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Dear <italic>NetscapeWorld</italic> subscriber:
This is your monthly reminder to visit the updated NetscapeWorld at http://www.netscapeworld.com
I think each of the 17 new stories in March's NetscapeWorld are important to Webmasters and developers. But if you can read only two stories this month, let them be:
<paraindent><param>left</param>* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-siege.html>10 steps you need to take to prepare your Web server for a siege: What to do if your Web server is about to be flooded with traffic
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-smartcard.html>Smart cards come to the Web -- are you ready?
</paraindent>
Recent Web events have demonstrated that demand for Web-based information can be easily underestimated by even the most astute professionals. Dow Patton, a regular contributor to NetscapeWorld, talked to Webmasters from sites that survived recent sieges to glean nuggets of wisdom. Some wouldn't (or couldn't) share what they learned. Others related suggestions that we have compiled into a clear, 10-step checklist for other Webmasters to follow. Ignore their advice at your own risk.
Smart cards have been used for years as stored-value cards in Europe, but are now being introduced by Netscape and Microsoft for the purpose of Internet security. NetscapeWorld editor Trisha Gorman spent a month interviewing more than a dozen smart-card developers to answer what smart cards are exactly, and why their move to the Internet is significant.
Gorman profiles the major players, the types of smart cards, and the readers. She offers a glossary of ten smart-card terms, and lists 34 resources for more information.
We've just published 15 other stories you will find immediately useful and enriching, outlined below.
One last item; an apology. In my letter to you last week, I misread our new ISP's Web page and reported a false bit of information. Our new Web server is connected to the Internet in multiple ways, including DS-3s and an OC-3. I mistakingly identified our Internet connection as a "DC-3," which, of course, was a modern propeller-driven communications and transportation device in the mid-1940s. (All along I thought a DC-3 was a new network technology I'd never heard of.) Thanks to all who, good naturedly, pointed out my faux pas.
Come share the adventure!
Mark Cappel
Editor-in-Chief
mark.cappel@netscapeworld.com
<center><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw-subscribe.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Subscribe now & receive e-mail notification of new articles. It's free!
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<bold><fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger>This month's cover stories:</bigger></fontfamily></bold>
<paraindent><param>left</param>* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-smartcard.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Smart cards come to the Web -- are you ready? </bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-coin.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Write dynamic pages that look & work great in Navigator <italic>and</italic> IE</bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-html.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Calculating if your pages use too many graphics, plus... </bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-javascript.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> 5 more JavaScripts you can steal & use now! </bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-siege.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> The 10 steps to prepare your Web server for a siege</bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/netnews/> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> News junkie? Visit <italic>NetscapeWorld's</italic> net news central!</bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.tags.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Putting the new HTML 3.2 enhancements to work on <italic>your</italic> pages</bigger></fontfamily>
* <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw-best.html> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> Readers' choice of must-read articles from past issues</bigger></fontfamily>
* <<#ncw> <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> <italic>NC World</italic> decodes Microsoft's NetPC standard</bigger></fontfamily>
* <fontfamily><param>arial</param><bigger> <<#toc> See our brief descriptions of each cover story -- and 11 others</bigger></fontfamily>
</paraindent>
<bold><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>Table of Contents
</bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bold>Nuts&Bolts
<<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-coin.html> Writing dynamic pages that look <italic>and</italic> work great in both Navigator <italic>and</italic> IE
<paraindent><param>left</param>How to manipulate VB Script to perform like JavaScript in Internet Explorer. (<italic>3,800 words</italic>)
By Shelley Powers
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-html.html>Calculating if your pages use too many graphics, plus...
<paraindent><param>left</param>...frames and how to get rid of them; JavaScript & Internet Explorer; and more. (<italic>2,000 words</italic>)
By Chuck Musciano
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-bytecode.html>Microsoft's tempting Java SDK gives you speed -- but at what price?
<paraindent><param>left</param>Java developers lured into using these class libraries should understand what's meant by a `Faustian bargain.' (<italic>875 words</italic>)
By Jim Lowe
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-cafe.html>Visual Café 1.0 & Visual Café Pro set Java development tool benchmark
<paraindent><param>left</param>Is this the Java authoring environment worth using? (<italic>2,100 words</italic>)
By Dow Patten and Jeffrey Keays
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-javascript.html> 5 more JavaScripts you can steal & use now!
<paraindent><param>left</param>How to customize your users' experiences dynamically. (<italic>2,300 words</italic>)
By Reaz Hoque
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-flashpix.html> How to bring high-res images to your Web site with FlashPix
<paraindent><param>left</param>This sophisticated new format for images offers variable resolution on demand. (<italic>2,400 words</italic>)
By Trisha Gorman
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-vrmltechnique.html>VRML Technique: Sensing the viewer's touch
<paraindent><param>left</param>How to sense the viewer's touch to start and stop animations in VRML 2.0. (<italic>4,500 words</italic>)
By David R. Nadeau
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-image.html>The minimum you need to know to understand image compression
<paraindent><param>left</param>The difference between GIF & JPEG, and how to know when to use each. (<italic>1,500 words</italic>)
By Ian A. Storms
</paraindent>News&Views
<<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-smartcard.html>Smart cards come to the Web -- are you ready?
