10 Minute Guide to Netscape for X-Windows

Introduction

Netscape Navigator seems to be taking the World-Wide Web by storm. Statistics seem to show Netscape dominating the Web browser market, with anywhere from 60 to 75 percent share. It¹s pretty amazing any software package can gain anything like this sort of market share in just a year¹s time, but Netscape¹s done just that.

What is Netscape?

Netscape is computer software for browsing the World-Wide Web. Since you¹re using a UNIX computer system, you may already be using a Web browser, such as NCSA Mosaic, so you¹re pretty familiar with the Web. Netscape provides the features of other Web browsers, along with features of its own, in an attractive and easy-to-use package. If you compare Mosaic to a your basic Chevy, you might see Netscape as a bright red Corvette: both provide transportation, but the Corvette may be more fun to drive.

Moreover, like some TV shows (Northern Exposure, or possibly anything on MTV, come to mind), Netscape has a definite attitude. Many people find Netscape irresistable. Others, of course, are perfectly happy watching Murder, She Wrote. You probably already know which sort of person you are, and you¹ll learn what we mean as you learn about Netscape. You¹ll want to keep an open mind, though, especially if your¹re a business or other professional, looking for a professional tool. Netscape¹s seemingly adolescent outlook on things can be off-putting. Don¹t let this get in the way of your realization the package may be just the tool you need. After all, success is as success does, and no one can argue with Netscape¹s success.

What is the 10 Minute Guide and Why Do You Need It?

This book is one of Que¹s three 10 Minute Guides to Netscape. (The others are dedicated to Netscape on Macintosh and IBM- compatible/Windows PC¹s, respectively.) Netscape is similar on the three computer platforms, but each is different enough you¹ll want the 10 Minute Guide for the system(s) you use.

Netscape runs on a wide variety of UNIX systems, including Sun, IBM, Digital, Silicon Graphics, Hewlett-Packard, and others. This 10 Minute Guide focuses on the version of Netscape for UNIX systems.

The 10 Minute Guide to Netscape for UNIX uses a series of lessons to walk you through the basics of Netscape, then moves on to more advanced features. Each lesson is designed to take you about 10 minutes to work through, and each is limited to a particular feature, or several related features, of the package. If you¹ve used a Web browser before, you¹ll find many things about Netscape familiar, since you already have a basic understanding of the World-Wide Web.

If you haven¹t used a Web browser, you¹ll still find these lessons accessible, and you¹ll get a good introduction to the Web. There are plenty of examples and screenshots that show you what things look like. By the time you finish this book, you¹ll be an advanced Netscape user.

Do I Have to Know a Lot About UNIX?

No. If you¹re like many people who use UNIX systems, you¹re familiar with the basics, like how to use your windowing system--moving windows around, clicking on icons to start programs, etc. You probably also know a bit about entering simple shell commands and using a simple text editor. This basic knowledge, along with a general familiarity with the system of directories and subdirectories used on UNIX systems, is all we assume in this book. Your System Administrator can help with the installation and setup of Netscape; she/he may already have done so for you.

X Windows

Netscape for UNIX runs under the X Window system, often called just X. All the UNIX vendors on whose systems Netscape runs provide X, but they often give it a fancy name. Sun calls it OpenWindows, IBM, AIXWindows, and Hewlett- Packard, VUE. Rest assured, if Netscape is running on your system, it¹s running under X. What¹s important about X Windows in the context of Netscape is Netscape looks and acts the same on all the different UNIX systems it supports. Setup and configuration are the same and the appearence of the screens are the same. All the screenshots in this book were captured on an IBM RISC/6000 system running AIX, but they¹d look exactly alike on a Sun, SGI, or HP. As a result, everything you already know about using the windowing system on your UNIX machine is directly usable in Netscape.