Gateway Solo 3150, User Manual

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38 Using Your Gateway Solo 3150 Notebook
Using the Internet
The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together to
provide information to users everywhere. You can access this global
network by connecting your computer to a normal phone line and signing
up with an Internet service provider. Internet services include e-mail and
the World Wide Web.
E-mail (electronic mail) lets you send messages to anyone in the world, as
long as you and the recipient both have Internet connections and
e-mail addresses.
The World Wide Web is a user-friendly interface to the Internet that gives
you point-and-click access to millions of sources of information. Many
types of files are available for download, including pictures, sounds, and
programs.
To begin your journey through the Internet you need:
♦
A modem – a device installed in the computer that connects the
computer to a phone line. Your Solo 3150 notebook has a built-in 56K
data/fax modem.
♦
An Internet service provider (ISP) – a connection between the modem
and the Internet, such as gateway.net.
♦
A Web browser – an application that translates information from the
Internet service provider to the computer. The Microsoft Internet
Explorer Web browser is installed on the computer.
To understand Internet functions, you should know the following terms:
♦
E-mail (electronic mail) – messages transmitted by telephone lines.
♦
E-mail address – an Internet address to which e-mail can be sent.
This address designates a location on the Internet that messages and
files can be sent to.
♦
Downloading – transferring a copy of a file from a remote server or
computer to your computer’s hard drive.
♦
Link – a word or image within a Web page on which you can click to
access another Web page or additional information.
Important!
Downloading (receiving
files) is not always fast.
Sometimes large files and
slow connection speeds
can contribute to slow
downloading.