Show Me Mac® OS X, v10.3 Panther™

Connecting to the Internet

Universities and large companies are most likely connected to the Internet via high-speed wiring that transmits data very quickly. Home computer owners usually rely on a modem and the phone lines already in place. In some areas, however, several faster connection options are becoming available and affordable. There are DSL (Digital Subscriber Lines), wires that provide a complete digital connection; cable modems, which use cable television lines; and wireless, which doesn't use wires or phone lines. DSL and cable modems, also known as broadband connections, are continually turned on and connected to an Ethernet network so you don't need to establish a connection using a dial-up modem. Data travels more slowly over phone ...