Thank you.
Welcome to Reader's Digest, Beginner's Request.
This video guide to home computers.
In the next two hours,
we're going to give you one-on-one instruction
on every aspect of using
and enjoying your computer.
We'll show you how easy
it can be to set up your computer.
And you'll learn how to use it to write letters,
organize your schedule,
send email, and explore
the world of the Internet.
We'll start with the very basics,
and you'll move forward step-by-step
with practical lessons that you can take at your own pace.
So join us in discovering
what your computer can do
and how it can change your life.
Music
Computers have changed our world
and the way we live.
But for many people, the computer
is still an intimidating mystery.
This video is intended
to take the mystery out of your computer.
We're going to give you a
one-on-one class in computer use
starting from the very beginning.
We'll show you everything you need to know
from setting up the computer
to using the Internet
to make vacation plans.
Each lesson will build
on the one before. You can learn at your own pace
and move on whenever you're ready.
Throughout the show, we'll hear
common questions about computers
from people just like you.
We'll answer those questions,
and you'll get more information from the viewer's guide
that accompanies this video.
Whether you've used a computer a little
or whether you've never even touched one,
we'll make sure that you'll understand the basics
in simple, straightforward language.
In our first hour,
we'll introduce you to the computer and its abilities
and then get you using email.
In this section,
we will cover setting up your computer,
the desktop,
navigating the desktop,
using the mouse,
using the keyboard,
typing,
printing,
and shutting down.
After that,
we'll move on to the basics of email.
So, if you're ready,
let's get started.
I just got a computer,
and I don't know how to set it up.
Can you help me?
Well, setting up a computer for the first time
can be a little daunting.
Let's take a look at what the components
of the computer are,
and how they should be hooked up.
If you haven't set up your computer yet,
I'll show you how to do it right the first time.
Your computer
actually consists of several items.
The first and most important
is the system unit,
sometimes called the central processing unit,
or CPU.
Now, that's simply a high-tech way
of saying the heart
of your computer.
This box has all the guts and electronics
to run your software,
store your documents and projects,
and make the computer do everything
it's supposed to do.
Your system unit will probably have a slot
for a floppy disk,
a CD-ROM or a DVD,
which are all different ways
to put software and files
into your computer.
The monitor is connected to the CPU
and lets you know what the computer
is doing.
The keyboard allows you
to tell the computer what to do,
and the mouse can be seen as
an extension of your keyboard,
an easier way to interact
with your computer.
Finally, you'll probably have a printer
which can print the documents you've written,
photos you've taken,
or artwork you've created.
You may have other equipment as well,
but for now we're going to concentrate on
just these basics.
Systems unit, monitor,
keyboard and mouse,
and printer.
The back of your
CPU will have a number of slots
and plugs that are called ports.
Most computers have a
label on each port with a picture
or icon, and by
simply following these pictures, you can plug
in almost everything you need.
It's also good to know that each cable
will only fit in the port it belongs in, so
don't force a cable if it doesn't seem to fit.
Your monitor is connected
by a cable to the CPU.
Often there are screws to make sure that the plug
doesn't fall out.
Your monitor will also have a separate
power cord that must be plugged in.
The keyboard cable is plugged into the
port with a picture of a keyboard.
The mouse gets
plugged into the port with a picture of a
mouse.
Plug your printer's cable
into the printer port.
Your computer is now connected,
except for the power.
A surge protector,
or power strip, will allow
you to plug all your computer components
into one place.
This is going to make sure that your computer investment
isn't ruined by a sudden power surge
or lightning strike.
Now you're all set to begin. All you have to do
is turn it on.
Once your computer
is started, the first thing you will see
is the desktop.
This is the metaphor used by Microsoft
Windows to help you navigate
around your computer.
The Windows desktop has been designed
to make the screen resemble
the top of your desk, with
file folders, documents,
calculators, and other items
laid out across it, just
like a normal desktop.
The desktop metaphor is meant
to make computer use simple and
intuitive. If you're
not sure what you should be doing with something
on screen, just imagine
what you would do if you were working
on a real desktop.
Chances are, whatever you
do on a normal desktop
will work equally well with a desktop
inside your computer.
The important thing to remember is this.
Don't be afraid to experiment.
Every computer can
instantly undo almost any
mistake.
Let's look more closely
at the items you will find on your desktop.
