A: The Web offers a very simple-to-use interface to access resources on the Internet and the opportunity to display graphics, sounds, music, and animation.
Q: How can I receive an updated version of the browser I am using?
A: Go to the site of the browser's manufacturer to get details on the newest version. For example, if you're using "Netscape", go to Netscape Communications' home page for details.
Q: I saw a site on my friend's computer and when I displayed it on my computer it didn't look the same. How come?
A: It may be that you're using a different browser, or that you're using a different version of the same browser.
Q: How can I find out if a site has a computer on the Internet?
A: It's almost impossible to know if a site has a computer on the Internet. You should try to contact someone at the site you're looking for to find out.
Q: How can I know if a certain company has a page on the Web?
A: You can try building its URL using your knowledge of the company or you can use a Search engine to find it. See the "Search engines" tools for more details.
Q: Can site owners know who has visited their site?
A: Yes, site owners can know who has visited their site, as well as the visitors' URLs. However, the Internet ethics laws restrict site owners from using this information (unless a visitor has caused damage to the site).
Q: How can I know when a Home page was last updated?
A: The date the Home page was last updated is usually written at the bottom of the page.
Q: How do I create my own home page?
A: It is recommended that you contact your Internet Service Provider for information on how to create a home page.
Q: Is it safe to send my credit card number on the Web ?
A: If you feel safe giving your credit card number over the telephone when you order a pizza, you can feel just as safe sending it on the Web. Of course, giving your credit card number is your own responsibility.
Some browsers offer a special communication security feature.
Q: Why does the URL sometimes have more components than those we've learned about?
A: Sometimes there is a third component to the URL, separated from the second one by a slash (/).
This component is the path to the directory of the file you're looking for.
Q: The first component of the URL is not always "http". What are the other codes that exist?
A: The first component of the URL identifies a way of interpreting computer information. For example, "http" is short for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. Other protocols are file, ftp, news, and gopher.
Q: Why does it sometimes take a long time to load pages?
A: There are several possible reasons:
* There may be many graphic items on the home page. This slows down the loading process.
* Many users may be simultaneously attempting to display the same site as you, making the site unavailable.
* There may be a communication error.
Q: How can I shorten the process of loading a page with graphics?
A: To shorten the process, turn off "Auto Load Images" in the Options menu. Once the page is displayed, click the "Images" button to reload the graphic items.
Q: Can I open another page while the first page I opened is still loading?
A: Yes, you can open several pages at the same time . To open multiple Web pages simultaneously , choose "Open" from the File menu.
Q: Is there a way to change the automatically-displayed default page ?
A: Yes, there is. From the "Options" menu, choose "General preference". Then choose "Appearance".
You can select one of the following radio buttons:
Blank Page - if you don't want any page to be displayed when starting the browser program.
Home Page Location - if you want to choose the home page that will be displayed whenever you start the program. The default URL is the Netscape's home page. You can change it here.
Q: Why do I get an error panel "Cannot connect to host" ?
A: There are several possible reasons:
* The host you are trying to connect to may be down (not available).
* You may be having problems with your own connection.
* You may not have permission to access Internet hosts. Check with your network administrator.
Q: What does HTML mean?
A: Web pages are created by authors using a programming language called HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). This language offers short codes to designate graphical elements and links. An HTML page may contain text, images, sounds, movies, or a combination of all.
Q: How do I load files written in a format that the browser can't read?
A: When you attempt to load a file written in a format that the browser can't read, the browser automatically attempts to read the file using external helper applications . A dialog box opens and allows you to choose the helper application that applies to the file you're trying to open.
