Toshiba Tecra M2V-S310 User Guide - Page 154

154 Exploring Your Options An overview of using the Internet Surfing the Internet Once connected to the Internet, the Web browser displays a home page, for example, your ISP's home page on the Internet or your company's Web site home page. To visit a desired Web site, type in the Web address. The Web address, or Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is a unique identifier for that computer system linked to the Internet. Web addresses can also appear within a Web page's text, and are known as links. Clicking a link automatically transfers your Web browser to that site. You can also use a Search Engine, a Web site specifically designed to help you look for information. Internet features The Internet offers many types of communication tools to help you perform many tasks. ❖ Internet email To send and receive email of your own, you need a mailbox on the Web, or an email address. If you have an account with an ISP, you can probably set up an email address at the same time you sign up for the service. ❖ Internet chat rooms A chat room is a Web site that offers a place where people with similar interests and ideas communicate in real-time, one-on-one or in groups, by typing messages which are instantly viewed by others on their computer screens. ❖ Internet news groups A newsgroup is similar to a chat room, but instead of using a dedicated site to converse about a specialized subject with others in real-time, it uses a Web site as a clearinghouse where all the messages are placed, like a gigantic bulletin board.