User Manual

140
Exploring Your Computer’s Features
Setting up for communications
Taskbar
Each time you open a program, a button associated with that
program appears on the taskbar. With some programs, a button
appears on the taskbar for each document or window you open. You
can use these buttons to quickly switch between the programs or
windows.
To make a program or window the currently active one, click the
associated taskbar button.
Notification area
The notification area displays icons of tasks or programs that run
continuously in the background and displays notifications. To learn
more about each task, position the pointer over the icon for a few
moments and a short description of the task appears.
Typical tasks in the notification area are Current time, Power usage
mode, network connectivity status, and speaker volume.
To activate a specific task, click the appropriate notification area
icon.
Setting up for communications
To connect to the Internet, use an online service, or communicate
across the telephone lines with another computer, you need:
❖ A browser or communications program
❖ An Internet Service Provider (ISP) or online service if you plan
to use the Internet
❖ A way to connect to the ISP (for example modem/
Wi-Fi
®
/LAN, etc.)
Using Wireless LAN connectivity
Wireless connectivity and some features may require you to
purchase additional software, external hardware or services.
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.
NOTE