I figured about 300k for the final file (avg 6-7 bytes per value + overhead).
OK, let's remember that PC serial speeds are limited to 115kbaud, or 11.5kbytes
per second. And that some MODEMs only handle up to 56k, and that most
workstations won't go beyond 38.4kbaud unless you get special hardware.
Given those conditions, the best you'll ever get is 11.5k/sec, for a total of
17+ seconds. If you stick to a more reasonable number (2k/sec is about right),
you still have to wait 100 seconds for 200k, 150 seconds for 300k.
My 4 minute estimate was a little off the mark, but not much.
> 200Kb (avg. 5 bytes per value). Compressed at 8:1 25Kb, which would take
*What* compression? So far there isn't any in VRML, and for ASCII text I'd
hazard a guess that the compression used in today's comm. hardware will do
much better alone than with some software compression in VRML.
> 12.5 sec. I'm not sure how the 2 compression schemes would beat against
> each other but even at twice that much time, that's 25s. 28.8 modems are
> fairly inexpensive and getting cheaper every day. They have even better
> compression. I'll bet the above scene would get down to under 10 sec.
If you have good phone lines. Even close to DC with all sorts of high-tech
business around, we're *still* primarily copper. 9600 is pushing it in
some areas.
> ISDN should be cheap enough for home installation within a couple of
> years. That will double or quadruple the speed again.
>
Yes, but price will be the driving force. Right now ISDN is *much* more
expensive than a dialup MODEM connection (approx 3 times the cost in my area
for a 24-hour hookup).
-- ______________________________________________________________________________Mike Sweet 2D & 3D Software for Easy Software Products (301) 994-0377 Silicon Graphics, Inc. 20778 Wolftrap Street [email protected] Workstations Lexington Park, MD 20653 http://www.easysw.com ______________________________________________________________________________