Re: Sending Graphics
Tom Tadfor Little wrote:
>
> John, I would *not* recommend this. There are two issues. One is that there
> is no universal standard for encoding graphics for email transmission.
> The ability of the receiver to view the graphics depends on their mail
> program and whatever graphics utilities they may have. It works great if
> you can count on the receiver to have a particular configuration, but on
> a public list you can't make any such assumption. Some people may be using
> very "minimal" systems.
>
> Second, graphics files take a lot of bandwidth. Some people are on slow
> modems and pay for every minute of connect time. To force several large
> graphics files into their mailboxes unsolicited is not a good idea.
>
> Basic netiquette for newsgroups and mailing lists is "NO BINARIES",
> unless the discussion group is advertised as such to begin with.
>
> The best way to provide graphics is via the web. Three of us have web
> sites, and between us we have quite a few pictures and diagrams. We're open
> for suggestions of things to add. I would even be willing to post some
> pictures from list subscribers on my site, at least on a temporary or
> rotating basis. Let me know if you're interested. The other alternative,
> of course, is to build your own website. I understand that Netcom is
> going to provide this capability sometime soon, so you might look into
> it.
>
Tom,
Thanks, and yup, I agree to all that you wrote. Someone else suggested a
separate list, not even necessarily a reflector, for those that wanted to be
able to exchange pictures.
My thoughts were to try to define at least a set of conditions that would make
it easier for someone who wanted to receieve graphics. For instance being able
to do either MIME or uuencoding would cover a lot of the bases. Actually I
think the bigger problem might be some of the service providers (like CIS). I
can't seem to get a graphic through to another Mac friend who is on CIS
Frankly, I haven't gotten much interest, and the couple that I did get
responses from shouldn't be much of a problem working with. My incentive was to
try to get some help in identifying some cultivars that I haven't a clue about.
Maybe using a temporary part of a WEB page is a better idea. I am even willing
to provide scanning services, although I am probably not the only one with a
flatbed.
Thanks for your comments, I'll keep folks advised if anything developes
--
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge of the known world.
Fax: | (510) 795-9723
John Jones, 35572 Linda Dr., Fremont CA, 94536
jijones@ix.netcom.com, USDA zone 8 (coastal, bay)
