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Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, January 6, 2002
In this Issue:
Featured Computer Term: Attachment
Topic: Storage
Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word Changing The Office Assistant
Featured Website: HerPlanet
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Correction: Last week, the date of the newsletter was stated incorrectly. The date should have been December 30, 2001.
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Today's Featured Computer Term: Attachment
An attachment is a file attached to an e-mail message. This is usually a text or graphics file that is sent along with an email message.
Email attachments are often used in business to send documents back and forth between employees or companies. Also very popular is the ability to send a photo email attachment to family and friends.
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Today's Topic: Storage
Computers must store data somewhere. Data is files that are used to make the computer run, files that make programs run, and your files: the letters or emails you write, the spreadsheet you reconcile your checkbook with, pictures you draw and anything else you create.
The primary location for data storage is on the hard drive, or hard disk. Hard drive and hard disk are the same thing--just different words are used to describe it. It’s also known as the C: drive.
Your hard drive is called 'hard' because it's not soft. In the old days of computing, we used 'floppy disks' to store data. They were soft and pliable, and got messed up all the time.
Hard disks came along and replaced the floppy disk.
There are many different types of disks. Here are some basic principles that will guide you.
1. If it's inside your computer, it's a hard disk. That is, if you cannot remove it except to open the computer case.
2. If you can remove the disk, it's called 'removable storage'. This includes items like 3.5-inch disks or Zip disks.
A Zip disk is a popular brand of removable storage that comes in 100 megabyte and 250 megabyte sizes. It requires a special disk reader called a Zip Drive, which is available in most office or computer store. Some computers even come with a Zip drive.
There's another storage device known as 'optical storage' or the CD. These are removable, and the nicest thing about them is the amount of data they will hold. The common CD discs hold approximately 700 megabytes of data, and you can create them yourself if you have a CD burner.
All computers come with a hard drive. Most come with a small slot for a 3.5 inch diskette. This slot is the A drive.
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Progressive Learning Series: Microsoft Word Changing The Office Assistant
If you like the Office Assistant, but you are getting tired of the paperclip, why not try one of the other cartoons?
To do this, run Word (or Excel) and press F1 to open the Office Assistant. Click Options and when the dialog box opens, click the Gallery tab. Click Next (repeatedly) to see what characters are available and select the one you like. Click OK to close the dialog box and save your selection.
If you didn't load all the characters when you install Office 2000, you'll need to insert your installation disc and follow the instructions from there.
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Today's Featured Website: HerPlanet
In this online community for women, you’ll see HerSupport, HerCraftIdeas, HerGeneration, HerTeen, etc.
There are many sites to surf through, divided into subcategories like home, business, and the Internet. Read some jokes, get information for single moms, manage your finances, and start a hobby.
You can also secure a domain name and design your own Web site. HerPlanet gets you started on almost anything - with a woman's touch.
http://www.herplanet.com/ |