There are a number of small pictures
with labels on your screen.
They look like a computer
or a trash can, or a
folder. These are called
icons. Icons
are an easy way to identify
the programs, files, and
documents that are in the computer.
At the bottom of your
screen, or desktop, is
a strip called the taskbar.
On the far left is
a button marked start.
There might be other icons or words
on the taskbar as well.
The taskbar is a simple way
to see what programs are currently
running on your computer.
Somewhere in the middle of your
screen is an angled arrow.
This is called the pointer,
and it's controlled by the mouse.
You will use the mouse
pointer to select programs
and move around the desktop.
Now, let's begin to navigate
around the desktop.
If it were a normal desktop, you'd move things
with your hands. But on the computer,
your hand is replaced
by the mouse.
If you've never used a mouse before,
it can look more complicated than it
really is. The mouse is
held like this, and
it's usually best to use a mouse pad.
Now, when I move the mouse, the arrow on
the screen moves with it.
When I lift the mouse into the air,
the arrow doesn't move.
Now, when I put the
mouse down on a slightly different
part of the mouse pad,
the arrow begins to move again.
If I run
out of room on the mouse pad,
I simply reposition the mouse
and continue moving it.
I can reposition the
mouse as much as I like,
in whatever way makes it easiest for me
to move around the desktop.
The mouse has buttons at the top
which can be used for several different tasks,
but for our purposes,
we will only use the button on the furthest
left part of the mouse,
the button most likely to be used by your
index finger.
Your mouse does
more than just move a pointer around
the screen. Like your hand
on the normal desktop,
you can use your mouse to open
file folders,
push buttons,
and turn pages.
I'm going to show you a little
about what the mouse can do,
and how you can use it.
The most important tasks the mouse performs
are pointing,
clicking,
double clicking,
and dragging.
Let's start out by simply
using your mouse to point to an object.
I'm going to move the mouse
so that the pointer is over the icon marked
recycling bin.
Now, I'm going to point the arrow
at the start button.
Soon the speed
and the feel of the mouse and your ability
to move the pointer will become
second nature.
Now, let's look at the second part of this maneuver,
clicking.
I'm going to move the mouse so that the arrow is over the icon
marked recycling bin.
Now, I push down
and let go of the mouse button using my
index finger.
The icon
has changed color.
I've selected this icon simply
by clicking on it.
Now, when I move the mouse pointer away from the icon,
this remains highlighted
or selected.
Now, I'll click again on another part
of the desktop that is pushed down
and let up on the mouse button.
The icon has now returned to its normal shape.
Let's see what happens
when we click on an object that
is not a desktop icon.
I'll move the mouse pointer to the
task bar at the bottom of the screen
so that the arrow is over the button
marked start. Now, I'll click.
Look what's happened.
A list of choices have popped up from the start button.
This list
is called a menu, and
just like a restaurant menu, it gives
you a series of choices to select.
When I
move the mouse pointer and click again,
the menu disappears.
A
further step in mouse skills is double clicking.
I'm going to move the mouse
pointer over the icon marked
recycling bin.
Now, I click twice in a row.
That's all that double clicking
really is. There is
now a box on the screen with new icons.
This box is what
we call a window.
When you double click on an icon,
a window opens up on your desktop
to show you exactly what's in that icon.
Now, I double
clicked on the recycling bin icon.
A window opened
on the screen and showed me what was in my recycling bin.
You will use
the recycling bin to throw out
or delete files or documents you may
want to get rid of. Right now,
my recycling bin is empty.
To close the recycling bin window,
I'll move the mouse pointer to the bar
at the top of this window.
At the far right of that same bar, you'll
see three small square boxes. Now,
we'll work with those later, but for right
now, move your pointer over the one on the
farthest right, the box with the X
in it. Click
it once.
The window closes.
This is a simple way to
close any window that is open on your
screen. And now, you should be back at your
desktop.
Let's try another important skill with the mouse,
dragging.
I'll use the mouse to move the
pointer to the icon marked
recycling bin. Now,
when the arrow is directly over
the recycling bin, I'll push down
the mouse button and hold it down.
You'll see that
the icon has changed color.
Now, keeping the button pressed,
I'm going to move the mouse to the right.
Look.
The recycling bin is
moving with the cursor arrow.
By holding down the button on the mouse,
I have grabbed hold of the icon
and I'm dragging it across
the desktop.
