Please allow me to introduce myself. Alas, I am BitWitch. .......

BitWitch and *etherbuddy*have moved to Sedona, AZ and boy do we like it here!

I have been banished to this world because... ummm, well, (we'll talk about it later)... My mission is to enlighten you and help you navigate the Internet. I am here to light the way for those who may be a little dim...

My familiar, *etherbuddy* will occasionally uncover other hidden truths, and perhaps provide pointers to help make your Net-life just a little bit more interesting, from a fuzzy perspective. I wish to cheer and encourage the newbies, to dig and find for the short-of-time. To answer or help find the answers to all of your Internet questions! ASK BitWitch! Come back later to see her answer.



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BitWitch recieves a LOT of Netscape questions. Please check to be sure you are running the latest version available, and have checked out their support BBS. Click the big N in the upper right corner of your Netscape screen.
Hi BitWitch, I am so glad I found you. It seems easier asking a women these questions. OK here goes. I upgraded from 4 MB of RAM to 16 MB. I would like to add more memory. I have a 486sx33 cpu. Can I add more hard drive? I am into genealogy and will be adding photo CD's and thought I might need more hard drive. Also later I would like to ask a question about those audio clips. Pat

Dear Pat: Hard drives are inexpensive right now. Go get a 540 MB one if you can because your system would most likely require software drivers for anything bigger than that. *Bit*
Dear Bit: What is the best way to advertise interior design services? I want to continue to do my high end projects but rather than be on a project 2-5 years I would like to do 60 - 90 day turn key for resort homes. Jaye

Dear Jaye: I suppose it depends on where you are located. Find out how others market in your area. In smaller towns, the Chamber of Commerce works well. I would imagine word of mouth is your ticket... Get out there. *Bit*
Dear Bitwitch, I am constructing a web page for the first time, and I have some colored, 3D bullets I'd like to use. Problem is, no matter what color my background is, the bullets are still surrounded by gray. How do I make them transparent? Thanks for your help! Amita

Dear Amita: You could use a drawing program such as Corel Draw or Picture Publisher by MicroGraphix to cut-out the button and paste into a new image with a transparent background. I am sure there are several applications that will allow you to do this. LView, for instance, will do it all for you automatically. *Bit*
Hi I am a newbie. Yesterday I downloaded CU-seeme software for online realtime video, but when I tried to run it it said it needed a video capture device and couldn't locate one. Is this hardware or software? If it is software where can I find it? If it's a card which one shoud I get so I don't have to keep upgrading? Thanks in advance David

Dear David: Online real time video implies that you have a video input device (such as a camera), to capture your smiling face and then send out your picture into ether, in real time. The software couldn't find yours, when it looked for one so it was unhappy about that and complained via the message. You'll also need a video capture card such as the Intel Smart Video Recorder. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: I am new here though quite familiar with computing. I guess my first question is can you tell me my e-mail address and how do I know when I have mail? Another question....what did you use to create this scroll box? Hope that this gets to you and you to me in return thanks, BitWitch. Kim

Dear Kim: Nope, I can't tell you your e-mail address. You know you have mail when you open your mail application, and look in your "IN" box. If there is mail in there, you will see it listed. Some e-mail packages have neat little icons to indicate whether you've read it already or not. The scroll box is a form created in HTML. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Is there a way to write and read e-mail off-line with netscape 2? And to organize the bookmarks off-line? I live in Germany, and the phone costs are outrageous, so I'm trying to cut down. Caroline

Dear Caroline: When I need to use an application that is Winsock-dependant offline, I just open Trumpet and don't log in to my access providor. You can abort the dial in process by hitting the ESCape key. Then Netscape and E-mail will open and you can work off-line. Mail programs like Eudora let you grab your mail and then go off-line to read and reply to it. *Bit*.
Hello, most appreciated (I hope) Bitwitch! As I was trying to stitch together some web-pages for my club I found that all my previously created images are in a format not accepted by Netscape (such as "xbm"/"xpm" or "xwd" etc.). - What to do? What formats DOES Netscape accept? Are there any handy converters I can use? Or tools to create images in accepted formats to begin with? I hope you can help me, this image flaw drags down an otherwise perfect relationship between Netscape and me... hopefully, Anna (in Sweden)

Dear Anna: I am not familiar with "xbm" or "xwd", nor do I know what platform (IBM, MAC, UNIX) you are on... so guessing they are proprietary file formats, they must be converted to either JPG or GIF format for publishing on the web. *Bit*
How do I locate women on the web who are old in years and interested to talk about women's issues in later years, etc. Thanks Hannelore

