ClassicConnect

[Robbizz]

Hi everyone!

I'm a long-time PHP programmer and I have a fairly large collection of vintage computers. My latest addition is an Atari TT030: a wonderful machine!

I had a few problems with it at first, as the computer wasn't working properly, but eventually I managed to get everything running. I then installed FreeMiNT and a web browser, HighWire 0.5.0 Beta.
HighWire supports HTTPS and, with the right configuration, can still access several modern websites. But when I try other browsers, such as CAB on the Atari ST, MacWeb on a Macintosh, or older versions of Internet Explorer and Safari on older Macs, I quickly realize just how difficult (if not impossible) it has become to browse the modern Web with these machines.

Most of the time, I can only access websites specifically designed for old browsers.
But what I really want is something different: I want to be able to read today's websites and news, perhaps while having my morning coffee in front of the screen of my favorite vintage computer, the Atari STacy.

Some of you might say, "Just use FrogFind!" Unfortunately, at least from where I live in Italy, FrogFind is completely blocked.

So I decided to try building something myself. I registered trexfind.com and created a small search engine designed to work with very old web browsers.

I've also recently added a small new feature: when available, a short answer generated by Gemini appears above the search results, along with a text box for follow-up questions. Everything is processed server-side, so the old computer doesn't have to do anything special, it simply receives a normal HTML page.

The site is:

http://www.trexfind.com

I'd really like to know how well it works on your retro computers, especially with browsers and systems different from the ones I've tested myself.

Reports of problems, incompatibilities, unreadable pages, or strange behavior would be very useful and would help me improve it.

PS: I found out about this forum by doing research tests with trexfind.

[nick99nack]

Oh, this looks nice! Testing it out with a wikipedia article, it's quite readable even on Netscape 4. This is something I could definitely make use of.

Best of luck with the project!
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If you like browsing without an ad blocker, you might also like getting rid of your virus scanner, and running around with your pants down. --SomeGuy, 2016

[cadrega]

Oh hell yeah!!!!!!!! I've never used FrogFind, but this has a lot of potential. I think I'll find a use for it. Thanks for sharing!
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[europa]

Love this! Looking forward to following the development. Best of luck!
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Your System ate a SPARC! Gah!

[teedeeaye]

Thanks for this! Looks great so far. Gonna try it on my Pentium 120 Compaq Armada when I get the chance.
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That sounds irresponsibly silly and is therefore, clearly, something I am likely to almost always do.