Now, when I let up on the button
and move the mouse away,
the recycling bin stays at the
place where I let go of the mouse button.
I can use
dragging to move a document into
a different folder or to get
rid of the document by throwing it away
in the recycling bin.
The mouse and pointer are an extension
of your hand.
By using clicking, double-clicking,
and dragging, you can do almost
anything on the computer desktop
that you would do in a real wooden desktop.
Is there any way to practice mouse
skills that's actually fun?
Yes.
There is a way to have fun and gain
proficiency with the mouse.
Microsoft Windows includes a software
version of the old game of Solitaire.
And it can be very addicting.
To begin Solitaire,
I'll move the mouse pointer to the start button
at the bottom of the screen
and click.
The start menu appears.
I'll move the pointer to the line that says
programs and click.
A new menu or submenu
appears that shows me
what programs are available.
Now, I'm going to go to the top of this list
to the line marked
accessories
and I'll click on that.
Another submenu
appears. I'll move down that
submenu to the item
called games.
This new menu shows
you several games that are built into your
computer. I'm going
to move my pointer to the one marked
Solitaire and click.
Now I've got a green felt playing surface
and a deck of cards in front of me
and the makings of a game of Solitaire.
You can click on
the deck to deal more cards,
drag cards
to a different pile,
and get used to the feel of the mouse
as another hand.
Playing Solitaire
is not only fun,
it gets you familiar and comfortable with the mouse
and its functions.
To close the Solitaire game,
move to the title bar
at the top of the screen.
On the left is the
name of the program, on the far right
is the close button
marked with an X.
Click on the close button.
We're back at our desktop and you've had
a chance to practice your skills with the mouse.
Now,
let's take a look at your keyboard.
It'll have somewhere around a hundred keys.
One part
is identical to a typewriter keyboard.
Some keyboards have a
numeric keypad next to the typewriter keys,
which you can use to enter numbers
and figures just like a calculator.
Now finally,
at the top of the keyboard you'll find an extra
row of keys marked F1
through F12.
These are function keys,
or shortcut keys.
If you're a programmer or a power user,
you may never use these function keys.
For now,
all you really have to know is that your skills
on that old-fashioned typewriter
are all you really need to make your computer
do what you want it to do.
Now, I'm going to use basic
keyboard skills with the word
processing program.
I'm going to move the mouse pointer
to the start button at the bottom left of the screen.
I'll click once.
The menu appears.
Now, I'm going to move the pointer
up the menu.
As I move the pointer past the list,
each item gets highlighted.
Now, I'm going to move the mouse pointer to the menu
called Programs,
and click.
A menu opens up.
This menu lists all the
programs on your computer.
Word processing, spreadsheets,
databases, art,
and photo programs, and many others.
But we're looking for a
word processing program.
Microsoft Works is one of
the most common, and may be on your computer
already. You might also find
Microsoft Word, or
you can use the word processor in the accessories
menu called WordPad.
But for right now, we're going to use Works.
Now, I'll move
the mouse pointer down the submenu
until Works is highlighted.
Now, I'll click.
Another menu
opens up. You see, Works has a database,
a spreadsheet program, and
a word processor, which are the three
most common programs, all
combined into one.
I'm going to click on the word processor.
Within a few moments, I'm looking at
a screen like this.
This is the Works word processor.
At the top, there's a title bar,
the bar that tells me the name of the program.
Now, on the right of that bar
are three boxes. We've already
seen that the box with the X will close the
program. Now, if I click on the
box in the middle, the
window will now fill the entire screen.
If I click on it again,
it'll be restored back to its original
size.
This is called the maximize button.
The button on the left of that
is the minimize button.
When I click on the minimize button,
the program window disappears.
Or so it seems.
But at the bottom of the screen,
on the taskbar, there's a new
button.
I can now see the rest of the desktop,
and I can start other programs.
But, when I want to return
to the Works program, I'll click on
the button on the taskbar, and the
program will return to the screen.
These three buttons, minimize,
maximize, and
close, are on the top right of
every program, and will always work the
same way, no matter what software
you're using.
Below the blue
title bar, there's a
menu bar. Now, when I
click on an item like file or
edit, a menu
appears. It's got various choices
for running and formatting our document.
Below that is a toolbar.
These are icons for shortcuts and tools.
Now, below these
bars, there should be a large white
space. This white space
is where you will write your document.
