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Help : Viewing this site

System Requirements

This site was built using industry-standard technology that makes the text content accessible by any web browsing device.

Unfortunately, and for reasons beyond our control, not all web browsers conform to these standards. This site has been designed to look its best when viewed by a modern, standards-conforming browser.

Writing websites that look identical in every browser ever written makes the code that lies behind every page longer and more complex, which means longer download times for everyone, even the 96.22% of you using modern browsers. If you use an older web browser, you will still be able to access the content on this site, and navigate around it, but we cannot promise it will look especially pretty. In much the same way, one can watch a colour movie on a black-and-white TV, or drink tea out of a coal-scuttle, but the experience may be diminished.

So what browsers do you recommend?

Generally speaking, any web browser under two years old. And importantly, and unlike colour TV sets, all of these are free, and available for a wide variety of computers. If you're on a slow dialup connection and can't face the long download, you might want to think about buying a computer magazine with a software CD on the front, as this will probably contain everything you need. Ok, you'll have to pay for the magazine, but then you can leave it lying around the house and tell people you like to “keep abreast of technology”.

Any of these, or later versions thereof, will do just fine:

Mozilla Firefox 1.0
Mozilla 1.5
Netscape Navigator 6.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Opera 7.0
Safari 1.2

You can download all of the above browsers free of charge. In addition to being able to see this site as intended, you'll have a better, and more secure, web surfing experience.

About JavaScript

JavaScript is a language used by your Web browser to extend the capabilities of basic Web pages. It cannot be used to hack into your computer or curdle the milk in the fridge. It has been used on this site to enhance various navigational features, and to help make sure forms are filled in correctly and save you some time.

Nevertheless, most of this site has been designed to function without JavaScript, albeit, perhaps, less slickly. The exception is the client support areas (for registered clients only) where it is mandatory.