Dear Final Debug: I’m trying to download the preview version of Internet Explorer 4.0 from the Microsoft Web site, but it’s so congested that either I can’t get through or it takes 20 hours to download the thing and it bombs out after five. Is there any way to speed this up?–Langston Jonford, Urbana.
Final Debug Responds: Assuming you aren’t trying to download the monster 20M file at 9600 bps or something foolish like that, you have two choices: wait or join. Wait means get your real work done and attempt to download the file either during off-hours (the middle of the night Pacific Time, say) or a week after the download becomes available. By then, demand will be lower and downloads should be smoother (it’s like seeing the Star Wars: Special Edition a week after release–all the wackos have already stood in the long lines).
If you’re waiting anyway, you might want to consider joining Microsoft’s SiteBuilder program. There are three levels of membership–depending on the sort of Web sites you’re building–and they’re all free to join if you’re willing to part with some personal information. Whichever level you join, Microsoft will send you a CD with the latest version of Internet Explorer 4.0 beta before the month’s end, saving you untold hours of download-time frustration.
Message from down under there, about down under here
We ask for questions, but we have no idea what we might get. Here’s an example:
From: Andrew Hart
Yeah, how about you get some technology guy to design a decent information system for your subway? As a tourist, I got fed up not knowing what direction the trains were going on the platform. No, I give up. you Chicago people like living in the past.
Does anyone out there have an appropriate answer for Mr. Hart?
Another chance, folks
We enjoyed an avalanche of response to our SPSS-Mathematica question, but our most recent query–regarding the relationship of Panorama Pro and Internet Explorer–garnered a grand total of zero correct answers. So we’re going to shoot that question and try a new one. We hope this one isn’t too difficult!
In JavaScript, what is the best way to round numbers?
As always, we’ll take your answers to a group of expert developers, in this case members of Netscape’s DevEdge Gold program. They’ll evaluate the response and offer comments.
If your answer is chosen from those sent to finaldebug@vineyard.com, you’ll win PGP: Pretty Good Privacy, by Simson Garfinkel, published by O’Reilly and Associates. Good luck. The question isn’t as easy as it looks.
And don’t forget, we’re giving away books to people who submit the best questions, too. Please help us empty our shelves.
