Q&A
Sites designed for Explorer can look odd on Netscape

By Kim Komando
Gannett News Service

Q. I often run into Web pages that don't look right. Is there a setting I can change that will make these pages display properly? I use Netscape.

A. The problem might be caused by Netscape. More than 90 percent of Web surfers use Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Web developers often optimize their sites to work best with it. Using Netscape may not prevent you from seeing a page, but it may prevent you from seeing it the way developers intended. If you prefer Netscape, consider upgrading to the current version, Netscape 7, which displays pages more reliably.

Q. My computer seems to be running slowly. The AMD 2000+ chip only runs at 1.67 gigahertz (GHz). Shouldn't it be running at 2 GHz?

A. A processor's clock speed, which is measured in megahertz or gigahertz, is only one measure of its performance. Higher clock speeds don't always translate to faster performance. That's the case with AMD chips. They perform as well as comparable Pentium 4 chips even though their clock speeds are lower. To make this easier for consumers to understand, the company names its chips to reflect how fast they run in comparison to a Pentium 4. So your 1.67 GHz AMD 2000+ chip should be about as fast as a 2 GHz Pentium 4 chip.

Q. What does memory do in a printer? I saw a Web site that is selling memory upgrades for my printer.

A. Printer memory stores data for the page you are printing. If your printer has enough memory, the computer can send all the data to print a page in one batch. If the printer doesn't have a lot of memory, it will send the page in several smaller batches, which slows the time it takes to print a page. Memory on most inkjet printers for home use can't be upgraded, but upgrades are available for more expensive inkjet and laser printers so they can handle large jobs with lots of graphics and photos.