IE4 offers the Active Desktop, with a variety of Web-oriented features, while Netcaster's Web integration consists of the strong but limited Webtop. You can turn Active Desktop on or off when you install IE4. To select an item you simply place the mouse pointer on top of it. The result is a faster and more intuitive way of interacting with your computer, but one that may take some getting used to. Communicator doesn't offer the Web-inspired interface enhancements of IE4, but for some users, of course, that is a blessing.
Communicator does offer Web-tops, channels that lock onto the desktop.
A Webtop resides behind other windows and icons until you want to view it. Any Netcaster channel can be a Webtop, and it will be updated according to the channel options you set. Because Webtops are controlled by JavaScript, they offer IS departments a way to establish common desktops across an enterprise, on all JavaScript-capable machines. For companies to which a Web desktop is appealing but are not yet ready to change the way their employees work, Netscape's Webtop can be a strong short-term solution. Find out how.