PCs For Dummies® Windows®, 7 Edition

Introduction

Say hello to the nearly all-new 12th edition of PCs For Dummies!

This book was written just for you, someone who doesn't want to turn into a computer nerd or fall in love with computers or technology. No, this book was written because something complex and mysterious, like a computer, can make a smart person like you feel like a dummy.

Computers are now commodity items, tossed into a big-box store along with the toaster ovens and plasma TVs. The PC is a commodity, yet it's not any easier to use than it was a decade ago. The cheerful person in the store can't help you. There's no computer manual. And that toll-free phone number they gave you connects you with a foreigner who reads you a script in heavily accented English. Obviously, a book like this one is more than needed — it's a necessity.

This book helps restore your confidence by explaining how computers work in a manner that's simple, easy to understand, and, often, entertaining. Between this book's yellow-and-black covers, you'll find quick, helpful information about using your computer. This book uses friendly and human — and often irreverent — terms. Nothing is sacred here, and you'll find no painful jargon or condescending tone. You and your needs are the focus.

The result is that, after reading this book, the computer, while still a technological marvel, will no longer intimidate you.

What's New in This Edition?

There have been one dozen editions of this book, and you're lucky enough to be holding in your hands ...