Now, the mouse pointer itself
has also changed in the word processor.
When you move it over the white space,
it changes to an eye shape.
You can use the pointer in your document
to insert words into the middle of a
sentence, or insert letters into
a misspelled word.
At the top left of the white space,
there's a black bar. This is
called the cursor. The cursor
shows you where the next letter is going to go.
Imagine that white space
as simply a piece of paper
rolled into your typewriter,
and the cursor is simply the point
where you are typing.
Whatever you type appears on the white space
exactly as you typed it.
Let's try a simple
to-do list.
To-do list.
Go shopping.
Go to post office.
Learn email.
Go.
Unlike a typewriter, you don't have to
hit a return key or crank a return bar.
The text will automatically move
to the next line when you run out of space.
But in almost every other respect,
your keyboard is the same as the typewriter
you probably used in high school.
To save the document, I move
the mouse pointer to the menu bar at the top
and click on the word file.
A menu appears.
I'll move the cursor
down to save
and click.
A new window now opens on the screen.
The title bar reads
save as. Now this is where you
name your document and decide where to file it.
In the highlighted
space, let's type
to-do list.
Now,
I'll move the pointer to the button marked
my documents.
This is the folder where I will store this list.
You will save most of your
documents in this folder.
So now that the document is named
and the file folder chosen to store
it in, I'll move the mouse pointer
to the button marked save.
I'll click on this save
button.
The document is now saved
in the computer and can be opened again,
changed, edited,
and altered whenever I want.
Don't forget to resave
your document every time you make major
changes so that you will always have a
current version of your document.
Now that you've tried out your keyboard skills,
let's print the to-do list.
On the top of the screen
below the title bar and the menu bar
is the toolbar.
This is a bar with a series of icons.
If I leave the pointer on the icon
for a moment, a small window
or balloon opens up
that describes the icon's function.
I'm going to move my pointer to the icon
that looks like a printer and click.
That's all it takes.
Within moments your to-do list
will arrive out of your printer.
Well, now you have what's called a hard copy
of your document.
This distinguishes it from the electronic copy
that's inside your computer.
Now that you've finished writing
and printing your document, let's close down
your word processing program.
There are a number of ways to do that,
but the simplest way is the way
we've already shown you.
I move the
pointer to the three boxes at the top
right of the screen and click
on the box marked X.
I'm now back at the desktop.
We'll learn more about word
processing later in this video,
but if you've been following along with this tape,
you should applaud yourself
for mastering your first task
on your computer. The rest is
going to be just as easy.
Now, we're going to shut down
the computer and review what we've learned.
When you shut your computer down,
you can't simply turn it off or unplug it.
The computer has to go through a series
of checks and procedures before
it safely turns itself off.
The shutdown process begins
by clicking on the Start button.
I'll move the pointer to
Shutdown
and click.
A new menu opens up
to double check that that's what you want to do.
Well, we are going to shut down now,
so if the circle next to Shutdown
is not already filled in,
move your pointer to the circle
and click.
Now move down to the button
marked OK and click.
Your computer
is now shutting down. The screen
is dark, the computer is silent,
and it's ready at a moment's notice
to pick up where you left off.
As you practice more,
you will get more comfortable with the computer
and the way it works. Don't be afraid
to experiment. It's nearly impossible
to break anything in the computer, so
go ahead and explore.
There's a lot more sitting here on your desktop
than you probably could have imagined.
In this portion of the video,
we have covered a lot.
Let's review some of the more important items.
The desktop
is meant to be as much like a real
desktop as possible,
and it will have access to computer folders
where you can store your documents
and projects.
The programs and documents are
represented by small pictures
called icons.
You can see the icons
on the desktop.
It's called icons.
At the bottom of your desktop
is a taskbar.
To navigate around the desktop,
you use a mouse.
By rolling the mouse,
you will be moving the arrow or mouse
pointer on the computer screen.
The keyboard is essentially
the same as any typewriter
keyboard.
You can begin a program by moving
the mouse pointer to the button marked
start on the taskbar.
When you click, a menu appears.
When you move the mouse pointer to a menu
choice and click again,
you have selected that
program.
Clicking selects a program,
double clicking activates a program.
Every program has a title bar at the top
with the program's name.
Any program can be stopped and put away
by clicking on the box with the X
on the upper right.
