by Technophobes;the Kicking;Screaming Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers
computers. See also specific topics
average length of ownership, 64
backing up, 260–262, 318
benefits of, 7
“booting up,” 405–407, 418
“brains” of, 14–16
“crashing,” 101
customer service numbers, 414
desktop (See desktop computer)
different drives on, 15, 16, 17
“dying,” 101
ergonomic safety tips, 41–42, 44, 96–97
“freezing,” 405, 420
hardware parts, 11–14
laptop (See laptop)
Mac (or Apple) (See Mac)
manufacturers and technical support, 414
modems for, 16–17
new, unpacking, 90–93
on-site installation for, 60
PC (See PC [Personal Computer])
registering, 81
safety precautions, 42–43, 44, 411–412
shopping for (See shopping for computers)
shut down time, 135
standby, or “sleep” mode, 101
taking 15-minute breaks from, 42
“computer” window, icons in, 137–138
connections, on LinkedIn, 291
Consumer Reports, 346
contacts, e-mail, 194
control panel
about, 138–139
date and time, 144–146
firewall status, 217
cookies, on computer, 184, 224–227
copy (editing tool), 419
copying and pasting, 206, 237–238
cords
for dial-up connections, 17, 97
electrical, 18, 82
labeling, 92
missing, 96
Corel Paint Shop, 263
C:DOS prompt, 408–409
costs
of high-speed connections, 71
laptops vs. desktops, 36
online shipping, 343
software, 30, 69
used computer equipment, 77
coupons, online, 351, 363
CPU (central processing unit)
about, 15, 418
cats sleeping on, 44
operating software for, 24
speeds, 57, 76
craigslist.com, 356
“crashing,” 101, 419
credit card information
deleting cookies containing, 184
entering on website checkout pages, 220, 345, 346–347
monitoring, 362
stored on Amazon Kindle, 397
credit cards
establishing online account, 362
expired, cutting up, 220–221
fraudulent use of, 347
making copies of, 220
stolen, filing reports about, 220, 230
credit reports, 220
Ctrl, Alt, Del key function, 405–406
cursor. See also arrow (cursor)
flashing vertical line, 202
vertical line (I-beam), 109, 123, 203
customer service numbers, 346, 414
customerservicenumbers.com, 414
cut (editing tool), 419
cutting and pasting, 204–205
.cwk (Apple Works document), 246, 306
cyberspace, defined, 419
D
database software, 68, 197
date/time, adjusting, 144–146, 150, 158–160
dating websites, 297–301, 302, 416
D: Drive, 16, 26, 138, 151–152, 419
defrag, 315–316
delete key, 104, 118, 191, 405–406
Dell customer service, 414
desks, workspace, 39–41
desktop computer, 419
air circulation around, 100–101
buying considerations, 36
connecting hardware for, 18–20
hardware pieces, 11–14
leaving on, 100–101
new, setting up, 94–97
new, unpacking, 91–93
turning on, 99–100
upgrading hardware, 77–78
vs. laptop, 34–37, 55
desktop (main screen display), 419
changing background on, 148–149, 161
changing screen savers on, 101, 149–150, 161–162
on Mac, 117–118
on PC, 107–108
dial-up connections
about, 17
busy signals, 17, 172
connecting computer to, 95
cost of, 71, 169
hacker threats and, 218
phone cords for, 97
phone jack and modem for, 39
sounds made during dial-up, 173
speed of, 17, 169, 172
digital cameras. See also photos
about, 255
basics of, 256–258
batteries, 264
buying, 256
memory cards for, 255, 256–257, 264
digital certificate, 419
directions and maps, 329–330
discussion groups, online, 292–294
disk cleanup, 313–314
disk defragmenter, 315–316
disk drive, defined, 419
disk error message, 407
disks. See CDs; DVDs; floppy disks
.doc (Microsoft Word document), 246, 306
documentation, for new computer, 90
documents. See also attachments
closing, 202
copying to new computer, 318
deleting, 409
editing, 203–209, 213
folders for, 137
naming, 201
new, creating, 200–201
opening, 202
printing, 211–212, 214
renaming, 318
saving, 203
searching for, 317–318
spell checking, 209–210
domain name extensions, 175–176
domain names, 170, 175, 188, 419
donations, “free,” 327
“don’t” icon, 109
DOS prompt on PC screen, 408–409
double-clicking, 110–111, 122–123, 124, 419
double-clicking, alternative to, 123, 164
download, defined, 419
dpi (dots per inch), 257, 419
driver’s license, 220
driving and talking on phones, 389
