Searchable database of Apple II resources?

[Streck]

With so many disparate Apple II websites and archives, one idea that's been kicking around in my head lately is a Googlesque site whose only content is a searchable database of all those resources. It would make it as easy as possible to determine where a particular disk image, piece of documentation, magazine scan, etc. was located. In lieu of a comprehensive Atarimania-style site, I figure this is the next best thing (and maybe, in some ways, actually better).

 

You'd have just a very simple search box, and after inputting your query, it would spit back at you the site(s) on which your thing was available. For example, something like this:

 

Apple II Resource Search

 

Oregon Trail___________ (SEARCH)

 

(X) Disk image ( ) Documentation ( ) Magazine scan ( ) Other

 

Then your search results would look like this:

 

Your search "Oregon Trail" returned the following matches:

 

Virtual Apple II

http://www.virtualap...org/2listO.html

 

MECC Software Repository

http://mecc.applearc.../mecc-a157.html

 

What Is The Apple IIGS?

http://www.whatisthe...he-oregon-trail

 

Asimov FTP (click here to go to Asimov, or here for a Web-based mirror)

./images/disk_utils/cracking/the_saltine/Oregon Trail A.dsk

./images/disk_utils/cracking/the_saltine/Oregon Trail B.dsk

./images/educational/mecc/Oregon Trail (Disk 1 of 2).dsk

./images/educational/mecc/Oregon Trail (Disk 2 of 2).dsk

./images/pd_collections/misc/165 - Games (oregon trail).dsk.gz

./images/games/file_based/WildWest-Alamo-GodRush-WestwardHo-OregonTrail.dsk

[Keatah]

For now, I would suggest simply building a top-ten type of list. Either via a website, or perhaps your own personal bookmark list.

[magnusfalkirk]

Sounds like a good idea but the biggest question is: how much of a PIA would it be to set this up in the first place? I agree with Keetah, start small with some type of top ten list, see how often people visit it. If there isn't that much activity then your more ambitious project probably wouldn't get used very often either.

[Keatah]

I was looking through apple 2 online and found the site has a lot of stuff, and a lot of duplication of efforts. Not to mention it has a sterile feel to it. A lot of "presentation" if you will. Some of the .pdf files are huge as in 100megs+, though in today's world of big disks that isn't too much of a problem. Perhaps it will become more comprehensive and better organized in time..