|
Welcome to today's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, December 22, 2002
From all of us at Sharper Training Solutions, we wish you a beautiful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
Happy Holidays!
Ceil, Teresa, Lynn, Stephanie, Kristin, Francine & Maryanne
In this Issue:
Today’s newsletter will be somewhat abbreviated because the editors have been spending way too much time playing with their computers and now need to get out and do their Christmas shopping.
Special Feature: Rules for Newbies
Featured Computer Term: Toggle
This Week's Topic: Startup Programs Automatically
Featured Website: International Maps; Email Santa; Christmas and Kwanzaa Websites
******************************************************************** ***
Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
******************************************************************** ***
Special Feature: Rules for Newbies
Do you know someone who is getting a computer or online access for Christmas this year? Do them a favor and forward them a copy of this newsletter. It would be a great gift, and it won't cost you a thing!
Rules for Newbies (New Computer or Internet Users)
In no particular order, this list has been compiled over the last year from questions sent in to this newsletter.
Don't open attachments that you didn't ask for, even if you think you know who's sending them.
If something asks to install itself on your computer, just say no. If it’s something you really really want, call or email your local computer geek and ask how to proceed.
Sign up for a computer class. It's a proven fact that family members are terrible at teaching the basics.
Do not give out credit card information to anybody through e-mail or an instant messenger, no matter how official it sounds.
Do not eat or drink near your computer system unless your hardware is coffee compatible (most aren’t).
CTRL+Z will usually reverse the last thing you did, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
If something doesn't easily fit into one of those plugs in the back, don't force it; chances are, it's not supposed to go in there.
Memory is not the same thing as a hard drive; memory is also known as RAM, which is where programs and open documents are loaded. The hard drive is where your files sit, waiting for you to put them into memory. Here’s a good analogy: your hard drive is your filing cabinet and your desk drawer -that’ s where your files and your tools (like your pen and stapler) are kept. Memory is your desktop -when you want to work on a project, you take a file out of the filing cabinet and a tool out of the desk drawer and put it on the desktop. On the computer, you take a program and a file out of the hard drive and put it in memory.
There's more than one way to complete a task. If you ask a question of 10 computer geeks, you will more than likely get 10 different answers -and they’ll probably all be right. Don’t let this confuse you -just keep plugging away and eventually you’ll find your own favorite way of doing things.
Email newsletters like this one are a great, painless and free way to learn more about your computer. Subscribe to them -if you’re not learning anything from a particular one, it’s easy enough to unsubscribe.
Don’t get mad at the computer when something doesn't work; don't get mad at yourself when something doesn't work. The computer won’t always work the way you want it to; what you’re trying to do won’t always work the way you want it to. That’s the nature of the beast.
You're probably not going to get hacked; if you're worried, ask your computer geek how to protect yourself.
Forwarding joke emails is not funny. It may be new to you, but be assured that anyone who’s been using the Internet and email for a while has seen that joke at least several times already.
The Internet doesn't always move as fast as you'd like it to. Your computer doesn't always move as fast as you'd like it to. That doesn't mean there's something wrong. Be patient.
Don't respond to special offer emails if you didn't ask for them.
Keep all of your saved files, word processing documents, spreadsheets, emails, pictures, etc. in the My Documents folder. Whenever a program asks you to save something somewhere, save it in there. This way, you’ll always know where to look when you’re trying to find something.
There's more on your computer than email and Solitaire. Look around, try things -you’ll be amazed at all you can do!
You won't need to upgrade everything tomorrow; your system will not be obsolete until it can't do something you need it to do.
Your computer can hold mountains of programs, files, emails and whatever else you want to save. You don’t need to erase files yet.
Remember, you cannot kick off the next world war by pressing the wrong key.
Have fun! If you take this activity too seriously, you won't want to play with the computer too often.
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Computer Term: Toggle
To switch from one setting to another. The term toggle implies that there are only two possible settings and that you are switching from the current setting to the other setting.
A toggle switch is a switch that has just two positions. For example, light switches that turn a light on or off are toggle switches. On computer keyboards, the Caps Lock key is a toggle switch because pressing it can have two meanings depending on what the current setting is. If Caps Lock is already on, then pressing the Caps Lock key turns it off. If Caps Lock is off, pressing the Caps Lock key turns it on.
Toggle switches also exist in software. For, example a check box in a dialog box is a toggle switch.
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Topic: Startup Programs Automatically
The desktop can become cluttered with shortcuts to often-used programs that we always open when we turn the computer on. You can have Windows automatically open these for you by placing a shortcut to the program in your startup folder. You’ll find the startup folder in the Start button menus. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then point to Startup. Everything you see in there automatically opens when you turn your computer on. (If you don’t recognize everything in there, note that some programs run behind the scenes and you’ll never see them)
An easy way to add a program to the Startup is to first place a shortcut to the folder on your desktop this way: Right click on Start and select Open Left click on Programs (you may have to double click, depending on your version of Windows) Point to the Startup folder. Right click on it and left click Send To from the resulting menu. Click on Desktop (Create Shortcut).
From now on, when you have a program you want to automatically startup, drag the shortcut to the Startup icon on your desktop. The next time you restart your system, that program will open automatically.
******************************************************************** ***
Today's Featured Websites:
International Maps
There are many websites that let you find addresses and directions to locations but most let you explore only a particular country or region. Just about the whole world can be found at this site.
http://maps.lycos.com/roadmapInt.asp
Email Santa
It may be too late to write to Santa Claus but email will get there almost instantly! You can email Santa at this website:
http://merry-christmas.com/santa-mail.htm
Take a look at our website for interesting and fun Christmas sites.
http://stsico.com/html/christmaskwanzaa.html |
