Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours - Softcover

Jill Freeze, Wayne S. Freeze

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0672313340 ISBN 13: 9780672313349

Publisher: Sams, 1998

Synopsis

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, you will be up and running with the computer basics you need. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson builds upon the previous one, allowing you to learn the essentials of the Internet, Home Essentials, Works, and Windows from the ground up. Tips point out shortcuts and solutions . Notes clarify concepts and procedures in a straightforward manner. Cautions help you avoid common pitfalls.

• Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours is the affordable introductory solution to help the new user get up and running quickly on their computer
• Designed to be an "all-in-one" book, with coverage of general PC's, Windows 95/98, the Internet, Home Essential 98, which includes Works 4.5, Word 97, Money 98, and Internet Explorer 4.0
• Eliminates the need for first-time computer buyers to have purchase separate books on the key must know areas of computing

About this title

Review

If you want to learn how to use a Windows-based personal computer (as opposed to a Macintosh), you'll be confronted with a learning curve. Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours teaches you Windows 98 conventions so you're able to use and enjoy your computer.

Unlike many other books for new users, this book is text-heavy, foregoing comic-book-like sequences in favor of numbered steps. The author begins by identifying the parts of a personal computer and helping you find the floppy disk drive, the mouse, and the other major components. She then steps back a bit, explaining how to assemble a typical PC right out of its box and start it up. Then, she details the critical conventions of Windows, explaining what a file is, how to use nested folders, and how to adjust screen resolution. She walks the reader through the Internet Setup Wizard (which the reader will use to get online) and touches on using Windows 98's Internet applications. She also explains a little bit about Microsoft Word, Microsoft FrontPage Express, Microsoft Works, and Microsoft Money 98.

Sometimes the author assumes that the settings on a reader's machine are a certain way, when there is more than one possibility for the settings--this could confuse a nervous new user. Aside from this flaw, Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours is a competent introductory computer guide. --David Wall

From the Author

Thanks to dozens of wonderful e-mails from readers, this book has really evolved over time. In the first edition, much time and space was given to teaching the fundamentals of understanding hardware. With each edition of the book, that coverage lessened, as readers let it be known that they just wanted to make the blasted machine do something useful or fun! Of course we still cover critical hardware issues, but instead of a long rambling section on what RAM is and how it works, we cut to the chase and tell you how much you'll need to make your software run smoothly. That gives us more time and space to cover fun stuff like using scanners, movie making, downloading goodies from the Internet, and so on. Also with time, content has shifted to include such popular topics as digital photography and instant messaging.

Readers are always invited to e-mail their questions, comments, and/or suggestions to me at JFreeze@JustPC.com. I answer every single note myself (though it may take me a while sometimes when I'm in the middle of writing a book).

Check out the sample chapter online here at Amazon to see how we tried to make mundane topics fun and easy to learn about. And if you have any questions about the book, please feel free to e-mail me.

Happy computing! Jill

Edition details

• Publisher: Sams
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0672313340
• ISBN 13: 9780672313349
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 440