About the Internet, e-mail, and the Web

    This chapter provides basic instructions about setting up gateway.net Internet service to access the World Wide Web (WWW), e-mail, and other Internet services.

Connecting to 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 phone line and signing up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The two most popular services on the Internet are e-mail and the World Wide Web (WWW).

    To access the Internet you need:

A modem - a device installed in your computer that connects it to a phone line. If you have telephone jacks on the back of your computer, you have a modem.
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) - a connection between your modem and the Internet, such as the gateway.netSM Internet service.
An e-mail application - an application that lets you send and receive e-mail over the Internet.
A Web browser - an application that translates World Wide Web information from the Internet and displays it on your computer.

Setting up an Internet account

    Before you can use the Internet, you must set up an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). To connect to the Internet, your computer calls a telephone number provided by the ISP.

    If you set up an account with the gateway.netSM Internet service, you are offered a choice of plans available in your area. If you choose a plan and continue the setup process, a dial-up account and an Internet e-mail address are created for you. After completing the setup, your computer's Internet applications are configured and you are ready to access the Internet.

To set up an Internet account with gateway.net:

    1. Double-click the Register with gateway.net icon on your desktop.
    1. Follow the on-screen instructions.

    After you complete the setup of gateway.net you can immediately connect to your account. Your e-mail services should be active within thirty minutes.

Connecting to your Internet account

To connect to your gateway.net Internet account:

    1. Double-click the Connect to gateway.net icon on your desktop.
      The gateway.net Sign-In dialog box opens.
    1. If your user name is not entered, type it in the User Name text box.
    2. If your password is not entered, type it in the Password text box.
      To prevent onlookers from seeing your password, asterisks appear on-screen.
    1. If the dialer is not set to dial automatically, click Connect.
      The computer dials a gateway.net access phone number.

Disconnecting from your Internet account

To disconnect from your gateway.net Internet account:

    1. Close your e-mail application.
      If you have unsent e-mail in your outbox, you are prompted to send it.
    1. Close all Web browser windows.
    2. On the taskbar double-click the gateway.net icon.
      The a dialog box opens telling you that you are connected to gateway.net.
    1. Click Disconnect.
      The computer disconnects from the Internet.

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 viewed on Web pages and Web sites (collections of pages). On the Web you can shop, track investments, get news and weather, download software, visit entertainment sites, and much more.

    After you have set up an Internet Service Account (ISP) and connected to a Web site, you can view the page and click areas on the page called links or hyperlinks. Links go to other Web pages.

    To view and navigate Web pages (see the illustration on the next page):

Use the toolbar to navigate backward and forward between Web pages, stop loading a Web page, refresh a Web page to get the most recent updates, go to the default home page you have marked, search for information, save your favorite Web page addresses, view the history of recent Web page visits.
Type the Web page address you want to view in the address bar.
Click links on the Web page. Most Web pages have links that are areas of the page that you can click go to other Web pages. A link can be colored text (sometimes underlined), a picture, or an animated image. When you move the cursor over a link, it changes to a "hand," showing you that you can click to jump to another page.

    For other tips about browsing the Web, including setting bookmarks to your favorite Web sites, customizing your browser, and printing, see your Web browser's online help.

Connecting to a Web site

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

To connect to a Web site:

    1. Connect to your gateway.net or other ISP account.
      After the computer connects, the browser's home page appears in the Web browser.
    1. To go to a different Web site, type its address (for example, www.gateway.com) in the browser's address bar and press Enter .

    The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, transfers (or downloads) data to your computer, and displays the page in the Web browser window.

    The display of Web pages is not instantaneous. Times vary, depending on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet conditions.

Downloading software

    Downloading is the process of transferring files from a server computer on the Internet to a folder on your computer. You can download files and programs to view and install.

To download software from a Web site:

    1. Connect to your gateway.net or other ISP account
    2. Create a folder on your computer to contain the file that you want to download. For information about creating and finding folders on your computer, see About files, folders, and drives.
    3. Click the link for the file that you want to download.
    4. Follow the on-screen instructions to save the file in the folder that you created in Step 1.
      A copy of the file is transferred to your computer. Download time varies, based on file size and other Internet conditions.
    1. Locate and open the folder that you created in Step 1.
    2. To install or view the file, double-click it. If applicable, follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the program. After you have installed the downloaded program or otherwise finished using the file, you can delete it from your computer.

Using e-mail

    E-mail (electronic mail) lets you send messages to anyone who has an Internet connection and e-mail address. Sending e-mail (electronic mail) requires no additional fees -- it is a free service of your Internet account. And, because the Internet never "closes," you can send e-mail messages at any time of the day or night. Your e-mail arrives at most Internet e-mail addresses in minutes.

    An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the domain name of the 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 this e-mail address:

Sending e-mail

To send e-mail:

    1. Connect to your gateway.net account (or other ISP account).
      After the computer connects, the browser's home page appears in the Web browser.
    1. If you use the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser, click Mail, then Read Mail. The Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail application opens.
      - OR -
      If you use the Netscape Navigator Web browser, click Communicator, then Messenger Mailbox. The Netscape Messenger e-mail application opens.
    1. If you use the Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail application, click Compose, then New Message. A new message window opens.
      - OR -
      If you use the Netscape Messenger e-mail application, click Message, then New Message. A new message window opens.
    1. In the new message window, type the e-mail address of the person you want to send your message to in the To: field, then type the subject and your message.
    1. Click Send.
      Your e-mail is routed over the Internet to the recipient's e-mail account.

Checking your e-mail

To check your e-mail:

    1. Connect to your gateway.net account (or other ISP account).
      After your computer has connected, the Web browser opens. (If you are using another ISP, start your Web browser.)
    1. If you are using the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser, click Mail, then Read Mail. The Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail application opens.
      - OR -
      If you are using the Netscape Navigator Web browser, click Communicator, then Messenger Mailbox. The Netscape Messenger e-mail application opens.
    1. If you are using the Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail application, click Tools, then Send and Receive.
      - OR -
      If you are using the Netscape Messenger e-mail application, click File, Get Messages, then New.
      If you have new e-mail, it is downloaded to your computer and displayed in your e-mail inbox.
    1. To read a message, double-click it.
      The message opens.

    After you have received your e-mail messages, they remain on your computer until you delete them. (For information about deleting a message, see your e-mail application's online help.) Also, you do not need to be connected to the Internet to read messages that you have already received.