Gopher's Role in the Modern Internet
There are some people who believe that Gopher is technically superior to the Web in a number of respects. They consider it cleaner to have servers do the linking, rather than having links embedded in documents. An argument can also be made that the text orientation of Gopher is efficient, better able to ensure compatibility between platforms, and also more suited to special needs situations such as low-bandwidth links and access by those with visual impairments. Some Gopher enthusiasts thus consider it to be a purer hypertext system than the Web.
However, history shows us that despite Gopher predating the Web, the Web overtook it in popularity in only a few short years. Today, the Web is the 900-pound gorilla ...
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