<paraindent><param>left</param>These chips-on-a-board could supply one big piece of the Internet security puzzle. Once deployed, can the long-awaited e-commerce explosion be far behind? (<italic>3,700 words</italic>)
By Trisha Gorman
</paraindent>New! <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/netnews/><italic>NetscapeWorld's</italic> Net news central
<paraindent><param>left</param>Articles elsewhere on the Net for Webmasters, Web developers & designers. Complete with links to full-length articles.
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-siege.html> 10 steps you need to take to prepare your Web server for a siege
<paraindent><param>left</param>What to do if your Web server is about to be flooded with traffic. (<italic>3,000 words</italic>)
By Dow Patten
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-email.html>Strategies your organization can use to tame the e-mail monster
<paraindent><param>left</param>How Webmasters at popular sites handle 1,000 incoming e-mail messages every day. (<italic>3,300 words</italic>)
By Barry D. Bowen
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-newproducts.html>Font technology to be part of Netscape Communicator -- Bitstream's new typefaces designed for Web clarity
<paraindent><param>left</param>Plus news on VRML, e-commerce, and security products. (<italic>8,000 words</italic>)
By Jim Carr
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-newscape.html>A basic briefing on Netscape's new servers
<paraindent><param>left</param>What you need to know to stay on top of Netscape's latest servers -- and no more. Plus we answer reader mail. (<italic>1,330 words</italic>)
By Mariva H. Aviram
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-bestpract.html>8 questions you need to answer `yes' before your pages are reader-ready
<paraindent><param>left</param>A basic checklist of issues, big & small, you should have confidence in before releasing each Web page. (<italic>1,600 words</italic>)
By Rick Cook
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-techniques.html> The 5 essentials of effective interactive Web design
<paraindent><param>left</param>Lessons designers should learn from comic books, automobiles, radio plays, & online chat. (<italic>1,970 words</italic>)
By Janet Gould
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-techniques2.html> Making one Website out of two using LDAP
<paraindent><param>left</param>A profile of how one new Web site maintains user permissions and passwords using a new, lightweight version of X.500 (<italic>1,200 words</italic>)
By Janet Gould
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-03-1997/nw-03-watermark.html> How new `digital watermarks' can protect your on-line images
<paraindent><param>left</param>A Web developer's guide to hidden serial numbers & the tools that make them. Also, the role of competing copyright clearing houses. (<italic>2,900 words</italic>)
By Peter F. Cassidy
</paraindent>Resources
<<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.tags.html>Putting the new HTML 3.2 enhancements to work on <italic>your</italic> pages
<paraindent><param>left</param>A handy collection of tips, how-tos & working examples to keep you on top of the latest HTML enhancements. <italic>(4,000 words)
</italic>By Lisa Rein
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-11-1996/nw-11-color.html>Consistent Color on ALL browsers -- 10 easy steps
<paraindent><param>left</param>Our November 1996 cover story, this article reveals the benefits of using the cross-platform 216-color palette when creating your web images, stepping you right through the process as it goes. Includes actual palettes, examples, and links to testing and troubleshooting sites. <italic>(3,000 Words)</italic> By Geoff Baysinger
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-02-1997/nw-02-cookiehowto.html>A step-by-step guid e to using cookies to analyze user activity & create custom pages
<paraindent><param>left</param>Start here if you want to learn more about your readers & offer individualized content (<italic>4,300 words</italic>)
By Matisse Enzer & Brian Wilson
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.backissues.topical.html#vrml> <italic>NetscapeWorld's</italic> VRML archive
<paraindent><param>left</param>A handy reference of VRML browser and server companies including their plug-ins to Web browsers -- with updated items in bold to aid your review -- and links to all the vendors. <italic>Plus</italic>, How to view VRML 2.0. <italic>Plus</italic>, <italic>NetscapeWorld's</italic> VRML glossary
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw-agenttable.html>Agent roundup
<paraindent><param>left</param>Our table of downloadable intelligent agents!
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.plugintable.html>Browser plug-in roundup
<paraindent><param>left</param> Here you'll find continually-updated pointers to all sorts of browser add-ons, currently from 66 vendors.
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.quickfact01.html>Quick facts: What you need to know about PNG
<paraindent><param>left</param>The Portable Network Graphics Specification promises to replace the GIF file format. Here's the background you need.
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.bookindex.html>Book reviews and excerpts -- Our picks for web developers
<paraindent><param>left</param> An ever-growing collection of Reviews and extensive excerpts which are among our most read and highest rated articles.
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.calendar.html>Calendar of events
<paraindent><param>left</param>Upcoming conferences, expos, and seminars of interest.
</paraindent> <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.jumps.html>Technical resources
<paraindent><param>left</param>Links to sites giving Web developers information on cookies, shopping carts, benchmarks, and Perl.
