Net Meeting is a program that allows real time "over the Internet" meetings to take place between two computers in different locations. The program provides users with the ability to "chat" using the traditional e-mail like text chat format. Additionally, users have the option of having both video and audio connections as part of their meeting. Net Meeting allows users in different locations to share files and applications as if they were both sitting in front of the same computer. The table below lists some of the capabilities that make net meeting useful for web based tutoring.

Net Meeting is very user friendly. Net Meeting comes with a good set of help files that can lead you through using the software.

Probably the most complicated part is setting up a Net Meeting with someone else. The Net Meeting help files really are not very helpful with this part. Below are some comments that may prove helpful in learning to use Net Meeting.

1. Whoever you are trying to call has to be on-line when you attempt to connect. If they are not on-line you will simply receive a message telling you that the person you are trying to call is not able to receive Net Meeting calls

2. You need to know the e-mail address of the person you want to call if you are calling over the Internet.

3. You need to know the IP address of the computer you are calling if you are calling someone within a network or work group.

If you don't know your IP address here is how to find it

A. On a Windows or NT system select the start button.

B. Select RUN and type command or CMD in the Run dialog box -select OK

C. You should see a DOS window appear. Type "ipconfig" at the DOS prompts and then press the "enter" key.

D. You should now be able to read your machines IP address. Write it down for future use.

E. Type exit at the DOS prompt to close the DOS window.

There - That wasn't so bad...

4. You will have to type the IP or e-mail address of the person you are calling into the Net Meeting window when you want to call them. Once that's done just select the call button (it looks like a telephone) in the Net Meeting dialog box.

That's all great BUT... I don't have Net Meeting. How do I get it?

No Problem... Just visit the Microsoft home page at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/download/