Getting Started

Welcome to Netscape Communicator, software designed to put the Web to work for you. To get connected to the Internet using Communicator all you need is a computer, modem, and phone line.

The heart of Netscape Communicator is the award-winning Netscape Navigator web browser, as well as electronic mail (email), newsgroups, and other services.

The second major component of Communicator is a program called Account Setup, which helps you choose an Internet service provider (ISP) to establish an Internet account and set up your computer to work with your Internet account.

Communicator also includes complete online documentation available from the Help menu.

Installation Overview

Here's a quick overview of the installation and setup procedure:

Check your computer to be sure it meets the minimum hardware and software requirements for Communicator. See "System Requirements" to find out what you need.

Make sure your modem is installed, connected, and turned on. The documentation that came with your modem explains how to install, connect, and turn on your modem.

Install Netscape Communicator. You'll learn how to do this in Chapter 2, "Installing Communicator."

Create an Internet account or, if you already have an Internet account, configure Communicator to work with your existing account. You'll learn how to do this in Chapter 3, "Using Account Setup."

Start Netscape Communicator. You're ready to explore the Internet!

System Requirements

In order to install and use Communicator, your computer must meet the following requirements:

An IBM-compatible computer with the following components:

Windows 95 or Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0 or later operating system

A 486/66 (or faster) processor (Pentium recommended)

25 MB to 35 MB of free hard-disk space

16 MB of RAM

256-color (or better) video display

A CD-ROM drive

An internal or external modem with a data-transfer rate of 14.4 kbps or faster (28.8 kbps or faster recommended) (check your modem documentation to find out your modem's speed)

Access to a telephone line to connect to the Internet

Note:: This book assumes that you have the latest available version of your operating system software, including the latest version of Dial-Up Networking (Windows 95/98) or Remote Access Services (Windows NT). It is strongly recommended that you install the latest version of Dial-Up Networking or Remote Access Services. To download and install the latest version, visit Microsoft's web site at http://www.microsoft.com.§

Getting Additional Help and Information

After you've installed Netscape Communicator, there are several information resources available to you.

Online Help

Netscape Communicator includes comprehensive online help for each of its components.

To use online help:

From the Help menu, choose Help Contents to display the main contents page for Netscape Communicator help.

Click the link for the information you want to see.

Reference Library

For additional information, you can also open specific documents in the Communicator Reference Library.

To open the Reference Library:

From the Help menu, choose Reference Library.

Click the link for the information you want to see.

Release Notes

The Release Notes include updated information about using Communicator. To see the latest Release Notes, from Communicator's Help menu, choose Release Notes. You must be connected to the Internet to view the Release Notes.

What's Next?

After checking your hardware and software requirements, you're ready to install Communicator. Go to Chapter 2, "Installing Communicator."