Q Why does Netscape have two current versions of Communicator available, eg version 4.51 and version 4.08? There appear to be cosmetic differences between them and I can't find an explanation as to which version to select. Is one a beta version? Thanks in anticipation.

A Web browsers are a dime a dozen these days and itÆs easy to be overwhelmed and confused by the number of versions available for download. HereÆs a rundown of NetscapeÆs latest browser offerings.

Netscape Communicator is a suite of Internet programs for communicating and sharing and accessing information. It includes programs for Web browsing (Navigator), e-mail (Messenger), news reading (Collabra), Web-based word processing (Composer), chat (AOL Instant Messenger) and group scheduling (Calendar), and it also ships with several multimedia plug-ins and various other utilities. The latest version at press time is 4.51, which is the full version of Communicator, not a beta version.

Netscape describes its Navigator browser as "the cornerstone of Netscape Communicator", and makes it available for download as a separate program, for those users who just want a Web browser without the other programs included in the Communicator suite. The stand-alone version of the Navigator browser is called Navigator 4.08 and it is a much smaller file to download than Communicator 4.51. Navigator 4.08 is also the latest full version of NetscapeÆs browser and not a beta program.

The bottom line ù download Navigator 4.08 if you only want a Web browser, otherwise download Communicator 4.51.