If you have an internal modem and you use dial-up, then yes, you don't need your external one any longer. Just plug the phone cord right into your modem (not the ethernet jack!) and you are good to go.

Tracey is right on about all those desktop icons... you can uninstall anything on there that is a trial (famous use by computer manufactures_). In fact, the first thing I do for someone if they do buy a new PC from a large company... is to wipe the hard drive clean and do a fresh reinstall of XP. This way, they are starting with a totally clean drive without a ton of stuff poluting their HD and registry.. but, at least uninstalling the useless stuff will get you right along as well.

Congrats.. ASUS is a great company - glad you gave them a shot over the usual suspects!