Easy Computer Basics, Windows 10 Edition

Trade paperback. An easy, friendly, visual, full-colour beginner's guide to running computers, updated for Windows 10. *Also appeared in June Buyer's Notes*

List of contents

Chapter 1: Understanding Personal Computers     2
Types of Computers     3
Getting to Know Desktop PCs     4
Getting to Know All-in-One PCs     5
Getting to Know Notebook PCs     6
Getting to Know Tablet PCs     7
Connectors     8
Hard Disk Drives: Long-Term Storage     9
Keyboards     10
Touchpads     11
Memory Card Readers     12
CD and DVD Drives     13
Computer Screens     14
Printers     15
Chapter 2: Setting Up Your PC     16
Desktop Computer System     17
Setting Up a Notebook PC     18
Setting Up an All-in-One Desktop PC     19
Setting Up a Traditional Desktop PC     20
Powering On     23
Logging On to Windows     24
Shutting Down     25
Chapter 3: Connecting Peripherals and Other Devices     26
USB Connector     27
Connecting Devices via USB     28
Connecting a Printer     29
Connecting Your PC to Your TV     32
Chapter 4: Setting Up a Wireless Home Network     34
Understanding How Wireless Networks Work     35
Setting Up Your Network’s Main PC     36
Connecting Additional PCs to Your Wireless Network     38
Adding Your Computer to a Homegroup     41
Accessing Other Computers in Your Homegroup     44
Accessing Other Computers on Your Network     45
Chapter 5: Using Microsoft Windows 10     46
Exploring the Windows 10 Desktop     47
Using the Mouse     48
Using the Windows Start Menu     50
Opening a Program     52
Using the Taskbar     53
Scrolling a Window     54
Maximizing, Minimizing, and Closing a Window     55
Switching Between Open Windows     56
Using Windows in Tablet Mode     58
Using Windows with a Touchscreen Display     60
Chapter 6: Personalizing Windows     62
Settings Window     63
Customizing the Start Menu     64
Changing the Desktop Background     66
Changing the Accent Color     68
Customizing the Lock Screen Picture     70
Adding Apps to the Lock Screen     72
Changing Your Profile Picture     74
Setting Up Additional Users     76
Switching Between Users     79
Configuring Windows Settings     80
Chapter 7: Working with Software Applications     82
Parts of a Window     83
Opening an Application     84
Pinning a Program to the Start Menu     85
Pinning a Program to the Taskbar     86
Creating a Desktop Shortcut     87
Searching for Apps     88
Using Universal Windows Apps     89
Using Context Menus     90
Using Pull-Down Menus     91
Using Toolbars     92
Using Ribbons     93
Using Windows 10’s Built-In Apps     94
Finding New Apps in the Windows Store     98
Chapter 8: Using Microsoft Word     100
Comparing Desktop and Web Versions of Word     101
Launching Word Online     102
Launching the Word Desktop App     104
Navigating Word Online     105
Entering Text     106
Cutting/Copying and Pasting Text     107
Formatting Text     108
Formatting Paragraphs     109
Saving Your Work     110
Printing a Document     111
Chapter 9: Working with Files and Folders     112
File Explorer     113
Launching File Explorer     114
Exploring the Ribbon     115
Navigating with the Navigation Pane     116
Working with Folders     119
Changing the Way Files Are Displayed     120
Sorting Files and Folders     121
Creating a New Folder     122
Renaming a File or Folder     123
Copying a File or Folder     124
Moving a File or Folder     125
Searching for a File     126
Deleting a File or Folder     127
Restoring Deleted Files     128
Emptying the Recycle Bin     129
Compressing a File     130
Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder     131
Working with Files on OneDrive     132
Chapter 10: Using the Internet     134
Microsoft Edge     135
Connecting to an Internet Wi-Fi Hotspot     136
Web Browsing with Microsoft Edge     138
Saving Favorite Pages     140
Returning to a Favorite Page     141
Opening Multiple Pages in Tabs     142
Searching the Web with Google     143
Smart Searching with Cortana     144
Shopping Online     146
Buying Items on Craigslist     148
Selling Items on Craigslist     150
Chapter 11: Communicating with Email     152
Windows Mail App     153
Viewing Your Inbox and Reading Messages     154
Moving a Message to Another Folder     156
Replying to an Email Message     157
Composing a New Email Message     158
Adding Other Accounts to the Mail App     160
Managing Your Contacts from the People App     162
Reading Web-Based Email with Gmail     164
Replying to a Gmail Message     165
Composing a New Gmail Message     166
Sending a File via Gmail     167
Chapter 12: Sharing with Facebook and Other Social Networks     168
Comparing Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter     169
Finding Facebook Friends     170
Reading the News Feed     172
Posting a Status Update     174
Viewing a Friend’s Timeline     176
Personalizing Your Timeline Page     177
Viewing a Friend’s Photos     178
Sharing Your Photos on Facebook     180
Sharing Interesting Images with Pinterest     182
Finding People to Follow on Pinterest     183
Finding and Repinning Interesting Pins     184
Pinning from a Web Page     186
Tweeting with Twitter     188
Following Other Twitter Users     189
Chapter 13: Watching TV and Movies Online     190
Playing Movies with the Windows Movies and  TV App     191
Watching Movies on Netflix     192
Watching TV Shows on Hulu     196
Watching Videos on YouTube     200
Purchasing and Downloading Movies and TV Shows from the iTunes Store     202
Watching Videos with iTunes     204
Watching Digital Videos with the Movies and TV App     206
Chapter 14: Playing Digital Music     208
Comparing Streaming Music Services     209
Streaming Music Online with Spotify     210
Streaming Music Online with Pandora     212
Downloading Music from the iTunes Store     214
Playing Digital Music with iTunes     216
Playing a CD with iTunes     218
Purchasing Music from the Groove Music App     219
Playing Digital Music with the Groove Music App     220
Chapter 15: Viewing and Editing Digital Photos     222
Viewing a Picture with the Photos App     223
Transferring Pictures via USB     224
Transferring Pictures from a Memory Card     225
Viewing Your Photos in Windows     226
Editing Your Photos with the Photos App     228
Chapter 16: Protecting Your Computer     232
Windows Action Center     233
Using the Windows Action Center     234
Defending Against Malware with Windows Defender      235
Deleting Unnecessary Files     236
Deleting Unused Programs     237
Backing Up Your Files     238
Restoring Your Computer After a Crash     240

