Abstract: A computer system includes a local non-volatile data storage medium and a visual display device. A still image is stored as a compressed data file in a multi-resolution compression format on the non-volatile data storage medium. The multi-resolution format is of a type that allows efficient progressive decompression and display of the selected still image. The computer system includes a data processor programmed to decompress the compressed data file, to produce successive versions of the selected still image at progressively increasing resolutions, and to display the successive versions on the visual display device. The computer system has a data retrieval medium through which the data processor retrieves the compressed data file from the local non-volatile data storage medium. The data retrieval medium has a data transfer rate that is at least as fast as the data processor can decompress the compressed data file and display the successive versions of the selected still image.