Internet & E-mail Overview

Internet A network of networks

It connects computers around the world

What You Need to Get Connected

Hardware

Software

ISP

Hardware Computer with a connection

– Regular Modem (telephone line)– DSL Modem (telephone line)– Cable Modem (cable line)

Cable Line

Software

Browser softwareAllows you to move around to different sites - Netscape & Internet Explorer are most widely use

E-mail softwareFor sending and receiving electronic mail - Eudora, Outlook Express, Msmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.

ISP - Internet Service Provider

The organization that owns the host computer connection - AOL, ExecPC, Road Runner, etc.

Pay a fee for service

They may provide their own browser software

Internet Components WWW - World Wide Web

E-mail - Electronic Mail

FTP - File Transfer Protocol (Downloading)

Others - Gopher,Telnet, Newsgroups, Internet Relay Chat (IRC/IM)

World Wide Web Window

Browser window has standard title bar and menu bar of Windows programs

New window components– Address box (also named URL or Location)– Go button (Internet Explorer only)– Browser icon (at end of menu bar)

Web Navigation

Start at preset Home Page– See p. IE A.01 (in appendix A) for changing

the page displayed

Hyperlinks– Cursor changes to pointing hand– Text or graphic can be a link– Click link to move to new page

Web Navigation (con’t) URL or “the address” is fastest way to

get to a site– Must be typed accurately– Watch the browser icon for activity and the

status bar at bottom of screen for progress Use Search button to locate information

when you don’t have an address Use “Favorites” or “Bookmarks” to store

addresses you’d like to revisit

E-mail

Internet e-mail is sent via the internet

Intranet e-mail is sent via a company’s internal computer system, much like a company’s internal house mail - know which one you’re using

Web based e-mail accounts can be accessed through any connected computer, anywhere in the world

Writing E-mails Always include a subject line,

salutation (Dear Pat), and closing (Sincerely)

Don’t put anything in writing you wouldn’t share with the world (More & more employers are monitoring e-mail & WWW usage)

Use copy & paste whenever possible - this avoids those long headers seen in forwarded messages

Writing E-mail (con’t) Differentiate between Reply and Reply

All - reply goes only to sender; reply all goes to all recipients (CC & BCC)

Reply in a Timely Manner - within 24 hours

Use Formal Writing for Business E-mail

Review Your E-mail Address for Professional Use – for example ILoveBeer @

Time For Homework!