Droid (Android) phones, 388–389
drugstore.com, 349
DSL (digital subscriber line), 17, 72
DVD-RW Drive, 57–58
DVDs (digital versatile discs)
about, 25, 419
“burning” data onto, 27–28, 260–262, 318
inserting into drive, 16, 26
installing software from, 25–26
movie rentals, 366–368
storing and organizing, 412
transferring data onto, 27–28, 260–262
“dying,” 101
E
earbuds, 395
EarthLink customer service, 414
eBay, 353
e-cards, 241
editing photos, 262–263
editing text, 203–209
E: Drive, 16, 138, 419
educational websites (.edu), 176
education software, 24, 68
.edu (educational websites), 176
electrical cords, 18, 82
electrical outlets, 39
electricity, static, from carpets, 411–412
e-mail addresses, 419
for contacts (address book), 194
different parts of, 170, 188
for LinkedIn, 290
looking up, 338
secondary, establishing, 222–223, 234
e-mail (electronic mail), 419. See also attachments, 241–249, 412
description of, 7
e-mail services for, 72
establishing account, 188
etiquette, 195, 234–236
false identities and, 235
forwarding, 193–194, 236–239
free
websites, 416
inserting web links into, 239–241
junk mail, 195–196, 222–224
lack of anonymity and, 235
old, deleting, 194
phishing, 221–222
printing, 192
replying to, 193
retrieving, 191–192
safety precautions, 236–239, 242–243, 249, 412–413
sending, 187–196
spell-checking, 196
storing, 249
web-based services, 233–234
work accounts, 236
writing, 189–191
emoticons, 236, 419–420
encryption, 346–347, 420
encyclopedias, online, 333–334
end task, 406
enter key, 13–14, 420
entertainment
gaming websites, 371–374
movies, 364–368
recommended websites, 416
TV shows, 368–371
video clips (YouTube), 370–371
entertainment software, 24, 68
Entourage, 234
epicurious.com, 335
Epson customer service, 414
Equifax, 220
e-readers, 395–398, 401, 420
ergonomic safety tips, 41–42, 44, 96–97
error messages
defined, 420
on Mac computers, 409
non-system disk or disk error, 407
while accessing web pages, 180
while signing on to e-mail, 173
writing down message, 406
escape key, 123, 405
espn.com, 335, 372
Ethernet cables, 229
Ethernet ports, 58, 77, 420
e-tickets (electronic tickets), 9, 358
evite.com, 241
ew.com, 372
expedia.com, 358
Experian, 220
extended warranties, 59, 62, 79–81
external keyboard, for laptops, 37
external modems, 420
external monitor, for laptops, 37
external mouse, for laptop, 37, 135
eyestrain, 41, 42
F
Facebook
about, 273–275, 420
archived information stored on, 302
compared with Twitter, 284–285
features, 275, 281–282
“friends” on, 274, 280, 281
how it works, 276–278
for the iPad, 399
limiting visits to, 289–290
privacy settings, 278, 279
searching for people on, 329
family websites, 416
fandango.com, 365
favorites (bookmarks), 179, 327, 418
Federal Trade Commission, 347
#FF (Follow Friday), 287
files. See also attachments; documents
about, 305, 420
closing, 202
copying to new computer, 318
deleting, 311–312, 409
file name suffixes or extensions, 246, 305–306
moving into folders, 310–311
names, 201, 305, 309
never to alter or delete, 312–313
new, creating, 200
opening, 202
renaming, 309
retrieving from trash, 312
saving, 203
searching for, 317–318
vs. folders, 306
finance websites, 416
financial management software, 24, 68, 414
Firefox, 226, 404
firewalls, 184, 215–218, 420
flash drive, 318
flashing vertical line (cursor), 202
flickr.com, 263, 264
flights.com, 358
floppy disks, 16, 17, 25, 260, 407, 420
fodors.com, 357
folders
creating, 307–309
creating systems for, 306–307
deleting, 311–312, 409
moving files into, 310–311
moving into existing folders, 310–311
moving onto Desktop, 318
new, accessing, 126–127
renaming, 309
retrieving from trash, 312
vs. files, 306
followers, on Twitter, 283, 286
fonts (typefaces), 208–209, 420
Food and Drug Administration, 349
foodnetwork.com, 335
food-related websites, 335, 416
footrests, 41
force quit, 406
forums, online, 292–294, 420
4G connections, 395
fragmenting, 315–316
freecycle.org, 356–357
freerice.com, 327
free stuff, 356–357
“freezing,” defined, 405, 420
frommers.com, 357
function keys, 13–14, 420
fun(ny) websites, 416
G
Gameboys, 373–374
