Using E-Mail Home Networking Bible, 2nd ed 2004. 7799KB Mar 29 2010 05:02:43 AM

Chapter 16 ✦ Accessing the Internet Working with Web Browsers and E-Mail The Web browser and e-mail program you use on your computers in the network both should be programs with which you’re comfortable. A Web browser is a program that enables you to view pages on the Internet in the special Hypertext Markup Language HTML format. A browser also enables you to control how the Web pages appear and how the graphic images look, and it enables you to jump from link to link while surfing the Web. An e-mail program might be a separate application or be connected to your browser. The e-mail program enables you to send and receive messages over the Internet. You should use the same browser and e-mail programs on all computers on the network, if possible. Troubleshooting problems, upgrading versions, and maintaining the programs are easier for you if all the applications are the same brand and version. Also, compatibility issues are easier to deal with when you keep all the Internet programs the same on your computers. If you’re using Windows, Internet Explorer is built into the program. You may prefer to use Netscape or some other application. The program you choose depends on your preferences and will not affect sharing an Internet connection or account, as described earlier in this chapter. Figure 16-8 illustrates Microsoft Internet Explorer. The Web browser enables you to view Web pages, navigate the Web easily, search for certain topics, and more. Internet service providers, however, may provide more services for less than the commercial online services. An ISP provides you with a connection to the Internet, mailboxes, space on the server for a Web page or Web site, access to news servers, and more. Before you sign up for ser- vices with an ISP, however, you should consider a few things and understand that local ISPs are not always the best solution. ✦ Ask your friends which ISP they use and how satisfied they are with the service. Ask if the ISP is reliable, if the ISP has a lot of hardware problems, and if technical support is helpful. ✦ Find out prices. Ask whether there’s a limit on connect time or if time and usage are unlimited. Ask if they include Web page space and any other perks. ✦ You also should consider how long the ISP has been in business. New ISPs pop up all the time, but are not always prepared to handle the job. Most new ISPs don’t start with enough modems and connections, so they must upgrade within a few months. Others don’t have a business plan and the business sinks after only a few months. Find an established ISP for your Internet connection. ✦ Local, regional, and national providers are available. Find out if there’s a local access number for dial-up, or at least an 800 number that will cost less than long-distance con- nections. Also, your cable company provides ISP services, as does a phone company from whom you can get DSL services.