Surfing the Internet with Netscape Communicator 4

Explains how to use Netscape Communicator to publish Web pages, create online discussion groups, and hold teleconferences

As the title suggests, Surfing the Internet with Netscape Communicator 4 is one third Communicator overview, one third Web guide, and one third general setup and connection advice. This is a quick and easy read if you are new to the Web and want to use Netscape Communicator as your platform. The first chapters discuss the different features of the software package, including how to configure and customize the browser, use bookmarks, send and manage e-mail, participate in discussion groups, and utilize Conference for chatting and collaborative browsing. The book organizes the information in short numbered steps to get you up and running quickly.

The next section of the text is devoted to the Web and the types of documents and files you will find there. Section topics include live content such as Java and ActiveX, VRML, and Web page design. New users will especially appreciate the chapter on search tools, which contains both general information as well as specific advice on many of the available Search pages, including Yahoo!, HotBot, AltaVista, and Excite.

The final portion of the book is designed to get you connected and surfing as quickly and efficiently as possible. These chapters contain information on installing Communicator, configuring Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking, and using Communicator in conjunction with online services like America Online, CompuServe, and the Microsoft Network. The included CD-ROM contains HTML pages with hyperlinks to browse, AOL start-up software, NETCOM's starter package, Marimba's Castanet, a demo of Bongo, JetEffects (a Java authoring tool), and other utilities. While none of the sections could be called exhaustive, Surfing the Internet with Netscape Communicator 4 is a good all-in-one starter guide. The guide is for Windows and Windows 95 only.