Browser - This is the software that is used to be able to see the information on the Internet. It is like using a Television to see what is on the networks.

Connection - This is the method people use to access the Internet. There are 3 types of connections:

• Telephone
• Cable
• Satellite

Modem - Modems are connected to the computer and your method of connecting to the Internet. A modem converts the information you are sending to the Internet into signals that the phone lines, cable or satellite can handle and then converts the incoming signal into signals that your computer can read. The Browser makes that signal make sense.

America OnLine is an all-in-one solution to Internet access. With AOL you get the connection, browser, E-mail and security all in one application. In order to make the slow speed of the 56K modems appear faster, AOL will store web sites on their servers so the speed is better. The down side to this is updates to a web site may not be visible as quickly as you would like or web sites that you want to see may not be on their servers so they may open and display much slower than you would like.

Another drawback to AOL is you are locked into their E-mail system. You can not move your AOL E-mail to another system so you must either change your E-mail address or stay with AOL. Many people do not change for this very reason.

In summary, AOL has its place. For new users that are having a hard time learning the computer or for people that only want the basics and have no intention on doing more, AOL is a good easy fit. We have many customers, especially older people that really like the all-in-one aspect of AOL and do quite well with the program.

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