Using the Internet

    This chapter provides information about the Internet and basic instructions about setting up Gateway.netSM or America Online® (AOL) Internet services. These and other Internet service providers (ISPs) give you access to the World Wide Web (WWW), e-mail, and other Internet resources.

      Important

      Gateway.net and AOL software is not included on computers shipped to Canadian customers. Therefore, please disregard Gateway.net- or AOL-specific information in this chapter.

    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 phone 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.

    Setting up an Internet account

      Before you can view the information on the Web, you need to set up an Internet account with an Internet Service Provider ISP. If you selected Gateway.net or AOL as an ISP, follow these instructions to set up and connect to your account.

        Important

        Gateway.net and AOL software is not included on computers shipped to Canadian customers. Therefore, please disregard Gateway.net- or AOL-specific information in this chapter.

        If you set up an account with Gateway.net or AOL, an Internet e-mail address is created for you. After completing the setup you are ready to access the Internet.

      To set up an Internet account with Gateway.net or AOL:

        1. Double-click the Register with Gateway.net or the America Online icon.

        2. Follow the on-screen instructions. After setting up your account, you can connect to the Internet and access your e-mail services.

      Accessing your Internet account

      To connect to your Gateway.net or AOL Internet account:

        1. Double-click the Connect to Gateway.net or America Online icon. The Connect dialog box opens.

        2. Complete the member name and password information, then click Connect. The computer dials the Internet account phone number.

      To disconnect from your Gateway.net or AOL Internet account:

      Click X in the top right corner of the Web browser. Your computer disconnects from the Internet.

        Important

        Make sure that your computer disconnects properly from your Internet account. If you do not have an "unlimited hours" ISP account, you may have to pay for the time that you are connected.

        Using the World Wide Web

          The World Wide Web is a user-friendly multimedia window to the Internet that gives you easy access to millions of sources of information.

          The information you access on the Internet appears in Web pages. A group of related Web pages is called a Web site. You can access Web sites to shop, track investments, read the news, download programs, and much more.

          You can travel through a Web site or visit other Web sites by clicking areas on the Web page called links, or hyperlinks. A link can be colored text (sometimes underlined), a picture, or an animated image. You can identify a link by moving the mouse pointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link.

          To learn more about using the Web browser features click Help in the browser's menu bar.

        Connecting to a Web site

          After you set up an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Gateway.net or AOL, you are ready to begin accessing the many information sources on the World Wide Web.

        To connect to a Web site:

          1. Connect to your Internet account. After the computer connects, the browser home page opens.

          2. If you want to go to a different Web site, type the address (for example www.gateway.com) in the browser address bar, then click the GO button next to the browser address bar.
            - OR -
            Click a link to a Web site.
            The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, transfers (downloads) data to your computer, and displays the page in the Web browser.
            Sometimes Web pages display slowly. The speed that a Web page displays on your screen depends on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet conditions.

        Downloading files

          Downloading is the process of transferring files from a computer on the Internet to a folder on your computer.

          To protect your computer against viruses, make sure that you run a virus scan on files that you download. For more information about scanning for viruses, see "Protecting your computer from viruses" for information on checking files for viruses.

        To download files or programs from a Web site:

          1. Connect to your Internet account.

          2. In the address bar, type the address of the Web site that contains the file or program you want to download, then click the GO button next to the browser address bar.
            - OR -
            Click on links to navigate to the Web site where you want to download a file.

          1. On your computer, create a folder where you want to store the file.

          2. Click the link for the file that you want to download.

          3. Follow the on-screen instructions to save the file in the folder that you created.
            A copy of the file is downloaded to your computer. The time that it takes to transfer the file to your computer depends on file size and other Internet conditions.

          1. Open the folder that you created.

          2. Install or view the downloaded file by double-clicking it. If applicable, follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the program.

        Using e-mail

          E-mail (electronic mail) programs let you send messages to anyone who has an Internet connection and e-mail address. E-mail is a free service of your Internet account.

          The Internet never closes, so you can send e-mail messages at any time of the day or night. Your e-mail messages arrive at most e-mail addresses in minutes.

          An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the Internet domain name of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or company that "hosts" that user. Your e-mail address is assigned when you sign up for an account with an ISP. For example, a person with an account with the Gateway.net ISP might have an e-mail address that is similar to this one:

        Sending e-mail

        To send e-mail using Gateway.net or AOL:

          1. Connect to your Gateway.net or AOL account.

          2. Click Create Mail.
            - OR -
            Click Write.

          1. Type the e-mail address of the recipient you want to send e-mail to in the Send To box.

          2. Type the subject of your e-mail in the Subject box.

          3. Compose the e-mail message.

          4. When finished, click Send Now. Your e-mail is sent over the Internet to the e-mail address you specified.

        Checking your e-mail

        To check your e-mail using Gateway.net or AOL:

          1. Connect to your Gateway.net or AOL account.

          2. Click Read Mail.
            - OR -
            Click Read.

          For more information about managing and organizing your e-mail messages, see the online help in your e-mail program.