John,
Differentiate between a browser and an ISP:
Quote:
| AOL is my provider, though I can access the net in other ways such as Opera and IE |
Here AOL is an ISP, Opera and IE are browsers. You cannot access anything on the internet without an ISP.
Quote:
| the PC bimbles off and normally connects me, either by TCP/IP or by DSL. Is there a method by which I can choose which protocol? |
There is no "either" here. DSL is the physical connection, while TCP/IP is the communication protocol that runs over the physical connection.
TCP/IP is to DSL as English is to a telephone.
SD