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Introduction We
are entering a new age. An age where everything is electronic, where the
internet supplants the newspaper, and where, pretty soon, even our fridge will
be online. It's the latest craze. Come on! Everyone's doing it! And, yes, that
means you, too. Even those who have held out through the computer's development
doing things the old way are taking the plunge to PC ownership.
But, the PC
has a sneaky way of making the smartest person feel like a fool. Professionals
who have done everything under the sun, moon and stars find themselves sitting
in front of a computer with a blank stare (even me!). Or better yet, asking your
kids or grandkids how to run it. It is really funny how this new industry has
reversed the roles around a bit so that the kids are showing the older guys how
to do the simplest computer tasks. They say, "Come on! Everyone knows how
to do this!". And you think, "I don't."
This guide is
written for those who are trying to make sense of it all. I will take you
through the basics of the PC, how to run it, and what it can do. By reading
this, you can turn that blank stare into a bold glare. And, yes, you can still
ask your kids or grandkids questions, but, who's to say you can't show them a
thing or two?
As a note, let
me give you a bit of advice. As a person new to computers, it is easy to become
confused fast. But, this confusion stems from plunging in head first without
taking the whole thing in steps. If one passes a subject in study without
mastering it first, the next step will confuse them and they will always blame
this new thing for their problems. In reality, the problem is that you need to
learn the PC in steps and look up and define every word you come across that you
do not know. The PC industry is full of new words and acronyms. If you do not
look them up, you will fall victim to them and never really understand the
computer. The other thing is the importance of hands-on. You, hopefully, own a
PC. Don't then sit back on the couch and read about it. If you get your hands
dirty with the actual PC, you will understand it. Dabble in it from a safe
distance without ever really looking, and you'll be confused.
And with that,
let's begin our journey down the road to geekhood. |
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