Browser Basics:
Connecting to the Web

In order to join the flood of people getting connected to the Web, you need some hardware and some software. Exactly what you need depends on what you want to do and how much you can afford to pay to do it. To play games over the Internet requires a much faster computer system and a faster connection than just about anything else. A 3D-video card and superior speakers are important for top quality gaming also. But for basic access, a fairly ordinary computer (by today's standards!) and a moderate connection speed will enable you to meet and greet all over the world.

What you need to access the Web

Hardware

1. Computer: Of course! You'll need empty hard drive space for the software you will install. You'll need to have enough memory to run the software. A computer that can run Windows XP will work well.
    
   For older systems:

   Internet Explorer 4 (IE) suggests as a minimum (and this truly is a slow, minimum system):

   - A 486 with a 66 MHz processor (Pentium processor recommended)

   - For Microsoft Windows 95/98:  8 MB of RAM minimum, 16 MB with Active Desktop

   - 40 to 70 MB of hard-disk space (depending on installation type for IE)
    

2. Connection: You need some way to connect to the Internet from that computer.
    
   1. Network:  If your computer is connected to a network, you may not need any more hardware. Many networks are permanently connected to the Internet.
       
   2. ISP:  If your computer is not on a connected network, you must sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or with an online service. In addition to the connection, an online service, like America OnLine, provides content like discussion forums, information articles, and other web pages and services. Usually you use a telephone line and a modem to connect your computer to the ISP's server computer, which is connected to the Internet. Costs vary widely. Different accounts at the same ISP provide different services and different amounts of time online. There is no standard pricing. Your ISP will tell you how to configure your computer to connect. It involves some scary sounding settings and you may need to install some more things from your Windows installation CD. Just follow all the directions from your ISP. It's not really that hard to do.

3. Connection device: The device must match the type of connection you have arranged.
   1. Modem:   connects your computer to your ISP or online service over a regular telephone line. Modems come in several different speeds. Do not settle for 28.8 Kbps if your ISP can handle higher rates. Be careful that your kind of modem works well with the kind that your ISP uses.
       
   2. ISDN terminal adapter:  a digital device that works in an entirely different way from a modem, but it is often called a modem anyway. ISDN requires a special kind of connection with your telephone company. This will cost extra. The advantage is a much higher speed of data transfer than with a modem.
       
   3. Cable modem: uses the your cable TV wire to send data at very high rates, but the speed depends on how many other cable TV users are using their cable modems when you are. No need to dial! A permanent connection.
       
   4. DSL:   (Digital Subscriber Line)  allows your computer to be permanently connected to the Internet using telephone lines. No more dialing! There are a number of different types of DSL connection. All will be available at a higher cost and only in areas that are fairly close to the telephone company's transmission center.

Software you need

1. Browser:   handles the display of the data that the modem or network connection brings to your computer. Netscape and Internet Explorer are the most popular browsers and are both free now, but there are many other good browsers out there. Older browsers may be text only. An online service may provide its subscribers with a browser with a special interface.
    
2. Email: handles the creating, sending, receiving, and storing of email messages.
    
3. Other useful software:
   1. FTP program- for file transfers
   2. IRC (chat) or instant messaging program- for discussions and general conversation using text.
   3. Newsgroup program - for exchanging messages about a particular topic, like Windows installation problems.
   4. HTML editor - Writing your own web pages can be done with just a text editor like Notepad, but it's easier with an HTML editor. FrontPage Express is a WYSIWYG (sort of) editor and can get you started, but it is quite limited. Microsoft FrontPage is a more advanced editor.

   If you install the complete set of programs that come with Internet Explorer, or the programs that are available as additions, you will have IE as your browser, Outlook Express for both email and newsgroups, Microsoft Chat for IRC chatting, and FrontPage Express for creating web pages (depending on which version of IE you install). If you install a recent version of Netscape, you will also have software that performs all these important functions. Neither Internet Explorer nor Netscape have an FTP program. Both sets of programs do their jobs. Each has certain advantages over the other. If you don't like either of these suites of programs, there are many other programs available from other companies.

~~  1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  ~~

Last updated: 22 Jan 2008