A book for a novice computer/internet user who is all at sea?

Question

Lady 63, recently acquired reconditioned first-ever laptop, with no instruction manual, has become connected to the internet and has become swamped with the sheer complicity of using it. Seeking urgent advice in very plain (as in idiot-proof) language. In great danger of sinking without trace. Know I could love this great technology that everyone young and old is perfectly at home with, but presently consider it both the enemy and beyond me. I have been connected since 10 April 07 and it is making me out to be a fool and very frustrated. My laptop is an IBM Thinkpad, if that matters at all. A book is required, but which one for a seemingly thicko like me? All help and advice much appreciated, regretfully on a fixed income, so personal tutor or online courses/seminars are out of the equation.

Answer 1

Internet and E-Mail for Seniors with Windows XP By Addo Stuur. ISBN 90 5905 044 4 . $20.00 US

I have been recommending this book to people I tutor and they all love it.

Answer 2

I'd like to think of myself as an author, who has all the "author"ity in her own life, but the thing is, I hardly ever know what's going on. I'm the person going, "Huh? What...?" all the time. But I'm not really a book either, because I *do* take charge of my life, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. I try not to let other people control me and my feelings, though that doesn't always work. Sometimes I let people have too much of a negative impact on me, when all I would have to do to end it is put my foot down. When I realize I've been acting stupid for letting people control me, I take my life back into my own hands. I think I'm both the book and the author. My life is the book, and I'm the author. Or shall I say the writer? "I am unwritten... Can't read my mind, I'm undefined. I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned. Staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illume and make the words that you could not find!" :D:D Great song! So yeah, I'm the writer of an unwritten book. :p

Answer 3

The Internet can be a bit of a daunting place, so try not to run before you can walk. Make sure you have certain tools at your disposals. you MUST have a firewall and anti-virus to protect your PC from invest ion. the FIREWALL stops unwanted things getting into your PC once this is installed you need not do anything with it, it will do it all by it's self, on the other hand anti-virus programs must be run on a regular basis although they can be set up to run on there own. You don't have to be a genius to use a PC as long as you can press keys then that's all you need at present. There are lost of ebooks that can be downloaded free of charge that will help you to get to grips with this little monster. Install GOOGLE it is what is called a search engine and you can type anything in the little box in the middle of the screen and it will usually come up with an answer.
Hope this helps
PC MAN

Answer 4

Don't go and ride your horses before feeding them - basically don't go surfing the internet, installing games, until you have got the full security on your pc.. First of all, you may need to connect to the internet, to retrieve a firewall, and if you have a cd for antivirus install that.

There are free antivirus online, (AVG) for firewall - Zonealarm is good and its free, and you need windows defender for the anti spyware, and most important of all is the windows update, on your start menu you click on all programs and you should have an option at the top saying windows update or microsoft updates. Once all installed and definitions updates, and the updates have been installed then its best to make a backup cd, if you don;t have one, this will help your pc regain the settings to factory settings if your pc messes up and you think you want to restore it. The links will be provided below.

But remember, scan your pc for viruses and spyware every month or 2months..

and make sure all the software definitions are updated on a regular basis so that the latest addition attackings can be prevented to your pc.

Thats it... scan any removable media (floppy disks), usbs, before transferring the files from your usb, floppy etc to your pc.

And it would be an ideal idea of making backups of your pc every 3-4 months...this site should help you http://free-backup.info/
oh yeh, and if you have internet explorer 6, then it might be worth getting internet explorer 7, (links below) but i find firefox is alot more better, and more interactive for users. (link also below)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/ - try that should get you alot more use to the internet
http://www.davesite.com/webstation/inet101/ - and this should help as it explains

Answer 5

There is a good magazine fortnightly costing under £2 called Computer Active. It gives step by step tutorials in all kinds of programmes for beginners. I got started with this and then moved on to Micro Mart as I progressed. Micro Mart is £1.99 weekly. They both have web sites with forums where the members are really helpful and Computeractive has a download area for lots of free programmes. I'm 65 now and love the game. Good luck and enjoy.

Answer 6

You have XP, I assume.

Go to Amazon.com, in the Books section, and search for:

Easy Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Best book for beginners I've ever seen. Five Stars!

Many online courses are free too. Try Cnet:

TIP: Ask your shipmates for help. They will, gladly.