These basics will get you started
and get you comfortable with your new computer.
Now, let's learn about email.
A computer skill that can
connect you to the world
without leaving the comfort of your home.
You've probably heard of email,
but you may not know how quick,
simple and easy email can be.
With just a click of your mouse,
you can communicate with anyone around the world.
Email is
instantaneous and it costs less than
a phone call or even a stamp.
We're going to spend the next part of this video
showing you everything you need to know
to email your family and friends
and send everything from a short note
to a family photograph.
I want to send email to my grandkids.
Can I do that with my computer?
Sending electronic mail
or email
is as easy as typing a few sentences
and pushing a button.
Email makes use of a vast network of computers
around the world, a network
we call the internet.
In order to get on the internet,
you must have an internet service provider.
An internet service provider
or ISP
is similar to your cable TV company.
They provide the link between your computer
and the internet itself.
Like your cable company,
your ISP charges a monthly fee
for access to the internet and usually
provides you software and technical support.
You've probably already heard
of some of the bigger ISPs or
internet service providers.
America Online,
Microsoft Network,
and EarthLink are some of the biggest.
Who you choose as your ISP
is up to you.
Most of them are similarly priced
and provide similar services.
Chances are, you already have
ISP software that was loaded into your
computer when you bought it.
If not, you can get
free connection software from any computer store.
That software should walk you through
the basic steps of signing up for online service.
This computer
comes bundled with software for America Online,
Microsoft Network,
and CompuServe.
I'm going to demonstrate how I can sign up
with one of these services.
Though you may sign up for a different service,
the process will most likely be very similar.
Begin by adding another
important piece of equipment to your computer.
A phone line.
Plug the phone line from the wall
into the phone jack in the back of your computer.
Now this will look like a
regular phone jack and will probably
be marked with an icon.
The hardware to connect your
computer to your phone line is called a
modem, but today most computers
already have the modem built in.
Now once the phone line is plugged in,
I'm going to use the mouse and navigate
the pointer to the icon marked
Microsoft Network, or MSN.
Now, I'll double click on this icon.
After a moment,
I'll hear the phone's dial tone,
and the sound of the two computers connecting.
A new window has appeared on the screen,
and I'm now officially
on the internet. My computer
has linked up with another computer
over miles of phone line.
A new window will ask me
a number of questions and walk me through the entire
process of signing up for this service.
When you sign up
with an internet service provider, you'll be
asked to create a username.
Now, a username is simply
the name by which you'll be known in the computer.
A username must be over six
letters and must have no breaks.
This name will also be
your email address, so it's often best
to make your username as close to your
full name as possible. It'll be
easier that way for your friends to remember your
email address if it's
something like johndoe
at msn.com,
rather than some nickname.
You may need a couple of choices
for a username, since there may be
others on the ISP system with that
same name.
You will also be asked to create a password.
This password
allows you, and only you,
to send and receive emails at this
address. It prevents other people from
reading your mail and from using
your internet account. So choose
a password that's easy for you to remember,
but difficult for someone else to figure out.
Once you've chosen
a username and provided the other
information called for, the ISP
will set up a mailbox that you can access
from anywhere in the world.
And soon you'll be able to instantly
send and receive mail from your friends and family.
Once you have an account with an
internet service provider, you can
send and receive email whenever you want.
Now, we're going to use
an email program called Outlook
Express, but most email
programs will work in similar ways.
First, use
your mouse to move the pointer over the
email program icon.
Now, double click.
A new window
has opened, and your new email
program will start.
Within moments, the program will automatically
connect you to the internet
and to your internet provider.
Now look closely
at your email window.
You can imagine this as
your own personal mail room.
You will find folders
marked inbox,
outbox,
sent items,
and deleted items.
Just like your real desktop,
these are places that you can use
to store and organize your mail.
Let's begin
simply with writing a letter.
Reader's Digest has
set up a special mailbox for you
to let you practice sending email right
away. So, let's send
our first email to Reader's
Digest.
Move your pointer to the icon
marked New Mail
and click.
A new window is opened.
Like a word processor,
the white space is for the body of the letter,
but at the top are spaces for
the address and the subject.
Move your pointer to the window that says
To.
This is where you type the address
of your recipient.
For now, let's type
this address.
Learn computers
at Reader's Digest
dot com.
