Abby Stokes - Is this thing on?: a computer handbook for late bloomers, technophobes, and the kicking and screaming

A Computer Handbook
for Late Bloomers,
Technophobes, and the
Kicking & Screaming

Abby Stokes

Illustrations by Michael Sloan and Susan Hunt Yule

WORKMAN PUBLISHING, NEW YORK

Copyright 2008 by Abigail P. Stokes
Illustrations copyright 2000 by Michael Sloan and Susan Hunt Yule

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced
mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including
photocopyingwithout written permission of the publisher.
Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
eISBN-13: 978-0-7611-5384-9

Author photo 2000 by Laura Straus, NY

Trademarks: All brand names, product names, and logos used or illustrated in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Neither Workman Publishing Co., Inc., nor Abby Stokes is associated with any of such owners and no endorsement by such owners has been made or is implied.

Workman books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising or educational use. Special editions or book excerpts also can be created to specification. For details, contact the Special Sales Director at the address below.

Design: Janet Vicario; layout: Lidija Tomas

Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4381
www.workman.com

For Nancy
I dedicate this book to my mother...
who tried and succeeded.

I thank my lucky stars every day for the incredible group of family and friends that I am privileged to call my loved ones. My lucky stars also have me dividing my time between the most exciting city in the world and a little piece of heaven on the water. Above and beyond my lucky stars I thank the following people: Mom, Eve, and Sherri, whose unwavering support is always felt and appreciated; Dan Tucker, Judy Hirsch, and the late Henry Hirsch, whose sage advice guided me through every aspect of the book; Peter Workman, Suzie Bolotin, and Margot Herrera, who welcomed me back to Workman for the second time; Justin Nesbit, Amy Lewis, Anastasia Fuller, and Jay Fienberg, who designed abbyandme.com; Janet Vicario, Lidija Tomas, Michael Sloan, Susan Hunt Yule, Cassie Murdoch, Tom Boyce, Beth Doty, Amy Corley, Andrea Bussell, and the entire team at Workman; all of my students, who make going to work a pleasure; and above all you, the reader, for having enough faith in this book to open your wallet or being smart enough to know someone who would buy it for you.

CHAPTER 1
Bring the World to Your Fingertips
Research, find, and buy anything you can imagine, and communicate with loved ones... without leaving home

CHAPTER 2
Hardware: The Thigh Bones Connected to the...
A simple introduction to the parts of a computer and how they relate to one another

CHAPTER 3
Software: Feeding the Computer Brain
An explanation of software and how it is used

CHAPTER 4
Theres No Place Like Home vs. Taking Your Show on the Road
Desktop vs. laptop

CHAPTER 5
Creating a Computer Comfort Zone
Tips on finding a comfortable and safe work area

CHAPTER 6
Apples and Oranges
Macintosh vs. PC

CHAPTER 7
Would You Buy a Car Without Test-Driving It?
What to look for when you get behind a keyboard

CHAPTER 8
Choosing the Best Route
What software and Internet services fit you best

Let the Shopping Begin

CHAPTER 9
Make Your Purchase
Old vs. new, extended warranties, store vs. mail order, and what questions to ask

CHAPTER 10
Counting Fingers and Toes
Taking your new computer out of the box and connecting all the parts

CHAPTER 11
Shaking Hands
Meet your computer and mouse

CHAPTER 12
Getting to Know You
Experimenting with what you can do on the computer

CHAPTER 13
Spanning the Globe
Surfing the nettraveling around the World Wide Web

CHAPTER 14
Shall We Dance?

Lets send e-mail

CHAPTER 15
Mind Your Ps & Qs
An introduction to word processing

CHAPTER 16
Practical Precautions
Secure your identity and your computer

CHAPTER 17
Advanced E-mail
Lets go to the next levelweb links, attachments, and more

CHAPTER 18
Picture This
Digital and scanned photos from A to Z

CHAPTER 19
Join the Conversation
Instant messages, blogs, chat rooms, and online dating

CHAPTER 20
Put It All in Order
Create a filing system, organize, and maintain all that lives on your computer

CHAPTER 21
Detective Work with Your Computer
Get the most out of your searches

CHAPTER 22
Shop Till You Drop
Shopping, auctions, airline reservations, prescriptions, and online banking

CHAPTER 23
The Wide, Wide World of Entertainment
Finding fun on the Web

CHAPTER 24
Extra, Extra, Read All About It
The scoop on cell phones, PDAs, BlackBerries, iPods, and iPhones

CHAPTER 25
Troubleshooting
I think it has a feverwhat to do if something doesnt seem right

Test-Drive Form

When I was in second grade, I proudly went to the library to sign out my first book with chapters. After finishing the book, I confessed to my older sister, Eve, that I found it a bit confusing. She pointed out what was supposed to be obvious, but obviously wasnt to methe chapters were meant to be read in sequence. Who knew?

Read this book in sequence at your own pace and it will take you from the basicswhat you need to know to make a sound computer purchase, set it up in your home, and connect to the Internetand then on to how to master e-mail attachments, online shopping, scanners, cell phones, and much more. This book is intended to demystify the computer, not to explain the gory inner workings of the machine. Every day we use devices such as a car, the telephone, and the TV, but have no idea how they really work. Nonetheless, we do work them. The computer is no different.

Be forewarned that once you arrive at , it is all hands-on instruction and will definitely be overwhelming if you try to visualize what is being discussed rather than actually seeing it in front of you. If you havent bought a computer by then, make sure that youre sitting in front of someone elses before you continue. If youre looking at a computer screen and you find that whats described in the book differs a bit from what you see, dont panic. Websites and computer software change over time, so well figure it all out together.

Take a deep breath and begin your journey. Youre going to be pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is than you anticipated. Before you know it, youll be skillfully surfing the net, e-mailing all your friends, and conquering your fear of technology!

P.S. For the mighty faithful who have read Its Never Too Late to Love a Computer and are back again, you may see familiar material in the first chapters of this book, but read very carefully as there is new information throughout those early chapters and plenty to keep you on your toes as you read on.