Glossary     242
Index     248

About the author

Michael Miller is a successful and prolific author with a reputation for practical advice, technical accuracy, and an unerring empathy for the needs of his readers.

Mr. Miller has written more than 150 best-selling books over the past 25 years. His books for Que include Easy Facebook, My Facebook for Seniors, My Social Media for Seniors, My Windows 10 Computer for Seniors, and Computer Basics: Absolute Beginner’s Guide.

He is known for his casual, easy-to-read writing style and his practical, real-world advice--as well as his ability to explain a variety of complex topics to an everyday audience.

Learn more about Mr. Miller at his website, www.millerwriter.com. Follow him on Twitter @molehillgroup.

Summary

In Full Color!


See it done. Do it yourself. It’s that Easy! Easy Computer Basics, Windows 10 Edition, teaches you the fundamentals to help you get the most from your computer hardware and software. Fully illustrated steps with simple instructions guide you through each task, building the skills you need to perform the most common computer tasks. No need to feel intimidated; we’ll hold your hand every step of the way.

Learn how to...

• Set up and configure your new Windows 10 computer
• Upgrade your system with new hardware and software
• Use Microsoft Windows 10--and personalize it just for you
• Connect to the Internet for web browsing, email, Facebook, and listening to digital music
• View and edit digital photos 
• Watch your favorite movies and TV shows online with Netflix and Hulu
• Protect your family and your computer from viruses, spam, and spyware
• Set up a wireless home network and share your Internet connection with multiple computers

Product details

• Authors: Michael Miller
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.09.2015
• EAN: 9780789754523
• ISBN: 978-0-7897-5452-3
• No. of pages: 288
• Weight: 570 g
• Series: Que; Que
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > Operating systems, user interfaces; Windows 10