Dear Hannalore: My 72 year old mom is hanging out occasionally with the AARP folk over at AOL. They even give a discount to seniors. Otherwise I would do a search on the terms "women and aging". That should turn up any references to both topics.
Where is it possible to communicate with other Internet users? Sofia and Ellinor

Dear S&E: Check out The Palace and the Cafe right here in Cybertown!
Oh Dearest Net.Goddess *kneels*... ;)
I am an enthusiast of African drumming and dance, and I have only had moderate success in digging up information on these topics via Yahoo and a variety of other search tools. Noting that you live in Sedona, and that you do, in fact, refer to yourself as a witch, I thought you might be hip to some Web sites dealing with ritual drumming - particularly African and Afro-Carribean. Any help you could offer, oh Great Oracle, would be much appreciated. *rises to his feet*

Dear Acolyte : I will help you* in any way I can... under seperate cover...
We are newbies on the Net and totally confused. We want to use the Net to expand our woman-owned company which has been in business five years. We specialize in high quality training seminars on sexual harassment, cultural diversity, gender communication and other employment related topics. We have also written and published employer guides on these issues which we wish to market nationwide. Can you tell us if the Net is the right route for us and if so, how do we get started???? Thanks!

Dear Michelle: You are doing the right thing (as if you need confirmation from me!) Keep surfing and learning as much as you can and you will figure out what to do - it comes naturally. Do your homework to learn how much it costs to put up a web page in your area. How do you have access now? Can any of the on-line services help you - do they have special interest areas that you could learn from? Keep trying.
Hello. I am using Pegasus 2.2 for e-mail. I have read all the HELP info. (and printed it), but I am now in an AOL group and don"t know how to send to all groups. (And a lot of other stuff in Pegasus). Is there a place on the Web where I can get more Pegasus info.? Thanks. I am new. Please, no insults. I am trying, and will help someone else when their turn comes and I have mastered some of this.

Dear Mona: The best way to get started solving these kinds of problems is to start with the tools you have access to. Who makes the Pegasus product? Search for their homepage on the web. Almost everyone has a web presence these days. In your AOL groups, ask if anyone else is using it, and how they cope. Use your communications skills and the tools you have to find the information you need to finish your mission.
How do we put up backgrounds on homepages?

Dear Amanda: Depends on which editor you use. The command is . Good luck.
Dear BitWitch: I was wondering if I could find out all the details in setting up a WFWG remote access though the modem. What is needed, and what has to be done. Thank you very much for your help. Jack

Dear Jack: Sure, all the details. Read the manual and dig in! Sheesh. The truth is, there is a reason why the professionals exist. If this stuff is so EASY to figure out by one's self, there wouldn't be any need for them, now would there? *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Hej! I have a eight year old son, who is very interested to get information about his newest idol - Michael Jackson. I´m so kind, surfing on this net to help my little Björn. That is why I ask you to help me! Gunilla Olmarker

Dear Gunilla: If you are using Netscape, click DIRECTORY menu, INTERNET SEARCH and type in Michael Jackson as your search criteria. Then click the sites you want to visit. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Hello! How can I read newsgroups on Internet? I have Netscape Web Browser. Charlotta

Dear Carlotta: Most Internet providers also give you Newsgroup Reader software. If yours didn't, Netscape over to the Forte and download a copy of Free Agent, or some others after performing an INTERNET SEARCH on the term "newsgroup". *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Hello Bitwitch, how are you? I am a new Internet user and I have a really silly question, how do I find the chat lines? Also, how do I answer interesting articles? If these are really 'dim' questions, I apologize, but I will appreciate anything you can tell me. Thank you, Catherine.

