Browsing the Web

As in the last section, here we look at moving from a dial-up Internet connection, where your computer connects directly to the Internet, to a shared connection over your wireless network. Each computer accesses the Internet through a router or a computer directly connected to the Internet, sharing its connection through Windows Internet connection sharing (ICS).

You can use Internet Explorer to let your computer know that it should not attempt to dial a connection when you use your Web browser.

1. Choose Tools, Internet Options (Figure 10.8).

   Figure 10.8. Open Internet Options.

   

2. Click the Connections tab (Figure 10.9).

   Figure 10.9. Tell your computer that you're on a LAN, so it won't try and connect using your PC's modem.

   

3. Choose "Never dial a connection." You can also choose "Dial whenever a network connection is not present" if you also have a modem connected to your PC. This might be helpful to folks who want to use their modem as a backup in case their broadband connection temporarily fails.

Next we'll look at the software all the kids are raving about: Instant Messaging, or IM.