159
Exploring Your Options
An overview of using the Internet
5.375 x 8.375 ver 2.1.2
You can connect to the Internet by using a telephone and
modem or through other higher-speed communication
methods such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), cable, and
satellite links.
Connecting to the Internet
To connect to the Internet, you need:
❖
A modem
❖
A Web browser
❖
A telephone line
❖
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) account
Once you have established an ISP account, you can access the
Internet.
1
Connect your computer’s modem to a telephone line.
For more information on connecting a modem, see
“Connecting the modem” on page 90
2
Start your Web browser. Have your modem dial the ISP’s
telephone number, and establish a connection with the
ISP’s computer.
Surfing the Internet
Once connected to the Internet, the Web browser displays a
home page, for example, your ISP’s home page on the
Internet or your company’s Web site home page.
To visit a desired Web site, type in the Web address. The Web
address, or Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is a unique
identifier for that computer system linked to the Internet. Web
addresses can also appear within a Web page’s text, and are
known as links. Clicking a link automatically transfers your
Web browser to that site.
You can also use a Search Engine, a Web site specifically
designed to help you look for information.