MacBook Pro Portable Genius, 5th Edition

Chapter 3: What Are My Internet Connection Options?

Being able to take advantage of the Internet is a skill that’s almost as important as being able to read (of course, you have to be able to read to use the Internet, so reading still wins on the importance scale). Fortunately, your MacBook Pro is a perfect tool for getting the most out of the Internet. To use the Internet, you must be able to connect to it, which is where this chapter comes in handy. It covers how to connect in a variety of ways, and you likely will use several of them.

Setting Up a Local Network

You can connect your MacBook Pro to the Internet in many ways. Fortunately, one of the great things about using a MacBook Pro and related Apple technology is that you don’t have to worry about all the technical details involved. It’s quite easy to create and manage a local network that provides Internet access and other services, such as file sharing, to multiple computers.

You create a local network with two general steps. First, install and configure your router. Second, connect devices (such as computers and printers) to the wireless or wired network provided by the router.

Building a local network

Routers are commodity products: Many companies make them, and they’re all similar. A router essentially lets multiple devices connect to the same network, so they can exchange files, connect to the same Internet service ...