand the instructions (terminology).

> > How long does it take you to load Opera on a
> > computer with 16MB RAM?
>
> With 16mb RAM, I do not use Opera -- I use links
> or links2.  I advise people with 16mb RAM not to
> use Opera.

I have used it, but it is slow and swaps a lot.

We have a nice small 133MHz Toshiba (no CD-ROM drive so lighter) with USB 
port that I would like to use with 2.4.31 kernel and a javascript elinks, 
with wireless pcmcia card.  There is now a wireless signal (free) downtown 
outdoors only, with no place to plug in a computer.  (A sub shop with an 
indoor signal would not let us try it without paying for a sandwich and 
the signal was too weak to catch indoors at the place which provides the 
signal, 10 feet from the pole with transmitter).

The older computers come with NiCad or NiMH batteries which we can 
probably replace dead cells in.  Li-ion is less safe to fiddle with.

If elinks javascript worked, it ought to run in 16MB even if it needed 5MB 
extra for the kernel.  I don't NEED to view images with it, since I can 
choose to download them.

> > 'enhanced links' is what they are calling elinks.
>
> Sometimes they call it "experimental links".
> Sometimes they call it "extended links".
> Anything starting with an e will do.


> > Your links123 is something different.
>
> The links1.tgz package for BL3 is an enhanced version
> of links (it includes SSL, multiple languages, and
> numerous feature upgrades).  It is significantly
> superior to the links95 in BL3.  However, it is also
> significantly bigger and slower (so users with low
> RAM should only use links123 if they really need it).
>
> Cheers,
> Steven

Is this a different branch from what is now up to 0.99?

Sindi