Dear Catherine: Silly questions are only those that have not been thought through before* the asking. The same answer you have seen before still applies... Do an INTERNET SEARCH. Luck, *Bit*
BitWitch realises that many of her answers are the same this time... I guess that's the message this week, folks - Try an INTERNET SEARCH from the Netscape DIRECTORY menu. Luck be with you. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: I want to start a web page for my photography. My internet provider charges $75/month for a home page for 5mb of space. Is the cost of $75/month the going rate or can I find this service for less? Email: ggeddie

Dear ggeddie: Prices vary. Check out other providers in the area and surf their pages before you commit. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: I recently purchased and installed Netscape Navigator Personal Edition v1.1 . Would I gain features/functions by switching to the latest shareware version Netscape? Name: NY Neophyte

Dear Neophyte: The latest releases usually contain bug fixes and performance enhancements, but they often expire after x amount of time, and so you have to be willing to keep up with the versions. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: How can I motivate myself to study to my exam on Tuesday, when all I can think about is my wonderful boyfriend and how great he is??? Carol

Dear Carol: Bit recommends scratching the itch so you both can get on with more important things.
Dear BitWitch: Will the Apple IIGS ever have a WEB Browser, that supports gif and jpeg viewing, with real time on-line mod music play abilities? Name: Charles T.

Dear Charles: I have absolutely no idea. Let us know if you find out! *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Although not really an Internet question as such, I was wondering if there is any such program that can turn a PC and modem into a telephone answering machine? Possibly through Windows. Cheers. Name: Andy

Dear Andy: Good question! I will try to find out after I get moved next week. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: What in your opinion is the best way to search for topics on the net? I'm a "newbie" and rather over-whelmed by the volumes of stuff out there. Name: Psmith

Dear Psmith: My advice is to just start somewhere, and don't stop until you find what you need to know. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: What is your favorite HTML editor? VanDams

Dear VanDams: On the recommendation of the kids here at Cybertown, we tried HOT DOG from www.sausage.com. We didn't appreciate the expiration policy because it seems difficult to get their products, but like the product a lot.
Dear BitWitch: I have a slip/ppp connection to the Internet. If I run a web server for windows and maybe a smtp mail server with a static ip would I be able to, in essence become a service myself on the Internet ? What I basically want is my computer to become a node on the internet. Thanks! Lord Zamdrist

Dear Lord: Why?
Dear BitWitch: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW I CAN USE THE INTERNET TO AID MY CLIENTS WITH QUICK FILE TRANSFER, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH FILES WILL DECODE AND HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE? ALSO, ARE SOME LARGER STRUCTURED CORPORATIONS SET UP TO TRANSFER ONLY EMBEDDED FILES? IS THERE A PROTOCOL TO FOLLOW FOR USING INTERNET THIS WAY? JAN

Dear Jan: You sure ask toughies for a short column! I would suggest taking a friend to one of those mega-bookstores and having a cup of coffee while perusing the aisles of said bookstores computer department. There must be a zillion books available on using the internet for research, fun and profit. File transfer times vary according to traffic and time of day. On average, it takes me 40 mins. to download 1.5Meg (approx. size of Netscape zipped). On the embedding stuff, it all depends on what software they are using. What is the name of the e-mail they are using? *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: I use a 486 PC to log into the WWW. Many times on Netscape, when I click on an audio or video file, a message will pop up that I am not configured for that application and asks How do I want to handle it. If I save to disk, I don't seem to be able to play it and if I select configure a viewer and browse, it also doesn't work. I would like to experience multimedia on the WWW but it isn't working (or I'm not!) Ideas? signed:( someone who thinks this is Netscape Tech Support BBS and should learn to click the big N on his screen instead of writing to BitWitch.)
Dear BitWitch: Why do I only get sporadic sites coming through on Netscape. I've never had this problem before and can't figure it out. Ronco

Dear Ronco: I don't understand "sporadic sites coming through". Have you opened doors? Adjusted the rabbitt ears? Tuned up the accordian? What? Polished the crystal ball? Testink, testink!
Dear BitWitch: I´ve been told there is some sort of catalogue of everything on the net. One is supposed to be able to write e.g. "woman" and a list of all websites about women will show. If there is a website like this how do I find it? Swedish feminist

Dear Swedish feminist: There are databases all over which are searchable. I don't have any idea what software you are using to get to us, if Netscape, click DIRECTORY menu, then click INTERNET SEARCH. You are presented with a number of databases to search, pick a few to try, as all databases do not contain the same data. Then type in a keyword, such as DOGS or maybe ASTROLOGY and start the search. Many addresses (URLS) will be presented in a list and you can click them to go there. Don't forget to BOOKMARK your favorites! *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: i'm new to the internet...i'm very familiar with the macintosh and i want to design a home page...how difficult is it? Robert Neal