gaming websites, 371–372, 374
gigabyte (GB), 16, 420
gigahertz, 15
glasses, prescription, 42
gmail.com, 188, 234, 414
golf.com, 335
good deeds websites, 416
Google search engine, 180–182, 323
.gov (government websites), 176
graphic or image file (.jpg), 246, 306
graphics software, 24, 68, 197
greeting card websites, 416
grocery shopping websites, 417
Groupon, 363
H
hackers, 216, 229, 420
hand strain, 105
hand with index finger icon, 109, 123, 174, 241
hard boot, 407, 420
hard drive (C: Drive)
about, 15, 137, 420
additional, buying, 401
size, 57, 77
window, on Mac, 153–155
hardware. See also specific types
connecting, 18–20
defined, 420
specific types of, 11–14
upgrading, 77–78
hashtag symbol (#), 286, 420
health information websites, 331–332, 417
hertz, 15, 421
Hewlett Packard customer service, 414
highlighting text, 204, 205, 237–238
high-speed connections
advantages of, 17, 172
DSL (digital subscriber line), 17, 72
installing equipment for, 39, 70, 169–170
history websites, 417
hoaxbusters.org, 237
hobby websites, 335
home page, 173–174, 177, 185, 186, 421
hotels.com, 357
hotmail.com, 188, 234, 414
hotspots, 183, 421
hourglass icon, 102, 109
household websites, 417
http (hypertext transfer protocol), 175, 421
https, 184, 346
Huffington Post, 295
hulu.com, 368
I
I-beam, 109, 123, 203, 421
IBM customer service, 414
IBM PC (IBM Personal Computer), 47
icons
align left/right, 208
in applications window, 156–157
center, 208
circle, 109
in “computer” window, 137–138
defined, 107–108, 421
“don’t,” 109
function, 109, 123
hand with index finger, 109, 123, 174, 241
hourglass, 102, 109
list of, for mouse functions, 109, 123
opening without double-clicking, 164
print, 212
for software programs, 306
spinning circle, 102
underline, 207
identity (ID), for websites, 347
identity theft, 219–221, 230, 273
imdb.com, 335
inbox, 191–192
information
backing up, 27–28, 260–262, 318
&
nbsp; copying to new computer, 318
on the Internet, 4–5
sharing, on Facebook, 275
information superhighway, 421
insert key, 213
installing, defined, 421
instant messaging (IM), 266–267, 421
instruction manuals, 99
insurance, travel, 359
internal modems, 17, 421
Internet. See also Internet connections; websites
description of, 4–5, 421
examples of searches on, 5–6
optimizing searches on, 321–338
safety considerations, 228
search history, clearing, 228
temporary internet files, 226
vs. World Wide Web, 8
Internet connections, 17. See also dial-up connections; high-speed connections
Internet Explorer, 226, 227, 404
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
choosing, 168–169
customer service phone numbers, 169
defined, 421
Home Page, 173–174
routers provided by, 218
setting up connection, 39, 70, 169–170
iPads, 398–400
iPhones, 387–388, 389
iPhoto, 263
iPods
about, 390
batteries, 392
earbuds for, 395
features, 390–391
how it works, 394
iPod Touch, 388
speakers for, 395
syncing with iTunes, 393–394
transferring music from iTunes, 393–394
italicized type, 207
iTunes
about, 391
buying TV shows from, 369
downloading music from, 393–394
downloading software to computer, 391–393
for playing music on Mac, 162–163
syncing with, 393–394
J
jokeaday.com, 372
.jpg (graphic or image file), 246, 306
junk mail, 195–196, 222–224
K
kayak.com, 358
keyboards, cell phone, 380
keyboards, computer
about, 13–14, 421
external, for laptops, 37
freezing up, 405
placement of, 42
shortcuts, 22, 426
test-driving, 59
troubleshooting, 403, 405
for visually impaired, 22
wireless, 13, 403
wrist rest for, 82
keys (on keyboard)
alternate (alt), 405–406
arrow, 13, 164, 418
backspace, 103, 104, 191
caps lock, 171, 418
control (ctrl), 405–406
delete (del), 104, 118, 191, 405–406
enter, 13–14, 420
escape (esc), 123, 405
function, 13–14, 420
insert, 213
return, 13–14, 420
shift, 102–103, 423
Keytronics customer service, 414
Kindle, 395–398, 421
Klondike (card game), 127
L
laptop
air circulation under, 101
batteries, 34, 35
buying considerations, 36
defined, 421
external peripherals for, 37, 135
fragile screen on, 94
hardware, 11–14
keeping powered on, 101
mouse types for, 36
new, setting up, 94