</paraindent> <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.netscapefaqs.html><italic>NetscapeWorld's</italic> FAQs
<paraindent><param>left</param>Find out what you need fast in the editors' favorite FAQs from around the world.
</paraindent><<http://help.netscape.com>Netscape Communications software support:
<paraindent><param>left</param>http://help.netscape.com
</paraindent><<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw-best.html> Readers' choice of must-read articles from past issues
<paraindent><param>left</param>The articles readers rated highest, raved about, and considered must-reading. Here are the top 10%. Click here for a description of each -- and what readers said about them.
</paraindent><italic>NetscapeWorld</italic> Archives
<paraindent><param>left</param>Our back issues are always available:
<<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-02-1997/>February | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-01-1997/>January | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-12-1996/>December | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-11-1996/>November | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-10-1996/>October | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-09-1996/>September | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-08-1996/>August | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/nw-07-1996/>July | <<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.mar.june.html>March to June
</paraindent><center><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-toc.nw.html>NC World
</center>
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-netpc.nw.html>Microsoft's NetPC reference platform decoded
</bold>We give you the closest look yet at Microsoft/Intel's NetPC, rival to Oracle's NCRef1 standard -- What exactly does it provide? Which are its most important features? What is Microsoft trying to accomplish? What does Microsoft have to do to beat out the NetRef team? How can Oracle and allies overcome Microsoft's marketing muscle? Read this most detailed and insightful analysis ever on this key battle -- and get a level of informed perspective you won't find anywhere else! <italic>By Rawn Shah</italic>
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-softnc.nw.html>SoftNC Desktop Environment leverages your existing resources
</bold>Most corporations can't (and won't!) just start from scratch when they deploy an NCnet. You have years and decades of business applications and equipment you cannot afford to scrap. SoftNC from TriTeal plans to come to the rescue with a desktop environment for your NCs that make them good NCnet citizens -- and your users will like them. Bonus: Read our rapid rundown of 6 other desktops for your mixed environments. <italic>By Kane Scarlett</italic>
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-netlaunch.nw.html>9 more myths about the NC -- we crush 'em!
</bold>Are NCs really a plot to control the user? We answer this and eight more common but -- as we shall demonstrate -- <italic>unfounded</italic> criticisms of the NC. Don't fall prey to these myths -- let us arm you with the facts! <italic>By Rawn Shah</italic>
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-videoconf.nw.html>How NCs could spark the video conferencing market
</bold>Video conferencing is an expensive and demanding application that has struggled to break free from complexity and costly installation. The virtues of NCnets apply to solving these problems too. We detail the existing standards and pitfalls, and profile four companies with early affordable strategies. <italic>By Eduardo Perez, PhD</italic>
<bold>Reader Survey: <<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-surveyresults.nw.html>What are the surprising plans and attitudes of your peers regarding the NC?
</bold>What did readers say when we surveyed them in early February about their NC plans and attitudes? One thing is certain: <italic>NC World</italic> isn't preaching to the choir! Find out: Who is most likely to have an NC show up on their desks. How much they expect to save. What are their greatest concerns.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-editorial.nw.html>"Is the grass greener over there?"
</bold>Which side of the NCRef1/NetPC skirmish should <italic>NC World</italic> take? We make our argument. Plus, a new author, and an expanding readership.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-newsbriefs.nw.html>NC News Briefs
</bold>The NC market will reach 2 billion by 2001 -- read all about it! And 14 other quick news articles that'll keep you informed on what's happening in the NC world.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-prodbriefs.nw.html>NC New Products
</bold>This month's product offerings: 4 Internet/intranet database apps, 3 developers toolkits, 2 Net security systems, plus a Web site mapper and a Web object manager make it easier for you to decide which way to go.
<bold>Letters: <<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/ncw-02-1997/ncw-02-letters.nw.html>Over the Coals: Our readers let us have it!
</bold>Independent-minded readers pan (and praise) our detailed features, easy-access reviews, real-world columns, direct opinions, and world-size repository of NC resources.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/common/ncw-vendorlist.nw.html>NC Vendors Guide
</bold>Updated with new players and improved descriptions! We link you directly to an ever-growing number of vendors of core NC products and services. Current count: 58 major players.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/common/ncw-netnews.nw.html>NC NetNews
</bold>Latest! 17 new links! Let <italic>NC World</italic> troll the Internet to find Network Computing-related news for you from other online publications.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/common/ncw-ncwhere.nw.html>ncWHERE
</bold>Updated with 26 new resources! Whether you need to gather late-breaking high-tech info or find libraries of precoded applets, if you need to dissect standards or make a list of intranet resources, <italic>NC World</italic> has your resources here.
<bold><<http://www.ncworldmag.com/ncworld/nw2.index.html#archives>Archives
</bold><italic>NC World</italic>'s previously published articles are always available! You'll find a full listing here, including analysis of the NC Ref1 and a hands-on look at one of the first NCs.
<<http://www.netscapeworld.com/netscapeworld/common/nw.market.html>[Visit NetscapeWorld's Marketplace page]
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