Laptops For Seniors For Dummies, 6th Edition

Introduction

Computers for consumers have come a long way in just 40 years or so. They’re now at the heart of the way many people communicate, shop, and learn. They provide useful tools for tracking information, organizing finances, and being creative.

Personal computers were originally big boxy desktop affairs that took up a lot of space and weren’t easily portable. You set it up in one location in your house and that was pretty much it — unless you had an extra 30 minutes to spare to move it. Nowadays, though, desktop PCs are on the wane, and most people are switching to laptops. A laptop is easy to transport, so you can keep it with you as you move from kitchen table to back porch to bedroom as easily as you would carry a book or magazine.

Up until now, you might have been too busy to jump in and learn the computing ropes, but you now realize how useful and fun working with a computer can be. In fact, for seniors, a computer opens up a world of activities and contacts they never had before. And perhaps, like many people, you’ve decided that a laptop is the way to go.

About This Book

This book can help you get going with a laptop quickly and painlessly. It’s specifically written for mature people like you — folks who are relatively new to using a computer and want to discover the basics of buying a laptop, working with software, and getting on the Internet. In writing this book, I’ve tried to take into account the types of activities that might interest a 55-plus-year-old ...