Using Your PC, Windows, and

the Web

Albert Kalim

Starting Your Computer: The Boot Process

User turns on the power to the PC and monitor.

PC’s operating system is then loaded into memory.

The appropriate user interface will then be displayed and the computer is ready to use.

Using the Windows Operating System

Most programs use a graphical user interface (GUI).

The most common operating systems for PCs today is Microsoft Windows.

Other GUI operating systems are Mac OS and Linux.

The Windows Interface

Common Windows elements include:

Desktop—the user’s basic workspace.

Taskbar—includes the Start button, toolbars, and task buttons.

Windows—rectangular areas inside which programs, documents, and other content is displayed.

Menus—used to issue commands.

The Windows Interface, Cont’d.

Individual windows can also contain:

Icons

Menus

Toolbars

Hyperlinks

Dialog boxes

A Closer Look at Menus

Current command

Check marks

Dimmed items

Arrows

Ellipses

Keyboard shortcuts

A Closer Look at Dialog Boxes

Option buttons

Check boxes

Text boxes

Sliders

List boxes

Command buttons

Opening Windows and Starting Programs

Click a taskbar toolbar button.

Click a desktop icon if it looks like a hyperlink.

Double-click a desktop icon if it doesn’t look like a hyperlink.

Click the Start button and then select the desired program from the Start menu.

In any window that displays documents stored on the PC, double-click a document to open it.

Manipulating Windows

Active window—the window in which commands will currently be executed.

Minimizing, maximizing, and closing windows—use sizing buttons at top right corner of window.

Resizing and moving windows—drag window border or title bar.

Scroll bars—used to see more information not currently shown in the window.

Shutting Down the Computer Standby mode reduces power consumption and

wear-and-tear on the PC.

To turn off the PC, it should always be shut down through the Start menu.

Save and close all open documents and programs.

Select the Shut Down option at the bottom of the Start menu.

Choose the appropriate option.

Using the Internet and World Wide Web

The Internet is a worldwide collection of networks connecting millions of computers all over the world.

The World Wide Web is the collection of Web pages accessed through the Internet.

Computers that host Web pages are called Web servers.

A collection of related Web pages is called a Web site.

What Is a Browser?

A Web browser is a program used to view Web pages.

Common browsers: Microsoft Internet

Explorer Netscape Navigator MSN Explorer Opera

Wireless phones and other small devices use microbrowsers.

Accessing the Internet Your PC or other device being used must be connected to a

computer (usually owned by your ISP) that is continually connected to the Internet.

You can be connected via a direct or always-on connection, or a dial-up connection.

Internet service providers (ISPs) function as an onramp to the Internet and typically charge a monthly fee

Can also access the Internet at libraries, schools, and other public

locations.

Internet Addresses An Internet address identifies a resource available

through the Internet, such as a person, computer, or Web page.

IP addresses (e.g. 207.46.134.222) and domain names (e.g. microsoft.com) identify computers available through the Internet.

URLs (e.g. www.course.com) identify a Web page on the Internet.

E-mail addresses (e.g. jsmith@course.com) identify a person on the Internet.

Surfing the Web

First connect to the Internet, if needed, and open your browser.

Click hyperlinks or type URLs in the address bar or location bar to view Web pages.

Things that you may encounter on a Web page:

text and images e-mail hyperlinks form fields

frames animation multimedia

Using Bookmarks and the History List

Visited Web pages are recorded in the browser’s history list.

To save Web page URLs on a more permanent basis, use bookmarks or favorites.

Searching the Web

A search site typically uses a search engine in conjunction with a huge database of information about Web pages to retrieve information.

Keyword search: keywords are typed into a search box and then hyperlinks for matching Web pages are displayed.

Category search: a series of increasingly specific categories are selected until links for matching Web pages are displayed.

E-Mail and Other Types of Online Communications Electronic mail (e-mail) refers to electronic

messages exchanged between computers over a network and can be sent to anyone with an Internet e-mail address.

E-mail programs, such as Netscape Mail and Microsoft Outlook, are used to send and receive e-mail.

Web-based e-mail, such as Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail, can be accessed with just a Web browser.

Sending and Receiving E-Mail

E-mail can be sent and received over private networks, over the Internet, or over some combination of the two.

E-mail hyperlinks on Web pages can be used to start an e-mail message using your e-mail program.

To send an e-mail, supply the recipient’s e-mail address, type a subject line and the message, and click the appropriate Send button.

Many e-mail programs also enable users to attach files and maintain an address book.

Managing E-Mail

Sent and received messages are stored in separate folders, and deleted e-mail messages are moved to some type of Trash or Deleted Items folder.

Create additional folders to organize the e-mail you would like to keep.

Delete unneeded e-mail messages periodically and then empty the Trash folder to free up space on your hard drive.

Discussion Groups, Chat, Instant Messaging, and More

Discussion groups—participants read and post messages.

Chat room—participants chat in real time.

Instant messaging—private form of chat between friends and business associates.

Videoconferencing—face-to-face meetings via the Internet.

Internet telephony—phone calls via the Internet.

Netiquette

Guidelines for online behavior

Societal Implications of Cyberspace

Security

Privacy

Differences in online communications

The anonymity factor

Information integrity

Summary Slide

Starting your computer: the boot process Using the Windows operating system

Using the Internet and World Wide Web

E-mail and other types of online communications

Social implications of cyberspace

Using Notepad

Albert Kalim

Accessories

Windows programs that assist with everyday computer tasks; for example,

Notepad Calculator Phone Dialer WordPad

Paint

Windows utilities (called System Tools) that help manage your computer resources.

Windows programs for telecommunications, fax, and multimedia.

Games.

Personal Information Managers (PIMs)

Desktop accessories that help you manage and coordinate your work. Examples of PIMs are: Notepad Calculator Phone Dialer

Notepad Notepad is a simplistic word processing application that you can

use to type simple notes, quick reminders, records of phone calls, and daily “to do” list to yourself. It is one of several personal information managers (PIMs) that are installed along with Windows 2000.

Use Notepad’s Word Wrap option to automatically wrap text to the next line.

You can use the keyboard to quickly move to certain locations in the Notepad document.

You can control the way a Notepad document prints by changing the default settings in the Page Setup dialog box.

Notepad (continued) The Save as command to save a Notepad document for the first

time or to save it with a new name or to a different location. The Save command to periodically save the document.

When you open Notepad, the insertion point indicates the place where text will be entered when keyed.

Notepad will permit you to record nearly 50,000 characters in a document.

When you enter text in Notepad, each character you key appears to the left of the cursor.

Applets

A diminutive of the word applications; used to describe Windows utility programs such as the Clipboard Viewer.

Cursor

On screen, the blinking box, blinking vertical line, hand with a pointing finger, or arrowhead that indicates your current position.

I-beam Pointer

Shape the mouse pointer assumes (that is, the letter I) when the mouse moves into a text-editing area.

Insertion Point

The location where the next keystrokes will be inserted, clearly marked by the cursor.

Text Files

Files (also known as data files) containing only letters, digits, and symbols from the ASCII character set. Can be used to create Web pages or programs.

Word Wrap

Automatic text advance from the end of one line to the next while keying, precluding the need to press Enter (except at the end of a paragraph).