Netscape Netcenter offers a special service-actually a software program itself-that makes the download process easier and safer. SmartDownload takes the frustration out of downloading software by adding the capability to pause and resume downloads. This lets you download large software files a bit at a time, as well as recover with ease from accidentally interrupted sessions.

The Difference Between SmartDownload and SmartUpdate  Don't be confused by the similar names. SmartDownload is the application that lets you pause and resume any software download. SmartUpdate lets you automatically update your Netscape Communicator software.

SmartDownload is a software program with two separate components. The first component is the SmartDownload Client, which displays the status of your download and gives you access to specific download controls. The second component is the InfoBrowser, which lets you read interesting news and information while your download is taking place. Since SmartDownload is a software program that resides on your personal computer, you can use it to download software from any Web site, not just from Netscape Netcenter. (You do, however, have to be using Netscape Navigator in order to use SmartDownload; you can't use SmartDownload with Internet Explorer.)

Not All Downloads Can Be Resumed  SmartDownload's pause and resume features work only with files on servers that support resumable downloads. While most Internet servers support this feature, some older servers do not. The easiest way to find out whether a server supports resumable downloads is to start the download and press the Pause button. If the server doesn't support resumable downloads, SmartDownload prompts you with a message that the download cannot be paused.