9. Hooking Up to the Internet

Plenty of people buy a PC to crunch numbers, scan photos, or cultivate their kids' hand-eye coordination. But for millions of people, Reason One for using a PC is to access the Internet. Few computer features have the potential to change your life as profoundly as the World Wide Web and email.

To join the Internet party already in progress, you need three components: a connection, such as a modem, cable modem, DSL, or corporate network; an Internet account; and Internet software, like the Web browsers and email programs described in the next chapter.