Dear Robert: I don't know about you, but it took me about 50 hours of intense learning to get my page out, starting from nothing, not knowing how to use HTML just like most of you. My sister Patti took a little more time but did a good job. See her page in the Colony!
Dear BitWitch: Today I bought a 28,800 modem for my pc to replace my old 14.400 Just now I downloaded Virtual Drums and it only downloaded at .5K/per second. I set the modem in win95 at 115,200. My ip told me to set the windsock speed at 38,400 I don't know who is right but something is wrong. My ip has a T1 line and 28,800 modems. Pages load faster. But I was hoping for faster downloads. Help Judy

Dear Judy: BitWitch is coming to Sedona November 1st! She would be happy to share a cuppa and chat about any problems you may have. But the truth is; The speed of the modem is important, but not the only factor involved in what you perceive as "slow". It could be that your video card has little memory of its own and so draws slowly. It doesn't matter how fast the data comes in if your screen can't draw fast enough. Or maybe RAM in general. You have 4 Meg? 8 Meg? Bit recommends no less than 8 Meg RAM under Windows. Talk to Arnie or one of the guys at Sedona.net. They will help you any way they can! *Bit*
Past Questions:

Dear BitWitch: How do I find places for kids on the internet? Thanks, Erin

Dear Erin: Start watching for Internet addresses in your favorite magazines. Collect them, trade them with friends. Also, try a keyword search on certain words or terms that interest you. From Netscape, click DIRECTORY menu, then click INTERNET SEARCH. You are presented with a number of databases to search, pick a few to try, as all databases do not contain the same data. Then type in a keyword, such as KIDS or maybe SKIING and start the search. Many addresses (URLS) will be presented in a list and you can click them to go there. Don't forget to BOOKMARK your favorites! Let us know how you do, Erin and thanks for writing! Also check out Kid's Town in Cybertown. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch, Remember me? We were talking about Bookmark editors... NSMED25.ZIP (I found it in Jumbo under Windows/Utilities/Winsock) claims to be such an editor, but the unregistered version only handles 30 items, so I can't tell if it's any good for bookmark lists large enough to NEED an editor. Gail
Dear BitWitch: I've noticed that any version of Netscape stalls A LOT as my .HST file (links I've been to, not my Bookmark history) gets larger. I like to keep track of where I've been, but the longer I go without "expiring" this file & starting over, the wait gets more EXTREME. Any suggestions on keeping my link history & speeding up a bit? Thanks :) Name: Robin

Dear Robin: You don't mention whether you are driving a Mac or an IBM clone, Windows or WIN95, Netscape 16 bit or 32 bit, so I'll assume IBM compatible, 16 bit version of Netscape. Check the size of your Windows swap file, which should not be any larger than twice the amount of RAM you have, check your Netscape setups for cache, and be sure to defrag often. Another thought is to be sure your WinSock application (Trumpet or Chameleon or whatever) is okay.
Dear BitWitch: Just one question: How can I re-arrange my Netscape Bookmarks? I want my favorites to be at the top of the page. Is this possible?

Dear Scott: Make sure you have the latest version from Netscape. There are drag and drop features built-in to the Bookmark browser.
Dear BitWitch: To build a homepage for the web, is all I have to do is purchase software at a software retailer? Thank You, Dennis

Dear Dennis: Well, that's a start. After having just published my own, I can tell you that it is a little more complex than that. Assuming you have an access provider and the place to put up a homepage, the rest is in the designing, which is what you bought the software to help you with. You still gotta learn the software, and have some design ideas. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: I'm really looking into buying virtual reality glasses. I heard that the Virtual IO is probably the best way to go. What about others like the CyberMax or the VR glasses from Forte. Please help!!! Name: Confused

Hi Confused. It really depends on which application you are going to run. You need to find the VR application that really turns you on, and then buy the appropriate glasses for that program. Each set of glasses are optimized for specific features. Enjoy. And let us know which application you like! *Bit*
Dear BitWitch, Thank you so much for your offer of help: yes, we do have a question. We have been looking at background textures for our site and a lot of the ones we like come in JPEG form. Now GIFs work fine and dandy, but these JPEGs seem to download as gobbledegook text files which can't be viewed as graphics whatever we do. We have JPEG Viewer but it doesn't even recognize these things. What do we need to do to use them? (We are on a Macintosh by the way). Yours sincerely Hilary Clifton (Miss)

