Gateway M-6821b User Manual Download

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CHAPTER 3: Using the Internet and Faxing

Learning about the Internet

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together to provide information to
people everywhere. The two most popular services on the Internet are e-mail and the World Wide
Web. You can access this network by connecting your notebook to a telephone, DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line), or cable television line and signing up with an Internet service provider (ISP).

If you want to access the Internet you need:

•

A modem—a device that connects your notebook to other computers or servers using a
telephone, DSL, or cable television line. Your computer has a built-in dial-up telephone
modem. Cable and DSL modems connect to your notebook through an Ethernet jack and
provide a faster connection speed than a standard telephone modem.

•

An Internet service provider—a company that provides access to the Internet through an
ISP server. When you connect to an ISP, the ISP server lets you access the Internet and your
e-mail messages. Check your telephone book for a list of Internet service providers available
locally.

•

A Web browser—a program that displays information from the World Wide Web. Microsoft
Internet Explorer was included with your notebook. For more information, see

“Using the

World Wide Web” on page 23

•

An e-mail program—a program that lets you create, send, and receive e-mail messages
over the Internet. Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express was included with your notebook.
For more information, see

“Using e-mail” on page 25

Setting up an Internet account

Before you can view the information on the World Wide Web, you need to set up an Internet
account with an Internet service provider (ISP). To set up an ISP service or to transfer an existing
account to this notebook, contact the ISP directly.
Dial-up Internet connections are those using a telephone system to connect to the Internet. This
may include ordinary analog telephone lines, ISDN connections, and in some cases ADSL over
PPP, or other technologies. Because dial-up connections are designed to be temporary
connections to the Internet, dial-up charges (with both your telephone company and Internet
service provider) often increase the longer you connect to the Internet. To minimize the cost for
dial-up Internet users, we suggest that you only connect to the Internet during your e-mail and
Web browsing session, then disconnect when you are finished. Your Internet service provider
can provide instructions on how to connect to and disconnect from the Internet.
Cable and DSL modems, a connection known as broadband, use your cable television or special
telephone lines to connect to your ISP and access the Internet. In many instances, broadband is
considered an always-connected service. With this type of service, your cost is the same
regardless of the amount of time you use your Internet connection.

Your computer

connects to the Internet

through an ISP.

ISP Servers

let you connect to the

Internet and access your

e-mail messages.

Internet Servers

store information so other computers can

access it from the Internet.