Gateway Computer Basics, User Manual

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42
Using the Internet
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 computer to a telephone 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 computer, using a telephone line,
to other computers or servers. If you have a modem jack on your
computer, you have a modem.
■
An Internet Service Provider – a service 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.
■
A Web browser – a program that displays information from the World
Wide Web.
■
An e-mail program – a program that lets you create, send, and receive
e-mail messages over the Internet.
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.
07334.book Page 42 Friday, December 29, 2000 10:23 AM