User manual TOSHIBA SATELLITE U305

[. . . ] Satellite U300/U305 Series User's Guide If you need assistance: Toshiba's Support Web site pcsupport. toshiba. com Toshiba Global Support Centre Calling within the United States (800) 457-7777 Calling from outside the United States (949) 859-4273 ® For more information, see "If Something Goes Wrong" on page 162 in this guide. GMAD00123011 04/07 2 Handling the cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Model: Satellite® U300/U305 Series Recordable and/or ReWritable Drive(s) and Associated Software Warranty The computer system you purchased may include Recordable and/or ReWritable optical media drive(s) and associated software, among the most advanced data storage technologies available. As with any new technology, you must read and follow all set-up and usage instructions in the applicable user guides and/or manuals enclosed or provided electronically. If you fail to do so, this product may not function properly and you may lose data or suffer other damage. [. . . ] Availability of public wireless LAN access points may be limited. Your system may come with an optional wireless LAN module. This is a technology that expands wireless communication beyond networking equipment, and can connect many different kinds of electronic devices without the need for cables. For information on how to set up a wireless connection, refer to your wireless networking device documentation or your network administrator. To use your wireless communication, slide the wireless on/off switch to the On position. NOTE When the Wi-Fi® antenna switch is on, the wireless indicator light will be lit. For help with common Wi-Fi® networking problems, see "Wireless networking problems" on page 182. An overview of using the Internet The following sections give a quick introduction to the Internet and some of its exciting features, under these headings: The Internet The World Wide Web Internet Service Providers Connecting to the Internet Surfing the Internet Internet features Uploading to, and downloading files from, the Internet The Internet The Internet is an association of thousands of networks and millions of computers around the world connected by communications lines. They all work together to share information. 116 Exploring Your Computer's Features An overview of using the Internet The World Wide Web The World Wide Web (or "Web") is a subset of the Internet--a collection of interlinked documents (located on computers connected to the Internet) that work together using a specific Internet protocol called Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The World Wide Web offers information as text, images, audio, or video to be referenced from anywhere in the world. Special programs called Web browsers are specifically designed to work with HTTP. They make it easier to connect to a particular network address and send and receive information. Internet Service Providers To connect a computer directly to the Internet, many people and businesses use an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that has the equipment and the telecommunication lines necessary to maintain an Internet connection. You can connect to the Internet by using a telephone and modem or through other higher-speed communication methods such as Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), cable, and satellite links. Connecting to the Internet To connect to the Internet, you need: A modem and telephone line, or a LAN connection A Web browser An Internet Service Provider (ISP) account Once you have established an ISP account, you can connect to the Internet. 1 Connect your computer's modem (available on certain models) to a telephone line. For more information on connecting a modem, see "Connecting a modem to a telephone line" on page 112. Have your modem dial the ISP's telephone number, and establish a connection with the ISP's computer. 2 If you are using your computer at the office, then you probably connect to the Internet through your company's network. See your network administrator about connecting to the Internet. Exploring Your Computer's Features An overview of using the Internet 117 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. 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-onone or in groups, by typing messages which are instantly viewed by others on their computer screens. Internet news groups A news group 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. [. . . ] Volatile here means that information in RAM is lost when you turn off your computer. resolution -- A measure of the sharpness of the images that can be produced by a printer or displayed on a screen. For a screen, it is expressed as the number of pixels available horizontally and vertically. To reset the computer by reloading the operating system without turning the computer off. [. . . ]