Remember, email addresses
do not have spaces or
apostrophes. You will eventually
learn the email addresses of your friends
and of companies and organizations
you want to write to. In fact,
you can create an email address book
that will remember these addresses for you.
Below the address
is a window marked CC.
If you want to send a copy of this letter
to someone else, put their email
address here. But for now, we'll leave
this space blank.
The third window says Subject.
This should be just a few words
describing your letter, so that
the recipient will know the subject of the letter
even before opening it.
Move your pointer to this window and
type Test.
Now you can begin writing your letter.
To get to the main body of the letter,
move your pointer to the large
blank space
and click.
Or, simply
hit the Tab key.
The Tab key will
bring you directly to the next window.
The Tab key can often be used
in any software that has a series of
windows, and it's a useful shortcut
to know. So,
whether you've moved to the large window using
the mouse or the Tab key,
begin now to type your letter.
Dear
Reader's
Digest,
this is a test
of my email
program.
Sincerely,
your name.
Now you can say
whatever you want in your email.
Reader's Digest will receive your
test letters and send you
a reply, so that you can be sure
your email is working.
Once your letter is complete,
all you have to do is send it.
Above the letter portion of the window
is an icon button marked
Send.
Move your pointer to this button
and click.
That's all there is to it.
Your email is now sailing through the phone wires
and is almost instantaneously
arriving at your recipient's mailbox.
Email is not
only for quick notes. In fact,
some have said that the rise of email
has brought back the art of letter
writing, which allows a person more
time and leisure to think and respond
than a typical phone conversation.
Ah, look.
We've just gotten a letter in our mailbox.
Let's read it.
Move your pointer to the letter
and click.
It's a response from Reader's
Digest.
Congratulations.
You have successfully sent your first
email. Happy computing.
Well, now that
we've gotten our first letter, let's review
how simple it is to send email.
Click on
New Mail.
Type
the recipient's email address in the
to box.
Move the pointer with
the mouse or the tab key
and type the subject of the letter in the
subject box.
Then move the pointer or the tab
key to the body of the letter
and begin to type.
When you finish your letter,
move the mouse pointer to the icon marked
Send and click.
Your letter is now sent.
Well, we're finished now,
so let's close down the email
program.
Click on the Close button on
the right of the title bar.
Depending on your
email program, another window
may open asking if you want to hang up
from the phone line and the internet. If so,
click OK.
Now you're back at
your desktop.
The internet is truly
miraculous. Email
can link you to relatives, loved
ones, old friends and new friends
with just the click of a mouse.
I've seen friends who've gotten
photographs over the internet. How hard
is that?
One of the most amazing and fun
things about email is that you can send
images instantaneously.
You can show people what the new baby looks like
or have a friend send you a photo
of their new home.
There are a number of ways to get a
photograph from your camera and into
your computer. Digital cameras
can do it simply with a wire
connected to the computer.
You can take a developed photo and put it in a
scanner which will digitize the image
and perhaps the easiest way
is to get your photos put on a diskette
or a CD when you
take your film to be developed.
Most photo shops will put your film on a
disk and give it back to you along with your
pictures. All you have to do is ask.
We're going to assume
that you've done this and that you have your photos
on a CD like this
or a diskette
like this.
Place either the CD or diskette
in the appropriate slot
in your computer.
Choose the picture you want to send.
Now, let's open your email program
and get online.
Double click on the email icon.
Your computer
will connect you to the internet.
After the program
is opened, click on
new mail
and the familiar email window opens.
In the send to space
write the email address you want to send
the photograph to.
I'm going to send it to Marcus.
Now, tab down and fill
in the subject box.
Tab down again
and write your letter.
Dear Marcus
here's a photo
of my new nephew.
Do you notice the family
resemblance?
Now, we will attach the photo.
Click on the button that says
attach.
A new window will open
which asks for the name of the picture file
you want to attach.
Now, we have to find the disc
with your photos.
Move the pointer down to the contents
of your computer.
If your photos are on a CD
click on the icon marked
D. If your
photos are on a diskette, click
on the icon marked A.
When you click on the icon
another window will open showing
you the contents of the diskette or CD.
Move down the list to the photo you want
to email.
When you have the photo you want to send in the
preview window, click on the button
that says attach.
You'll find that you're back at your email form
with the name of the photo file listed
in the attachment box.
If you want to attach
another photo, click on attach again
and go through the same procedure.
