Computer Basics Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Windows 8 Edition, Sixth Edition

Computer Basics Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Windows 8 Edition, Sixth Edition

by Michael Miller
Released September 2012
Publisher(s): Que
ISBN: 9780133107395

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Book description

This year, millions of casual computer users will buy new Windows 8 mobile devices, notebooks, and desktop PCs. They'll want to know how to find their way around, get comfortable, and get the job done - without jargon, complexity, or hassle. There's a book for them: Michael Miller's Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, Windows 8 Edition. It's the one book that covers everything today's beginners and near-beginners need to know: not just about Windows, but also about software, hardware, and the Internet. Through 100+ books, author Michael Miller has established an unparalleled track record in explaining complicated concepts simply and clearly, and empowering beginners. Now, he's thoroughly updated his best-selling Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics to cover today's user experience - with Windows 8, Internet Explorer 8, and today's hottest online tools, from craigslist and Facebook to Twitter, Wikipedia, and Google Docs. The latest edition of Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics is updated with coverage of Windows 8, which introduces the totally new Metro user interface. Given Metro's genesis as a mobile interface, and Microsoft's push towards a new breed of touchscreen computing devices, this new edition will include more hardware coverage than previous editions. In addition, this book will cover Windows 8's new Metro interface in depth, as well as feature increased coverage of social networking and cloud computing applications.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Contents at a Glance
  4. Table of Contents
  5. About the Author
  6. Dedication
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. We Want to Hear from You!
  9. Reader Services
  10. Introduction
    1. How This Book Is Organized
    2. Which Version of Windows?
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
    4. Let Me Know What You Think
  11. Part I. Getting Started
    1. 1. How Personal Computers Work
      1. What Your Computer Can Do
      2. Inside a Personal Computer
      3. Other Parts of Your Computer System
      4. Different Types of Computers
      5. Don’t Worry, You Can’t Screw It Up—Much
    2. 2. Setting Up and Using a Desktop Computer
      1. Understanding the Components of a Desktop Computer System
      2. Before You Get Started
      3. Connecting a Traditional Desktop PC
      4. Connecting an All-in-One Desktop
      5. Turning It On and Setting It Up
    3. 3. Setting Up and Using a Notebook or Tablet Computer
      1. Understanding Notebook and Hybrid PCs
      2. Understanding Tablet PCs
      3. Connecting Peripherals and Powering On
  12. Part II. Using Windows
    1. 4. Getting to Know Windows 8
      1. Introducing Microsoft Windows
      2. Starting and Logging into Windows 8
      3. Working Your Way Around the Start Screen
      4. Displaying the Traditional Desktop
      5. Learning Important Mouse Operations
      6. Learning Important Touchscreen Operations
      7. Getting Help in Windows
      8. Shutting Down Windows—And Your Computer
    2. 5. Personalizing Windows 8
      1. Personalizing the Start Screen
      2. Personalizing the Lock Screen
      3. Changing Your Account Picture
      4. Configuring Other Windows Settings
      5. Using the Traditional Control Panel
      6. Setting Up Additional Accounts
    3. 6. Working with Files, Folders, and Disks
      1. Understanding Files and Folders
      2. Using File Explorer
      3. Navigating the Folders on Your PC
      4. Viewing Files and Folders
      5. Performing Basic File and Folder Operations
      6. Working with the Recycle Bin
      7. Working with Compressed Folders
      8. Copying Files to Another Computer
  13. Part III. Setting Up the Rest of Your Computer System
    1. 7. Connecting Other Devices to Your PC—and Your PC to Other Devices
      1. Most Popular Peripherals
      2. Adding New Hardware to Your System
      3. Connecting Portable Devices to Your PC
      4. Connecting Your PC to Your Living Room TV
    2. 8. Working with Printers and Scanners
      1. Selecting the Right Printer for Your Needs
      2. Adding a Printer to Your System
      3. Printing to Your System’s Printer
      4. Making Digital Copies with a Scanner
    3. 9. Adding Storage and Backup
      1. Understanding External Storage
      2. Connecting an External Hard Drive
      3. Backing Up Your Important Files
    4. 10. Setting Up a Home Network
      1. How Networks Work
      2. Setting Up a Wireless Network in Your Home
      3. Connecting Your Computer to Your New Network
      4. Adding Your Computer to a HomeGroup
      5. Accessing Computers on Your Network
      6. Managing Your Network
  14. Part IV. Using the Internet
    1. 11. Connecting to the Internet—at Home and on the Road
