Using the Internet

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

Learning about 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).

    If you want to view Web pages and send e-mail you need these items:

Modem --a device that is installed in your computer. When it is connected to a phone line, it is able to connect with other computers or servers. Your computer has a built-in V.90 56K modem.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) account-- purchased from a company who provides access to the Internet through their ISP server. When you call up the ISP with the modem on your computer, the ISP server lets you connect to the Internet.
E-mail program --software that lets you send and receive e-mail over the Internet.
Web browser --software that displays information from the World Wide Web on your computer.

Using gateway.net

Setting up an account

    If you selected gateway.net as an ISP, follow these instructions to set up your account.

To set up an Internet account with gateway.net:

    1. Double-click the Register with gateway.net icon on the Windows desktop.
    2. Follow the on-screen instructions. After setting up your gateway.net account, you can immediately connect to the Internet. Your e-mail program and Web browser software are automatically installed and your e-mail services should be active within thirty minutes.

Connecting to your 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.
    2. If your user name is not already entered, type it in the User Name text box.
    3. If your password is not already entered, type it in the Password text box. Asterisks appear on-screen when you type in your password so that onlookers cannot see it.
    4. If the dialer is not set to dial automatically, click Connect. The computer dials a gateway.net access phone number.
      After connecting, the Web browser opens and the default Web site appears. For information about the Web and the Web browser, see "Using the World Wide Web."

Disconnecting from gateway.net

To disconnect from your gateway.net Internet account:

    1. Close your e-mail program and all Web browser windows.
    2. Double-click the gateway.net icon on the taskbar. A dialog box opens and tells you that you are connected to gateway.net.
    3. 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 on Web pages (screens of information) and Web sites (collections of Web pages). On the Web you can shop, track investments, read the news, download software, visit entertainment sites, and much more.

Connecting to a Web site

    Before you can view the information on the Web, you need to set up an account with Internet Service Provider (ISP). After you have connected to the Internet with the help of your ISP, you can visit Web sites by typing the Web address (for example, www.gateway.com) in the address bar, then clicking Go or pressing Enter. The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, transfers (downloads) data to your computer, and displays the page in the Web browser window.

    Sometimes Web pages load or display slowly. The speed that a Web page displays on your screen depends on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet conditions.

Using links

    You can travel through a Web site or visit other Web sites by clicking areas on the page called links, or hyperlinks. A link can be colored text (sometimes underlined), a picture, or an animated image. If you move your mouse over a link, your pointer will change to a "hand."

Using the toolbar buttons

    When you are using your Internet browser, use toolbar buttons to:

Move backward and forward through the pages that you have recently visited.
Stop a Web page from loading.
Refresh a Web page that is having difficulty loading or has updated information on it.
Go to the default home page you have marked.
Search for information.
Save or mark your favorite Web page addresses.

    See the online help for your Web browser for additional information on using and setting up your Web browser.

Downloading files

    Downloading is the process of transferring files or programs from an Internet server to the hard drive on your computer.

To download software from a Web site:

    1. Connect to your ISP account and open your Web browser.
    2. In the Address box, type the address of the Web site that contains the file or program that you are going to download.
    3. On your computer, create a folder where you want to store the file or program.
    4. Click the link for the file that you want to download.
    5. Save the file in the folder that you created by following the on-screen instructions
      A copy of the file is transferred to your computer. (The time that it takes to transfer the file to your computer depends on file size and other Internet conditions.)
    1. Locate and open the folder that you created.
    2. Install or view the file by double-clicking it.
    3. If applicable, follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the program.
    4. After you have installed the downloaded program or 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 because it 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 arrives at most Internet e-mail addresses in minutes.

    An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the Internet 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 on the gateway.net ISP might have e-mail address that is similar to this one:

Sending e-mail

To send e-mail:

    1. Connect to your ISP account. After the computer connects, the default home page appears in the Web browser.
    2. If you use the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser, click Mail, then Read Mail. The Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail program opens.
      - OR -
      If you use the Netscape Navigator Web browser, click Communicator, then Messenger Mailbox. The Netscape Messenger e-mail program opens.
    1. If you use the Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail program, click Compose, then select New Message. A new message window opens.
      - OR -
      If you use the Netscape Messenger e-mail program, click Message, then select 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 sent over the Internet to the e-mail address you specified.

Checking your e-mail

To check your e-mail:

    1. Connect to your ISP account. After your computer has connected, the Web browser opens. If you are using another ISP, open your Web browser.
    2. If you are using the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser, click Mail, then select Read Mail. The Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail program opens.
      - OR -
      If you are using the Netscape Navigator Web browser, click Communicator, then select Messenger Mailbox. The Netscape Messenger e-mail program opens.
    1. If you are using the Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail program, click Tools, then select Send and Receive.
      - OR -
      If you are using the Netscape Messenger e-mail program, click File, then select 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. You do not need to be connected to the Internet to read messages that you have already received.

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