Now, you'll be back at your email form.
Just as with a regular email
click on send.
The photo is attached to the email
and when it arrives at the recipient's
mailbox, they'll be able to look at the photo
just like any email.
Thanks, Marcia.
He does look like you.
Email has quite literally
changed the way the world communicates.
People who were once confined to their
house now have friends around
the globe. Strangers who
share interests can discuss their
hobbies and exchange information.
And families separated by hundreds
and thousands of miles can talk
daily. All due to the surprising
power of your home computer.
You've learned a lot about the computer
in part one of this program.
Now is a good time for a quick and easy
review of computer terms.
Let's start with the desktop.
The desktop is what you see when you start
your computer. It's an easy way
to move around your computer and get access
to your projects.
Now just like a real desktop,
you'll find things like files,
folders,
and also a recycle bin
which resembles a trash can.
Keyboard.
The keyboard is exactly like a
typewriter keyboard with some great
additions like a number pad,
arrow keys,
and function keys
that help you move around your screen.
Icon.
Icons are pictures
that look like the task
they perform.
You store documents in an icon that looks
like a folder. You get
email through an icon that looks like
a letter.
Mouse.
The mouse lets you
move around your screen or desktop.
When you move the mouse,
the arrow on the screen or mouse
pointer moves with it.
The button on the top of the mouse lets you
click,
double click,
and drag items
on your screen.
Window.
A window is an open area
on the screen where you use a file
or program. When you click on
an icon, a window opens up
to show you what is in that icon.
When you click on a program,
a window opens up and lets you
use that program.
Printer. The printer can print
documents, signs,
banners, and even photographs.
To print a word
processing document, move your mouse
pointer to the toolbar at the top of the page
and click on the icon
that looks like a printer.
Games.
Your computer provides several
built-in games. A game like
Solitaire is not only fun,
but it gives you an enjoyable way to practice
your basic computer skills.
Start button.
The start button sits
on the lower left of your screen.
You click on
the start button to begin a program
on your computer.
Menu.
Menus let you choose programs,
tasks, or tools.
The start button presents
a menu of various
programs.
When you move up the menu and click
on programs, a submenu
appears.
You can move down this submenu
to choose a program.
Word processing.
Word processing is the act
of electronically manipulating
text. Or in plain language,
word processing
is writing.
Word processing is just like typing.
But with some extras
that make it even easier than using
a typewriter.
Title bar.
At the top of every program, you'll find
a title bar. This tells you
the name of the program on the left.
On the right of the bar are
three boxes or buttons.
Minimize,
maximize,
and close.
Which shrink,
expand,
and close down your program.
Menu bar.
Every program has a menu bar running along the top
just below the title bar.
By clicking on a word on the menu bar
like file
or edit,
you'll see a list of options
for you to choose from. Just like on
a restaurant menu.
Tool bar.
The toolbar is at the top of every window
right below the menu bar.
By clicking
on an icon on the toolbar, like
a printer or a disk,
you take a shortcut to the process of
printing or saving.
Save.
By clicking on
file, then
save,
you save your document
and protect any changes you've made.
You should save your documents
every time you finish making a change.
Shutdown.
When you are finished using your computer,
click on the start button,
then click on shutdown,
and this will begin the process of
safely turning off your computer.
ISP.
Your ISP,
or internet service provider,
connects you to the internet so that you
can use email. Some popular
ISPs are MSN,
CompuServe,
and AOL.
Email.
Email, or electronic
mail, lets you send letters
over the internet. You write
email on software like Outlook
Explorer or Netscape
Communicator. Once you have an
email address, you can send
and receive emails instantaneously
from family and friends
around the world.
Attachments.
You can send attachments with email,
such as photographs.
Once you have a photograph in digital form,
you can attach it to your note
by clicking on the attach button
at the top of your email window.
When you send your letter,
the picture will be sent with it.
Computer terms
are all part of learning
about the computer. We hope this
section has been of help to you.
Feel free to return to it whenever
you want.
In the next tape, we'll take you one step
further into the internet, to the fountain
of information called the World Wide Web.
Email, the internet,
and the web can bring the entire
world to your door, or to
your desktop.
You'll also learn how to use your computer to
organize your daily life, and discover
the amazing abilities of word processing.
So when you're ready,
join us in the next part of the
Reader's Digest Beginner's Video Guide
to home computers.