      1. Different Types of Connections in the Home
      2. Sharing an Internet Connection
      3. Connecting to a Public Wi-Fi Hotspot
      4. Activating Airplane Mode
    2. 12. Using Internet Explorer to Surf the Web
      1. Understanding the Web
      2. Using Internet Explorer
      3. Basic Web Surfing
      4. Revisiting Your Favorite Web Pages
      5. Using Tabbed Browsing
      6. InPrivate Browsing
      7. Searching from the Browser
      8. Using the Desktop Version of Internet Explorer
    3. 13. Searching and Researching Online
      1. How to Search the Web
      2. Where to Search
      3. Searching for People and Businesses
      4. Using Wikipedia for Research
    4. 14. Shopping and Selling Online
      1. How to Shop Online
      2. How to Shop Safely
      3. Buying and Selling on eBay
      4. Buying and Selling on Craigslist
    5. 15. Managing Your Finances Online
      1. Using Windows 8’s Finance App
      2. Doing Your Banking Online
      3. Paying Your Bills Online
  15. Part V. Communicating Online
    1. 16. Sending and Receiving Email
      1. How Email Works
      2. POP Email Versus Web Mail
      3. Using Gmail
      4. Sending Files via Gmail
      5. Managing Your Email with Windows 8’s Mail App
    2. 17. Social Networking with Facebook
      1. How Social Networking Works
      2. Getting to Know Facebook
      3. Keeping Tabs on Friends
      4. Keeping in Touch with Status Updates
      5. Sharing Photos
      6. Understanding Facebook Privacy
    3. 18. More Social Networking with Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Twitter
      1. Using Google+
      2. Using Pinterest
      3. Using LinkedIn
      4. Using Twitter
      5. Using Social Networks—Smartly and Safely
    4. 19. Managing Your Social Activity in Windows
      1. Understanding the People App
      2. Adding Accounts to the People App
      3. Using the People App
  16. Part VI. Working with Apps
    1. 20. Understanding and Using Windows Apps
      1. Using Apps in Windows 8
      2. Working with Windows 8 Apps
      3. Working with Traditional Software Apps
    2. 21. Exploring Windows 8’s Built-In Apps
      1. Discovering Windows 8’s Apps and Utilities
      2. Working with Popular Apps
    3. 22. Finding and Installing New Apps
      1. Finding and Installing Apps from the Windows Store
      2. Finding and Installing Apps from Your Local Retailer
      3. Finding and Installing Apps Online
      4. Understanding Cloud Computing Apps
  17. Part VII. Doing Fun and Useful Things with Your PC
    1. 23. Doing Office Work
      1. Working with Microsoft Office
      2. Word Processing with Microsoft Word
      3. Number Crunching with Microsoft Excel
      4. Giving Presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint
      5. Exploring Other Office Suites
    2. 24. Staying Organized
      1. Using Windows 8’s Calendar App
      2. Using Web-Based Calendars
      3. Using Web-Based To-Do Lists
    3. 25. Viewing and Sharing Digital Photos
      1. Transferring Pictures from Your Digital Camera
      2. Viewing Your Photos in Windows
      3. Editing Your Digital Photos
      4. Printing Your Photos
      5. Sharing Photos at an Online Photo Site
      6. Emailing Digital Photos
    4. 26. Playing Music in Windows
      1. Using the Music App
      2. Playing Music from Your Library
      3. Purchasing Music Online
      4. Playing, Ripping, and Burning Music CDs
    5. 27. Playing Music with iTunes
      1. Navigating iTunes
      2. Playing Music from Your Library
      3. Downloading Music from the iTunes Store
      4. Using iTunes to Play, Rip, and Burn CDs
      5. Syncing Music from Your PC to Your iPod or iPhone
    6. 28. Playing Music Online
      1. Listening to Streaming Music Online
      2. Listening to Internet Radio
    7. 29. Watching Videos in Windows
      1. Using the Windows 8 Video App
      2. Making Your Own Home Movies
      3. Playing DVD Movies on Your PC
    8. 30. Watching TV and Movies Online
      1. Looking for Videos on the Web
      2. Viewing Videos on YouTube
      3. Uploading Your Own Videos to YouTube
  18. Part VIII. Keeping Your System Up and Running
    1. 31. Protecting Against Computer Attacks, Malware, and Spam
      1. Safeguarding Your System from Computer Viruses
      2. Hunting Down Spyware
      3. Defending Against Computer Attacks
      4. Fighting Email Spam
      5. Resisting Phishing Scams
      6. Shielding Your Children from Inappropriate Content
    2. 32. Performing Routine Maintenance and Dealing with Common Problems
      1. Maintaining Your Computer
      2. Keeping Your Hardware in Tip-Top Condition
      3. Maintaining a Notebook PC
      4. How to Troubleshoot Computer Problems
      5. Troubleshooting in Safe Mode
      6. What to Do When Windows Freezes or Crashes
      7. Restoring, Resetting, or Refreshing Your System
  19. Index

Product information

  • Title: Computer Basics Absolute Beginner’s Guide, Windows 8 Edition, Sixth Edition
  • Author(s): Michael Miller
  • Release date: September 2012
  • Publisher(s): Que
  • ISBN: 9780133107395