Here are a few tips designed to enhance your web browsing experience. For simplicity, when you see >>> on this page, that means click or select the item the >>> is pointing to. Also, these recommendations are for people using most versions of Netscape Navigator 4 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.

1. View Sites in Text-Only Mode
Many web sites today employ sophisticated graphics to prove their point and make an impact. In comparison to text, graphics are large files and hinder your browsing experience. If images are not key to your browsing needs or if you are on a slow connection, try turning them off.
Navigator: Select Edit menu>>>Preferences>>>Appearance and check Text Only.
Explorer: Select Tools menu>>>Internet Options>>>Advanced tab and uncheck Show Pictures.

2. More Cache!
When you access a web site, the files you download are stored in a cache (pronounced like "cash") on your hard drive. When you return to a site, you don't have to download the files again as your browser simply accesses them from the cache. When you cache grows too large, your browser will automatically delete the old files. However, if you visit the same sites regularly, you can speed up access by caching more of them. To do this, increase the size of your cache. While opinions vary based on an individual computer's capabilities, conventional wisdom is that 10 Mb is optimal.

Netscape: Select Edit menu>>>Preferences>>>Advanced>>>Cache. In the appropriate box, increase the cache size.
Explorer: Select Tools menu>>>Internet Options>>>General tab>>>Settings. Use the slider to increase the cache.

3. Home, James!
Both Netscape and Microsoft set their websites as the default home page when you launch your web browser. Fortunately, it is easy to change this to start your web experience wherever you want.
Netscape: Select Edit menu>>>Preferences. In the Home page section, type in the new web address in the box OR if you are on that page, simply click Use Current Page.
Explorer: Select Tools menu>>>Internet Options>>>General tab and type in the new web address in the box OR if you are on that page, simply click Use Current Page.

4. Find Specific Text
Once you've downloaded a document, the Find button can quickly locate a particular term in which you are interested. Why take the time to scroll through the entire document?
Netscape Navigator 4.x and Explorer 5.0: Select Edit>>>Find In Page OR you can simply hold down the ALT key and press F.

5. Searching the Web
Have you ever gone to a search engine and tried to find what you believe to be readily available information, only to not see the right results? Each search engine works in a particular way and by choosing one or two and mastering them, you will reduce the time spent searching. My favorite general search engines are Google.com and Altavista.com. Be sure to check out the Advanced Searching features of each: they are quite helpful.

6. Find Specific Text
Once you've downloaded a document, the Find button can quickly locate a particular term in which you are interested. Why take the time to scroll through the entire document?
Netscape Navigator 4.x and Explorer 5.0: Select Edit>>>Find In Page OR you can simply hold down the ALT key and press F.

7. Multiple Browser Windows
While you are downloading one web page, you can actually access another site by opening a second browser window.
Netscape: Select File>>>New>>>Navigator Window.
Explorer: Select File>>>New>>>Window.
A word to the wise: Although you can open multiple windows, this will slow down your computer, so don't go overboard. Also, remember to close the additional windows to free up disk space.