Advent PC Ower's Manual page 47

The Internet
The Internet is a giant collection of computers that spans
across the whole planet. It is the largest network ever
created. The modern Internet was born from the ARPANET,
a US Military communications project in 1969. Over the
years this grew and developed into what we see today.
It has become an icon of modern society because it plays
such an important part in our daily lives. You can chat with
friends and relatives around the world, send email that
takes seconds to deliver, you can shop, carry out your
banking, play games and use it as an educational reference
point.
We are so obsessed with the Internet that you can now
access it in number of ways, from your home computer,
your digital TV, handheld computers, and even your mobile
phone!
So how do you get online? There are a number of factors to
consider. The first is speed. Do you want dial-up access, or
an always-on broadband connection?
Dial-up: the most common way to access the net. It uses
your telephone line and a modem. The downside is very
slow speed – 56Kbps.
Broadband: you can access broadband using ADSL on a BT
phone line, Cable Modem, or Satellite. Speeds range from
150 Kbps to 2 Mbps. Faster speeds mean web pages load
faster, and you can download larger video and music files.
Internet providers: you need to sign up with an Internet
provider who gives you access to the Internet. You also get
email and free web space from most. It is advisable that
you shop around for the best deal that meets your needs.
Page 47