Limo.Net Internet Services FAQS

Miscellaneous Preference Options For Internet Explorer 5 (Mac Edition):

Note: Browser Display, Advanced & E-Mail Settings are located on another page. <click here for them>

Almost every aspect of setting up your Internet Explorer (and even the e-mail settings) are set under the "edit" menu in the "preferences" as shown below. Once you've opened the preferences window, you have a bunch of options. The important ones are covered in the prior Web page. Click the link above to return to that section. This page covers some of the miscellaneous options that are available.

Web Content Options:

The Web content options are shown below. We recommend that you put checkmarks in "show pictures" and "show frames" to be able to see websites as they were designed to be seen. However, you can disable "show pictures" to speed up your surfing. Pictures tend to be fairly big and they take longer to load than simple text information. You can also set background, hyperlink and text colors in this window.

<next: language & font options> <return to top for more options>

Language & Fonts:

You can choose your "font" (print type), print size and even which language to use in the window shown below.

<next: subscription options> <return to top for more options>

Subscriptions:

You can "subscribe" to websites that you visit on a frequent basis. Go to the preferences window shown below. You can program Internet Explorer to automatically check to see if any of these websites have changed since you last visited them. You can even get Internet Explorer to send you an e-mail notifying you if a website has changed.

Tip: Your computer will use something called "browser cache" to compare the last version of the website that you visited with the current version of the website. If you clear that "cache" then your computer will think that every website has changed.

<next: "java" capabilities> <return to top for more options>

Java:

Many websites use a state-of-the-art computer language called "java" (pronounced "jah-vah") to provide advanced website features (such as animation). You will need to have java "enabled" by going to the window shown below and putting a checkmark in the "enable java" box.

Tip: Don't mess with "class paths" and "security options" unless you are an expert computer user.

<next: security options> <return to top for more options>

Security Settings:

It is best to avoid messing with Internet Explorer's security settings unless you are running special security involving digital certificates. You are 99% likely to NOT be using that stuff. If you are using digital certificates (probably at work) then you need an expert to help set that stuff up.

<next: "security zones"> <return to top for more options>

Security Zones:

Don't set the internet security zone above the medium level or you will have a lot of trouble connecting to safe websites. This aspect of Internet Explorer can be buggy although medium security seems to work reasonably well in most cases.

<next: ratings> <return to top for more options>

Ratings:

Don't enable the ratings. They are notorious for not working. It is also very difficult to disable if you forget your password. You run the risk of having to reinstall your operating system and all of your software if you forget the password.

Most good internet providers offer "filtering" services for blocking adult content websites. Contact your internet provider for more details about their filtering services. They will provide you with a "proxy address" that you setup in the advanced preferences section. <click here for setup details> You can also use a program like Proxy Watch (or the LDS version called Global Safe) to password protect your proxy settings so that your overly curious family members can't bypass the filtering. The "setup details" link has a link that you can click to download either of these free protection programs from Limo.Net Internet Services.

<next: download options> <return to top for more options>

Download Options:

Macintosh will automatically download stuff to your "desktop folder" in your Mac hard drive. You can change that folder in the "download options" window shown below. You can also setup your browser to be able to go to up to 8 different websites (in 8 separate windows) at the same time. However, eight separate simultaneous downloads will be relatively slow unless you have a very high speed internet connection.

Tip: Be sure to leave the checkmarks in the MacBinary and BinHex decoding boxes.

<next: "cookies"> <return to top for more options>

Cookies:

"Cookies" enable websites to keep track of who is going to their website and where they are going. Some people don't like this invasion of their privacy but they can disable "cookies" by clicking on the drop-down arrow at the end of the "when receiving cookies" section. Note: Some websites won't work unless you have cookies enabled.

That covers the main preferences that you can setup with the latest version of Internet Explorer to the Macintosh.

Last Update: Saturday, May 05, 2001