My computer is a MacBook Pro Laptop, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2.0 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM and I'm running OS X Tiger 10.4.8 with a 200 GB HD, a 2 GB Flash Drive and an 80 GB External USB Drive on a Comcast Broadband connection. You might not know what all this means but don't worry about it for now. Think of my Mac as a GTO. A what?
My camcorder is a Canon Mini-DV. I can run a movie on my VCR, import it into my camcorder and then import it into my Mac and either burn a DVD-R or save it to DV-Tape which is what TV3 uses.
1. Today we're going to discuss some of the fascinating things you can do online beginning with...
1A. You can search billions of pages of information from all around the world in Google. In my opinion (IMO) Google is the best Search Engine on the planet. They say, "If you use it for a week, you will never need anything else," and I agree. Let's take a look, it's my Home Page...
1B. One of the most amazing websites that I have ever visited is called Google Earth. You can actually see a photo of your house from outer space.
1C. You can get maps and directions to drive cross town or cross country from Mapquest.com although they are not 100% accurate.
1D. You can send a letter, photo or a movie to a relative in Washington State or anywhere else in the world via Email.
1E. You can access all the information in the libraries of the world in Answers.com or Wikipedia.com.
1F. You can read a story in the US press and compare it to the same story in the Chinese, British or Israeli press.
1G. You can send 1000 people a letter with the click of a mouse in Yahoo.
1H. You can find a job, sell your car, meet a partner, or find a home for a pet, in Craigs List.
1I. You can search for phone numbers and addresses in WhitePages.com and
1J. You can publish your biography online for free.
2. How to buy your first computer?
2A. Watch for my seminars.
2B. Go to the Public Library and use their computers. Malden has an Cyber Cafe at maldensquare.org.
2C. Go to Dell.com. It's very tricky to buy a computer online now a days.
2E. Go to an Apple Store at Cambridgeside Galleria or North Shore Mall.
What is a PC? It means Personal Computer and they were previously known as an IBM-Compatibles, IBM-clones and Windows based computers.
What is Windows? The main program/operating system for most PC's.
What is hardware? Computers, monitors, desktops, laptops, modems, scanners, printers, mouse, flash drives, web cams, and memory sticks.
What is software? Programs like a Text Editor, Word Processor, Browser, Operating Systems and if you get a PC - AntiVirus and Firewall.
What is a file? Text, graphics, sound, and movies that can be saved to your hard disk, or emailed to your friends.
What is a file extension? It is a description of the type of file such as .TXT, .DOC, .TIFF, .MPG, .JPG, GIF, AIFF, AIFF, .AVI, .MOV and the dangerous .EXE and .DLL.
What are some of the most important terms?
Random Access Memory (RAM), the temporary memory in your computer and I recommend you have at least 2 - 4 Gigabytes (GB), G means billion.
Hard Disk (HD), where you save your information.
Central Processing Unit (CPU), the brain of your computer.
Operating Systems (OS), the language your computer speaks - Windows Vista for a PC is the newest and Mac OS X Tiger is their newest.
How do I save a file? Give it a name, choose a location, try to find it a week later. See Text Editor.
What is Multimedia? CD, CD-Rom, DVD, DV Tape, Digital Tape.
What is the Internet?
Think of it as large computers spread out all over the world so that if one of them goes down, there is always another route to keep the system open.
What is an ISP? An Internet Service Provider is a company that allows you to go online such as Comcast, AOL, Verizon or Netzero.
How do I download a file? Read the instructions and look for the location that it is saved in.
What's the difference between Broadband, DSL and Dial-up? Fastest, faster, slow.
What is a website? Someone else's computer.
How do I get a free email account? Go to Gmail.
How do I choose a password? Jim's secret tips are for live meetings only.
How do I check my email if I don't have a computer? Go to the library.
How do I compose email? You can write it in a Text Editor, a Word Processor or the email program itself.
How do I send Email? Find and use the Send button.
How do I send photo's and movies in my email? Copy and paste it into the email message, or attach it.
What's better, a Macintosh (MAC) or a PC? Search Google.com with this question.
What do I do if I get stuck? Find a geek who will come over and fix it.
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