Ross,
 
If your computer graphics card can only resolve 256 colors, or your monitor
is an older model (earlier version than a VGA) then, yes, both graphics
will look the same.  The left image background viewed on a computer using a
higher resolution monitor and a higher Mb graphics card with appear
seamless.  I would assume that you must see at least some defined lines
running horizontally across the background at the setting for 256 colors.
It is more difficult to differentiate the loss of resolution on the shell.
I may have the technical explanation wrong here, but it all boils down to:
if you have a high resolution monitor with a better graphics card, you will
be viewing graphics on the Web optimally.  But don't go running out to buy
a new computer if you do not.  Ross is correct in saying that the images
viewed at 256 are not horrible, just not as good as at a higher resolution.
 But if you are viewing Web pages with 16 color setting, time to upgrade!
 
Faster Internet access speeds are being provided by many Internet service
providers using T-3 lines and more powerful servers, which allows those of
us creating Web pages to use higher resolution graphics while keeping page
access fairly quick.  The access speed is also dependent on how much
Internet traffic there is when you log on.  But then if you have Web T.V.
your access is instantaneous!  But they use fiber optic lines instead of
phone lines.
 
The idea that we can access Web pages via the Internet still amazes me.
Look and the conchological presence on the Web these days.  It has only
been a few years since we all have had access to the Internet and look
where we are now.  And the envelop will continue to be pushed as better
Internet browsers become available.  With the merger of AOL and Netscape, I
believe the Netscape browser will be one of the best available on the
market (I'm not fronting for them, but I have always been a Netscape user
(I'm up to version 4.5) and I have no complaints.
 
Thanks for the feedback Ross.  Much appreciated.
 
In haste, (packing!)
 
Rich
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard L. Goldberg
Worldwide Specimen Shells
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/worldwide
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At 05:03 PM 11/24/98 +0000, you wrote:
>        Not meaning to be a fly in the ointment, or to sound like an ABC
>detergent commercial, but "i can't tell the difference" between Rich's
>test pix, even on the "millions of colors" setting (i usually use 256,
>to save memory and allow things to run faster)- of course my monitor is
>rather old, so perhaps it only makes a big difference on higher-quality
>monitors.  That said, the colors are quite good (IMHO) on both of them,
>so i would say if "millions of colors" is difficult for you, 256 will in
>most cases be quite sufficient.
>
>-Ross M.
>