Reference Guide

Webcam

A webcam enables you to capture videos and photos, and can also be used for video calls. Your display may have a built-in webcam

or you can connect external webcam to your computer. Camera quality is mainly defined by the number of pixels it can capture.

To use the webcam, you must install webcam drivers and software. If you ordered the webcam along with your computer, the drivers

and software are generally installed when you receive your computer. For more information on setting up the webcam, see

Setting up

your webcam.

Network

A network allows you to connect your devices with each other and to the internet. These devices include computers, tablets, phones,

printers, and other peripherals. You can set up your network using cables (LAN) or using wireless devices (WLAN). Networks can be

set up using Ethernet, Wi-Fi, WWAN, Bluetooth, and so on.

Local Area Network

Replace this text with your content. Devices are connected using Ethernet cables and cover a relatively small area, generally within a

house or a building.

Wireless Local Area Network

Devices are connected wirelessly and cover a relatively small area, generally within a house or a building. The wireless connection

used for setting up WLAN is generally Wi-Fi (802.11x where x refers to the different 802.11 protocols).

Wireless Wide Area Network

Also known as Mobile Broadband, this service is generally provided by the phone companies for use on mobile devices. A mobile

device or laptop must support WWAN technology to connect to this network.

Wireless Personal Area Network

Devices are generally connected wirelessly using Bluetooth, RF, Near-Field Communication (NFC), and so on. This type of network

generally operates within a few feet of the devices. To connect your computer or tablet to the internet, see Connecting to the

internet.

Modem

Modems allow you to connect your computer or router to the internet. Modems can be analog (dial-up) or digital (DSL or cable).

DSL or cable modems are generally provided by your internet service provider.

• Dial-up modem—Electronic devices that convert analog phone signals into digital signals that the computer can process and

digital computer signals into analog signals that can be transmitted over the telephone lines. Dial-up modems can be internal or

external.

• Digital modem—Used to send and receive data to and from a digital telephone line, like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).

Router

A router is a device that forwards data between computer networks. The most familiar type of routers are home and small office

routers that allow you to share your internet connection between multiple devices at the same time.

Routers can be wired or wireless. A wired router allows you to connect your computer using a Ethernet (RJ45) cable. Most wired

home routers have four ports allowing you to connect up to four computers to the internet at the same time. A wireless router uses

Wi‑Fi technology allows you to wirelessly connect your phones, tablets, computers, and other devices to the network.

Wireless routers can connect to several devices at the same time. For more information, see the documentation for your router.

Network‑Interface Controller

Network‑Interface Controllers (NIC), also referred to as network adapters or Local‑Area Network (LAN) adapters, connect to a

network using an Ethernet cable. NICs can be internal (integrated to the system board) or external (expansion cards). Most new

computers have integrated network adapters.