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The popularity of the Internet in recent years is largely a result of the development of the World Wide Web, a format for transferring information (text and graphics) over a global network. Until this new format, the internet primarily was an exchange for text information.
In order to effect this new format, software called a "browser" was developed. The most popular browser version (called a "client") for an individual's computer is produced by Netscape Corporation (Navigator). Other significant products exist, the most prominent competitor to Netscape is Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Both products have very similar features and setups from a user's standpoint. Once you have acquired, setup, and used one product, the process is very simple for subsequent products.
Acquiring the Product
Acquiring a World Wide Web browser can be accomplished in many ways. The easiest option is to download the software directly from the company's website. However, be prepared for a long wait especially during peak hours, as these files are big. Both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's Internet Explorer are free web browsers.
Installing the Product
Once you have the product, you must install it. This will entail "double clicking the Installer" icons (Macintosh) or "Run:Setup" options (Windows) and following prompts. If you are not familiar with installing software on your platform, read your operating system manual or get help. Next, the software must be configured to operate with your dial-up connection to your Internet Service Provider (willapabay.org). The essential configurations that must take place are for mail and news service. If you use separate software for these services there is no specific setup needed for WWW browsing. To make the configurations you must set certain parameters by entering information into a dialog box. For a specific example, we will configure the mail and news parameters for Netscape Navigator, ver. 3 (and show Internet Explorer in parenthesis). Other versions and products are similar.
Using the Product
- Make a connection with your modem through Dial-Up Networking (Windows), or through PPP (Macintosh).
- Open or start your browsing software.
- Allow starting page to load fully. Check status of loading procedure in the lower left corner of the browser's window.
- Surf the net by either 1) clicking "hot links" (colored, underlined words, pictures, buttons, etc.) on the web page or 2) Type a website address in the Address or Location dialog box and press "Go" ("Enter or Return on the keybored will also work")
Note: You will know an element is a hot link by placing the cursor pointer over it. If the cursor pointer changes form into something else, the element is a hot link.
Learning More About the Product
There has been a lot of ground covered in this section as the browser is a complex piece of software that can serve many purposes. If you use other client software to process mail and read newsgroups, you may prefer to use them over your browser's implementation of these functions.
If you would like to investigate the full documentation on these products for more complete information, you may visit the browsers support areas.
Please report problems to: webmaster@willapabay.org