The World Wide Web

Exploring the World-Wide-Web
Hardware and Software

Most people access the World-Wide Web with the following hardware and software resources:

• A Macintosh or Windows computer
• A network or modem connection to the Internet
• Network and web client software.

Computer Requirements

To use a graphical web browser program like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, you need a moderately fast personal computer. The 4.x versions of these browsers are best used on 486, Pentium, Pentium II or PowerPC systems.

Like most software for personal computers, available RAM rather than processor speed is usually the biggest factor in performance. As web browsers add new features, like the ability to run Java applets, they eat more RAM. 32 megabytes of RAM is probably a minimum for running the current versions of Navigator or Explorer happily. You will also need at least ten or twenty megabytes of free hard disk space.

Connection Requirements

Your computer needs some form of physical access to the Internet. In an office environment, this connection may be through Ethernet and a local area network (LAN). Currently, most people who access the web from home use a modem and a telephone line. A fast modem is essential for running a graphical browser like Navigator (28.8 kbps or faster is highly recommended). This works only if you have established an account with an Internet service provider that supports dial-in access. Such access requires special software.

The speed at which the physical connection can move data (its bandwidth) constrains web access much more than the speed of your computer. A 14.4 kbps modem can receive only about 1.2-1.4 kilobytes of data per second, even if there is no other network traffic. Compare this to a typical Ethernet-connected computer at a University, which can receive 20-30 kilobytes per second from a distant web server even during periods of heavy campus network use. As a technology for home use, the web is still in its early days.

Software Requirements

The trickiest part of getting access to the web is installing and configuring the necessary software. There are several kinds:

A Web client program ("web browser")

Many similar products are available. Microsoft Internet Explorer is most popular, probably as a result of its superior speed, support for special HTML tags.  Microsoft's Internet Explorer is emerging as the most formidible competitor to Netscape Navigator. Since Explorer is distributed free with Windows95, its share of the market is increasing rapidly. This tutorial describes basic browser skills that apply to both Navigator and Explorer.

Software for TCP/IP networking

For Mac users, this is the MacTCP or Open Transport control panel, which is included with System 7.5 and later versions. Windows 3.1 users typically require a version of Winsock. Windows95 includes built-in support for TCP/IP networking.
You need to get the correct TCP/IP settings from JVLNET. Do not simply copy this software from someone else's computer to your own -- this creates address conflicts that can disable both computers and create other network problems.

Software for dial-up access to TCP/IP (if you are using a modem)

If you're dialing up with a modem, JVLNET will provide you with software to support SLIP or PPP. SLIP/PPP allow the use of TCP/IP across serial connections like telephone lines. Many people will need some technical help to install and configure this software correctly, but once the various pieces are in place, you won't have to bother with them much.
To learn more about setting up a SLIP/PPP connections, visit the Getting Connected section of JVLNET's On-Line Support

Right now, setting up a computer to connect to the World-Wide Web is something of a challenge for normal people (e.g., non-wireheads). This is likely to change, however, as web browsers and TCP/IP become standard features of personal computer operating systems and as telecommunications deregulation allows the telephone, cable, and electric power companies to become Internet service providers. Devices like WebTV are also making the web available to new audiences.

For the present, however, all these details are beside the point: if you weren't already able to access the web, you wouldn't be able to read this document! The next step is to learn more about how to use a web browser.