Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
We receive hundreds of Internet related questions every month -- most of them about the same subjects. Listed here are the questions our readers have asked during the past months. Sometimes we even include the answers too.

Q&A Index

What's http:// mean?

What's a browser?

How can I turn off Web graphics?

What are Cookies?

What are Applets?

How can I place hyperlinks in my email messages?

Must I be connected 24 hours a day to use the Web?

What are Zip files?

What is a search engine?

My new 56K modem is not working correctly.

What's this http:// thing?
The http:// in a Web address is actually an important part of the protocols the Internet uses to retrieve documents. It's an abbreviation for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It tells the Internet network that you want to look at a Web site or page. For instance, the address for Microsoft's home page on the Web is http://www.microsoft.com. Typing this into your browser's address line will take you to Microsoft's Web site.

Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator no longer require a user to type http:// in the browser address window to find a site. They both assume that you want to look at a Web document or page and default to that mode. They also assume you want a domain address ending in .com.

In our example above then, it would only be necessary for you to type the word microsoft in the address window and press the ender key. The browser will find and display Microsoft's home page.

What's A Browser?
A browser is a computer software program that allows a user to view Web pages while connected to the Internet. There are two browser programs currently in vogue -- Netscape Navigator from Netscape Communications and Internet Explorer from Microsoft Corporation. Both are equal to the task but Navigator is the most common program with roughly 70 percent of Web users using it. IE is quickly gaining a larger share of the action, though.

Both IE and Navigator have evolved into a package of Internet applications. They not only allow you to view pages on the Web but also contain programs to let you send and receive email and read newsgroups in one package or suite of applications. The new 4.0 versions even include an application that lets you compose your own basic Web page without knowing the complicated computer language that codes them.

Both companies have recently upgraded their browser programs to a new version. Each time a program is upgraded new features are included to make the program either easier to use, add new bells and whistles, or both.

Turning Off Graphics
I have an older laptop that allows me about 19000 Bps even though I have an external 28800 modem. The only way that I can deal with the Web is for me to use the AOL preference NO GRAPHICS mode. I want to leave AOL for another ISP but am afraid to w/o that no graphics mode. Is there a way to add that ability to my computer directly?
Yes, feel free to leave AOL for a direct connection to the Internet with another ISP. Both of the popular We browsers; Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, contain settings options that allow you to switch graphics off on the pages you visit. Keep in mind, though, that ALL graphics will not appear when you choose this option. You can, however, change the option at will and even view selected graphics on a page if you wish. You are not in the minority here. Plenty of users opt to view pages without graphics to speed download times.

What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that Web site developers send to you when you visit their site. Cookie files contain information about your visit like what pages you looked at and how much time you spent at the site. If or when you return to the site, the cookie file is sent back to the Web server and it's stored there for later reference by the site operator. This gives him an idea of who is visiting and what they are looking at. He/She can then use this data to further tailor the site to those who use it. For a more detailed explanation of cookies, see our article Grandma Never Baked This Kind Of Cookie in our archive.

What Are Applets?
By Applets, we assume you are referring to Java Applets. These are small, fast programs that can run on any kind of computer. This makes them perfect for using on the Web because the program can be downloaded and run on a Mac or a PC or a Unix workstation. Java has caught the eye of Web content providers and will become a larger factor in the future. Today, they are mainly used in graphics and animation to help make Web pages more appealing. Soon, Java applets will be used for such things as spreadsheets and word processing and will allow the so-called Net PC do serious work. Java was developed about a year ago by Sun Microsystems Incorporated.

How Can I Place Hyperlinks In My Email Messages?
You can easily put links to any Internet resource in you email by typing the entire address -- including the protocol used to access the site. For example, if you want to tell a friend about WebNovice, simply type the complete address:

http://www.webnovice.com

As you can see from the above example. the link will become hot and your friend can simply click on it to start their Web browser and be taken to the site without re-typing the address. This can also be used to link to FTP, Gopher, or any other Internet resource by including the proper protocol:

ftp://microsoft.com

This works with Netscape Mail and Microsoft Mail clients and, although we don't know for sure, should work with other mail programs too.

Do I Need To Be Connected To My Service Provider 24 Hours A Day To Use The Web?
Absolutely not. That's why most home users have a Dial-In Connection. A dial-in connection permits you to connect to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) only when you want to connect and use the Internet. When you're finished with your tasks, simply disconnect. Of course, you can stay connected all day if you want. But, it's sort of impractical. If you find that you need to be connected constantly, then you may want to look into ISDN.

What Are "ZIP" Files?
Zip files are computer files with the file name extension .zip. These files are compressed using the popular PC program PKZIP and must be uncompressed before they can be used. File compression squeezes programs down so they are smaller and take up much less room on a storage device (hard disk) and take less time to transfer over a network.

What Is A Search Engine?
Search engines are Web sites that can look-up and retrieve Internet resources based on a term you input. Let's say you want to look for Web sites that contain information about sky diving. You type the words sky diving in the search engine's dialog box and it will return a list of sites that feature sky diving in their content. There are many search engines on the Web you can use for free. The most popular is Yahoo! Lycos and HotBot are very good too. For detailed searches it's best to use more than one.

My new 56K Modem did not speed up downloading time. What's Wrong?
The problem is, you have the latest in modem technology, but the computer you connect to doesn't. Furthermore, the process is complicated because of competing technologies. Rockwell and US Robotics are using incompatible protocols, because they support different standards for the 56K modem. Until a single standard emerges, you may find that your new 56K modem is ineffective, because your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers service only for the protocol that works with the other brand. Or, your ISP may not currently support either standard, because they are waiting for one standard to emerge as the winner.

Also, the bandwidth capability of your phone line has a significant effect on the data transfer speed. If the phone line can't handle the high-speed volume of data traffic, your 56K modem will not operate at full capacity, which will probably frustrate your expectations of speedy downloads. A comparable situation exists if you are communicating with a slower modem on the other end of your connection: downloads through your modem will be faster, but data transfer in the other direction may not move significantly faster.

You can still benefit from using a 56K modem if you frequently download files and your ISP uses a compatible protocol for your modem. But until all the problem areas in this situation are resolved, the benefits of 56K modems are limited.

More FAQs

[Home | Forum | Tutorials | How To | Archive | Tips 'N Tricks | Decoder | Bookstore | Reader Survey]
[FAQs | Weekly Tip | Search | About WebNovice | Contact Us | Writer's Info | Advertiser's Info]