To learn more about author Sanjaya Hettihewa, please visit the author's homepage.
Microsoft NetMeeting is a powerful tool for effec- tively communicating with other users. Because NetMeeting is distributed free of charge, it can be cost-effectively deployed in an intranet or Internet envi-ronment to increase the quality and effectiveness of end-user interaction. In this chapter, you will learn about the capabilities of Microsoft NetMeeting, and how they can be used to communicate and collaborate with other users. Using NetMeeting, you can:
Figure 5.1. A file sent to a group of NetMeeting users.
Figure 5.2. The shared whiteboard is used to communicate with other users.
Figure 5.3. NetMeeting is used for
online chatting.
Certain features of NetMeeting can be used in an intranet environment to increase
productivity and share information more effectively. For example, two people can
work together on an application over the network without having to leave their offices--better
yet, they can telecommute from home!
Visit the NetMeeting home page for the latest information about Microsoft NetMeeting. The latest version of NetMeeting can be downloaded from this page. At the time of this writing, NetMeeting 2.0 for Windows NT was in beta 1. You can expect to see the shipping version of NetMeeting at Microsoft's Web site by the time you read this.
URL: Visit the Microsoft NetMeeting home page for the most up-to-date information about Microsoft NetMeeting.http://www.microsoft.com/ie/imn/
After downloading the NetMeeting distribution file, copy it to a temporary directory and execute it. Follow these directions to install NetMeeting on your computer:
Figure 5.4. Microsoft NetMeeting install confirmation dialog box.
Figure 5.5. Specify the installation directory of NetMeeting.
Figure 5.6. NetMeeting is installed.
When NetMeeting is initially used, a series of dialog boxes is displayed to obtain NetMeeting configuration information. Follow these directions to configure your NetMeeting installation:
Figure 5.7. The initial NetMeeting configuration dialog box.
Figure 5.8. Configuring NetMeeting with personal information.
URL: For more information on user location servers, visit the site athttp://uls1.microsoft.com/
Figure 5.9. Publishing your name on a User Location Server.
Figure 5.10. The Audio Tuning Wizard configures NetMeeting's audio features.
Figure 5.11. Select the audio device to be used by NetMeeting.
Figure 5.12. Select the bandwidth of your Internet connection.
Figure 5.13. Tune NetMeeting's audio capabilities by recording a voice sample.
Microsoft NetMeeting can be used to communicate with other NetMeeting users (as
shown in the dialog box in Figure 5.14). The top pane of the NetMeeting window displays
users logged on to the NetMeeting User Location Server. The bottom pane displays
users with whom you are currently communicating. The top and bottom panes of NetMeeting
can be resized. Select Tools | Options from the menu bar to customize NetMeeting
settings to suit your needs.
Figure 5.14. Microsoft NetMeeting is
used to communicate with selected users.
When you are logged on to the NetMeeting User Location Server, other NetMeeting
users can communicate with you. When a user wishes to communicate with you, you will
see a dialog box similar to the one shown in Figure 5.15. Click the Accept button
to accept a communication request; otherwise, click the Ignore button.
Figure 5.15. Another NetMeeting user
initiates a communication request.
NetMeeting can be used to share files with other NetMeeting users. To share a
file, select Tools | Send File from the NetMeeting menu bar. The dialog
box shown in Figure 5.16 can be used to select a file to send.
Figure 5.16. Sharing a file with other
NetMeeting users.
Microsoft NetMeeting is used to share information and collaborate with other NetMeeting users. Certain features of NetMeeting can be used to conduct virtual meetings on the Internet, where people share information using voice, text, and graphics.
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