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Exploring Your Computer’s Features
An overview of using the Internet
The Internet
The Internet is an association of thousands of networks and
millions of computers around the world connected by
communications lines. They all work together to share information.
The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (or “Web”) is a subset of the Internet—a
collection of interlinked documents (located on computers
connected to the Internet) that work together using a specific
Internet protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
The World Wide Web offers information as text, images, audio, or
video to be referenced from anywhere in the world. Special
programs called Web browsers are specifically designed to work
with HTTP. They make it easier to connect to a particular network
address and send and receive information.
Internet Service Providers
To connect a computer directly to the Internet, many people and
businesses use an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a
company that has the equipment and the telecommunication lines
necessary to maintain an Internet connection.
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 and telephone line, or a LAN connection
❖ A Web browser
❖ An Internet Service Provider (ISP) account
Once you have established an ISP account, you can connect to the
Internet.
1 Connect your computer’s modem (available on certain models)
to a telephone line. For more information on connecting a
modem, see “Connecting a modem to a telephone line” on
page 126.
2 Start your Web browser. Have your modem dial the ISP’s
telephone number, and establish a connection with the ISP’s
computer.