Setting up an Internet accountwww.gateway.com47Setting up an Internet accountBefore you can view the information on the World Wide Web, you need to setup an Internet account with an Internet service provider (ISP). To set up an ISPservice or to transfer an existing account to this computer, contact the ISPdirectly.Dial-up Internet connections are those using a telephone system to connect tothe Internet. This may include ordinary analog telephone lines, ISDNconnections, and in some cases ADSL over PPP, or other technologies. Becausedial-up connections are designed to be temporary connections to the Internet,dial-up charges (with both your telephone company and Internet serviceprovider) often increase the longer you connect to the Internet. To minimize thecost for dial-up Internet users, we suggest that you only connect to the Internetduring your e-mail and Web browsing session, then disconnect when you arefinished. Your Internet service provider can provide instructions on how toconnect to and disconnect from the Internet.Cable and DSL modems, a connection known as broadband, use your cabletelevision or special telephone lines to connect to your ISP and access theInternet. In many instances, broadband is considered an always-connectedservice. With this type of service, your cost is the same regardless of the amountof time you use your Internet connection.Accessing your Internet accountHelp & SupportFor general information about usingInternet accounts, click Start, then clickHelp and Support. Type the keywordISP in the Search box, then click thearrow.The method you use to access your Internet account varies from ISP to ISP.Contact your ISP for the correct procedure.Using the World Wide WebThe World Wide Web is a multimedia window to the Internet that gives youaccess to millions of information sources.Information on the Web comes to you on Web pages, which are electronicdocuments that you view using a Web page display program called a browser.You can use any of the commercially available Web browsers, like MicrosoftInternet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.Web pages can contain text, animations, music, and other multimedia features.A group of related Web pages is called a Web site. You can access Web sites toshop, track investments, read the news, download programs, and much more.You can explore a Web site or visit other Web sites by clicking areas on a Webpage called links or hyperlinks. A link may be colored or underlined text, apicture, or an animated image. You can identify a link by moving the mousepointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link.
