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Step 1: Upgrade Your Browser
If you haven't upgraded your web browser software (e.g.
Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer) for a while then
now's a good time. Web technology is moving so quickly that
it really is worth having the latest (stable) browser
version. For example, earlier versions of Netscape can't
play AIFF sounds, and so if you have such an old version,
you won't be able to play some of the sounds in my webs.
The rule of thumb is to endeavour to use the most
recent non-beta release. Historically, the beta releases have
been too unstable for productive use, tending to crash one's
computer. So go for the highest non-beta version. Here are
some links to popular browser manufacturers where you can
obtain the latest version of your browser:
Step 2: Make Some Space
By default, most browsers are configured with all sorts of
toolbars and buttons and things that use up space at the top of the
window. No doubt they make novice web surfers feel like they're
at mission control, but to the experienced surfer they simply consume
vertical space, and vertical space is a scarce resource in browser windows.
So get rid of them!
In Netscape, go to the Options and set the following
settings:
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Show Toolbar: Turn this OFF. You don't need the
toolbar. The only button in the toolbar that you'll use frequently
enough to make it worth the vertical space is the GO BACK (left arrow)
button and you should know the function key sequence for that by now.
On the Macintosh it's Command-R.
Show Location: Turn this ON. Even though this
window uses up a little vertical space, it's very useful to be able to
see and edit the current URL directly.
Show Directory Buttons: Turn this OFF.
The vertical space these buttons use is just not worth it.
If you're fond of a particular button, invoke it so that it's
URL is in the location window and then bookmark it.
Show Java Console: This should be OFF
already, but if it isn't, turn it OFF. You only need this
if you run into problems with Java.
With all that junk out of the way, you should find that your
browser window is signficantly larger, which will mean that you can
see more of the pages you're surfing.
Step 3: Surf Through A Proxy Server
Proxy web servers are computers that cache web pages.
By surfing through a proxy server rather than directly to
the Internet, you can speed up your surfing
and reduce the load on the Internet.
To turn on the use of a proxy server, in Netscape go to
the Options Network_Preferences Proxies. If you are
set to "No proxies" then you should contact your
Internet Service Provider (ISP) to find out how to connect
to a proxy server. Your ISP will be happy to help you set up
your browser to use their proxy server because once you
start surfing through the proxy server you'll be generating
less network traffic and that will save your ISP money.
Step 4: Turn Off Link Underlining
By default, most browsers (and in particular Netscape)
underline hyperlinked text as well as setting it in a
different colour. However, as links are usually highlighted
in a different colour, there's no need for this inelegant
underlining. The underlining can make some otherwise elegant
pages look very messy.
So if you want my webs (and other webs) to look a lot
better, go to the Options General_Preferences
Appearance Underline_links option (Netscape) and turn off
underlining. You won't regret it, and if, for some
inexplicable reason, you do regret it, you can always turn
them on again!
Step 5: Pull In Some Plugins
Nowadays the major browser manufacturers are doing a
pretty good job of including built-in functionality for
various media types. However, there's still some commonly
used media types that it can't cope with and so, like it or
not, you're going to need some plugins:
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RealAudio: Webs that contain RealAudio
sounds can play sounds through your browser without having
to download the entire sound before starting to play the
sound.
Quicktime: At least one of the webs in
www.ross.net contains some quicktime video files. If you
want to view these videos, you'll probably need a Quicktime
video plugin.
Step 6: Surf www.ross.net
Now it's time for you to return to the
home page and surf my webs!
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