There's nothing to learn.
If on high speed internet, plug in router to net connection, plug in ethernet wire from router to computer. When setting up a new machine, Apple just leads you through it and it's done. To change settings, just open System Preferences/Network and click the Assist me button. That's it.
On dial up, just install the software for the ISP and it eill automaically configure.
For any email program, just start a new account, enter the smtp and pop info and it's done. For ISP mail (like AOL) just start an account.
Setting these things up is a joke - always been as simple as anything you can possible do.
Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4