Modems are easy to use. Your PC has communications software that does all the hard work for you. It takes care of dialing the telephone number and connecting your modem to the computer at the other end of the telephone line.

However, you must identify the computers you want to connect to, and enter these telephone numbers and communication parameters into your communications software. But don't panic. All online computer services provide you with ample instructions and information.

Once, you start your communications software, and it connects you to your destination computer, you are ready to go. Your task is to simply interact with the computer you are dialing into.