Introduction

Welcome to Netscape Communicator Dial-Up Edition, software designed to get you up and running on the Internet quickly and easily. To create a connection to the Internet using Dial-Up Edition all you need is a computer, a modem, and an ordinary phone line.

The heart of Dial-Up Edition is Netscape Communicator, including the award-winning Navigator web browser, as well as electronic mail, discussion groups, and other services.

The second major component of Dial-Up Edition is a program called Account Setup, which helps you acquire and configure an Internet account. Dial-Up Edition also includes connection software, which lets you connect to the Internet using a modem; bonus plug-ins to enhance your experience of the Internet; and complete online documentation.

About this book

This book helps you install your software, set up a connection to the Internet, and install the bonus plug-ins. 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 Dial-Up Edition. You'll find this information later in this chapter.

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 Dial-Up Edition. You'll learn how to do this in "Installing Dial-Up Edition."

If you're a new user and currently have one or more Internet accounts, open your current connection software and copy down your settings. See "Using Account Setup" for more information.

If you're a new user, create or configure an Internet account using the Account Setup software. See "Using Account Setup" for more information.

(Optional) Install additional Dial-Up Edition software. See "Installing Additional Software" to learn about the free software that comes with Dial-Up Edition.

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

System requirements

Dial-Up Edition gives you all the software you need to access the Internet. In order to use Dial-Up Edition, your computer must meet the requirements listed in one of the next two sections.

Windows

Dial-Up Edition for Windows runs on Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Windows NT 4.0. Your system must include the following components.

An IBM-compatible computer with the following:

A 486/66 (or faster) processor.
25 MB to 35 MB of free hard-disk space.
16 MB of RAM. (24 MB is required to use Netscape Netcaster.)
256-color (or better) display.

A CD-ROM drive.

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

Access to a telephone line to connect to the Internet; almost any phone line will do. You can even connect from hotel rooms or, in some countries, from pay phones.

Macintosh

Dial-Up Edition for the Macintosh requires the following system components.

A Macintosh computer with the following:

A 68030 (or later) processor or a PowerPC processor.
Macintosh Operating System 7.5 (or later).
25 MB to 35 MB of free hard-disk space.
16 MB of RAM. (If you're using a Power Macintosh with 16 MB of RAM, turn on Virtual Memory and set it to 24 MB.)
(Optional) Apple Open Transport networking software, version 1.1 or later (version 1.1.2 is recommended). To obtain a current release of Open Transport, contact Apple Computer, Inc., or your local software vendor.

A CD-ROM drive.

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

Access to a telephone line to connect to the Internet; almost any phone line will do. You can even connect from hotel rooms or, in some countries, from pay phones.

Getting additional help and information

If you want more information either before, during, or after you install Dial-Up Edition, there are several resources available to you. In some cases, such as when you're using online help, you access these resources from within the specific application. For additional or supplemental information, you can also open specific resources from the Reference Library.

You can choose from these resources:

Introduction to Communicator, a printed overview of Netscape Communicator included in the Dial-Up Edition package. An online version of the book is available from the Reference Library.

Communicator Quick Reference Card, a concise printed summary of Communicator features and keyboard shortcuts included in the Dial-Up Edition package. An online version of the card is available from the Reference Library.

An online version of this Installation and Setup Guide, available from the Reference Library.

Internet Preview, an online overview of the Internet and the World Wide Web, available from the opening screen of Account Setup and from the Reference Library.

Communicator Preview, an online summary of the components in Netscape Communicator, available from the opening screen of Account Setup and from the Reference Library.

Welcome to Dial-Up Edition, an online summary of the components included in Dial-Up Edition.

Take a Tour of the Internet, a detailed, online explanation of Internet features and concepts and how they work, available from the Reference Library.

Working with Multiple User Profiles, an online guide to creating and maintaining multiple user profiles, available from the Reference Library.

Opening the Reference Library

Once you've installed Dial-Up Edition, follow these steps to open the Reference Library:

Do one of the following:

(Windows 95 and Windows NT) From the Start menu, choose Programs, then choose Netscape Communicator, and then choose Reference Library from the submenu.

(Windows 3.1) Double-click the Reference Library icon in the Netscape Communicator window.

(Macintosh) Double-click the Reference Library icon in the Netscape Communicator folder.

Click the topic you want to see from the Quick Links in the upper-right corner of the window or scroll through the topics.

What's next?

After checking the hardware and software requirements, you're ready to install Dial-Up Edition. Go to "Installing Dial-Up Edition" now.