Hi Hilary: I must admit I personally am not very Mac-Savvy. As we develop "ask BitWitch" I will make sure I have plenty of Mac-folk around! However, your question intrigues me, and I will do my best to find help. Meanwhile... The file should be transferred as a BINARY file, with the JPEG filename-extension. Then any JPEG viewer/editor should* be able to open it. *Bit (Miss)*
Dear BitWitch, Call me stupid, but I don't know how to transfer the file as a binary file. How do I go about it? Yours sincerely Hilary Clifton (Miss)

Dear Hilary: (We're old friends now, right?) In Windows, we right-mouse-click on the image we want to get, and select save. Mac types should click and hold to select save. Please let me know how things work out. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: On my screen (Netscape 1.2 for PC) your grey text is really difficult to see well with your grey pebble background. You might want to test out different contrasts. I'm on 256 colors and the main text is just a hair darker grey than the grey background. I upgraded, now I am on Netscape 1.23b... My display is set for 800x600x256... I've got a local bus SVGA Video that came with my computer and have the PS1 800x600x256 driver loaded. Unfortunately, Windows also came loaded (no diskettes) so my driver availability is kind of slim. How come you say TEAL, and I say GREY? --Ms Eskimo

Dear Ms Eskimo: Try changing your video drivers to a higher number of colors. *Bit*

Dear BitWitch: Trick was changing 800x600x256 to 800x600x56K!!! Holy monkeys, I can see all KINDS of things now that looked strange before. Geesh, I can't believe I've been in the dark so long. Thanks for hanging in... Gotta go look at more stuff!!!
Dear BitWitch, I'm looking at buying a Pentium 100 for intense multimedia development. I've found various graphics accelerator cards to be a tremendous obstacle or asset (depending on the card) on my 486. What brand & model would you recommend buying for high-end multimedia development on the Pentium? Anita

Hi Anita: I have consulted with the Godz of Graphic, and while they won't say brand names out loud, someone whispered to me that they really liked the Diamond Stealth for it's speed and stability. While BitWitch drives a Kelvin 64 (and really* likes it) she has often wished more video ram were available (she drives 2 meg), and is often amazed while on customer sites at how good it really is when compared to the standard Trident, 1-2 meg board (probably one of the most common). She is told by experts that the mega-accelerators are not much better than a solid 2 meg with good drivers. Taking chances on unknown or too raw of a manufacturer can result in headaches, particularly of the driver variety. Many of the trade magazines such as PC Computing and PC Mag have their CD-ROM versions available, with searchable databases of product reviews. Some are available on-line! You might want to pick up one of those and see who's been hot consistently over the last few months. BitWitch of course would be happy to provide a custom report for you and provide a faxed or e-mailed report of data collected from the databases of four leading industry magazines. She would need an idea of the specifications of the PC you are buying, such as ram, disk and peripherals. Good luck and let us know what you decide! *Bit*
Dear BitWitch, My real problem is Webaholicism, but for now, I'm still in denial and in the market for a bookmark editor. I have around 200 bookmarks, in maybe 30 categories and sub-categories (OK, it's probably more by now), and the Netscape bookmark editor is very clumsy. Someone told me there's a shareware product out there. Any leads? Thanks. --Gail

Dear Gail: BitWitch uses Netscape v1.2 and loves* the bookmark features. She will ask the good people in Cybertown to make suggestions for add-ons. Good People? Do you have any favorites? thank you very much. *Bit*
PAST QUESTIONS:
Dear BitWitch: Your home page looks funny. I can't read the grey text on your grey pebble background. What's the matter with your page? blinded

Dear Blinded:There is nothing wrong with my page you twit. From Windows setup, change your screen colors up one level, from 16 to 256, or if yer running a PS1, from 256 to some higher-ether number. *Bit*
Dear BitWitch: Is that picture on this page really you? drooling

Dear Drooling: Yes. But only my 4th Dimensional WEB presence. My 3rd Dimensional presence is something else... as are all my others. Hang around, you'll see. Maybe. Now, go play in traffic. *Bit*
Bit, I do NOT have a "fuzzy" perspective...it's a feline perspective. There is nothing fuzzy about my thinking...except when I've had too much catnip. Your Favorite Familiar, *etherbuddy* (P.S. Where is My photo?)

Please feel free to Ask BitWitch any and all computer and Internet-related questions. BitWitch will speak to the ByteGodz and ByteGoddessez on your behalf, and channel results via automatically writing e-mail and this column. *etherbuddy* just generally hangs out. BitWitch can't help it if the advice doesn't work. It's your karma.

BitWitch can even be reached directly at bitwitch@kachina.net