Contents at a Glance Introduction... 1 Part I: First Steps with Your Laptop... 5 Chapter 1: Discovering the Laptop Advantage...7 Chapter 2: Buying a Laptop...19 Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Laptop...37 Chapter 4: Managing Power...53 Chapter 5: Opting for a Tablet Computer...63 Part II: Exploring Windows... 73 Chapter 6: Getting around the Windows 7 Desktop...75 Chapter 7: Setting Up Your Display...99 Chapter 8: Getting Help with Vision, Hearing, and Dexterity Challenges... 113 Chapter 9: Setting Up Printers and Scanners... 133 Chapter 10: Getting Help... 151 Part III: Having Fun and Getting Things Done with Software... 167 Chapter 11: Working with Software Programs... 169 Chapter 12: Working with Files and Folders... 183 Chapter 13: Using the Desktop Gadget Gallery and Gadgets... 205 Chapter 14: Using Microsoft Works... 219 Chapter 15: Getting the Most from Movies and Digital Photos... 241 Chapter 16: Playing Music in Windows 7... 259 Chapter 17: Playing Games in Windows 7... 273 Chapter 18: Dabbling with Online Programs... 291 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Part IV: Exploring the Internet... 305 Chapter 19: Understanding Internet Basics... 307 Chapter 20: Browsing the Web with Internet Explorer... 323 Chapter 21: Staying Safe While Online... 343
Chapter 22: Keeping In Touch with E-Mail... 365 Chapter 23: Connecting with People Online... 391 Chapter 24: Getting Involved in the Social Net... 407 Part V: Taking Care of Your Laptop... 421 Chapter 25: Laptop Security and Safety... 423 Chapter 26: Maintaining Windows... 445 Index... 465
Table of Contents Introduction... 1 About This Book...1 Foolish Assumptions...1 Why You Need This Book...2 How This Book Is Organized...2 Get Going!...4 Part I: First Steps with Your Laptop... 5 Chapter 1: Discovering the Laptop Advantage... 7 Understand the Difference between a Desktop and Laptop...8 Get a Feel for Super Portable Netbooks and Tablets...10 Explore All You Can Do with Your Laptop...11 Appreciate the Portability Factor...14 Understand Types of Laptops and Tablets...15 Chapter 2: Buying a Laptop... 19 Understand Hardware and Software...20 Select a Type of Laptop...22 Decide Whether a Tablet Would Work...24 Choose a Version of Windows...25 Determine a Price Range...26 Select a Monitor...28 Opt for Longer Battery Life...29 Choose an Optical Drive...30 Understand Processor Speed and Memory...31 Determine How You ll Connect to the Internet...33 Buy a Customized Laptop...34 Get Accessories for Your Laptop...35
Laptops & Tablets For Seniors For Dummies, 2nd Edition Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Laptop... 37 Install and Charge the Battery...37 Turn On Your Laptop and Log On and Off Windows 7...39 Use the Touchpad, Your Laptop s Built-In Mouse...41 Use the Function Keys...44 Set the Date and Time...44 Create a New User Account...46 Switch User Accounts...48 Change Your User Account Picture...49 Shut Down Your Laptop...50 Chapter 4: Managing Power... 53 Choose a Power Plan...54 Create a Customized Power Plan...55 Adjust Display Settings...57 Change How Quickly the Computer Goes to Sleep...58 Define Power Button Functions...60 Chapter 5: Opting for a Tablet Computer... 63 Know the Advantages of a Tablet...63 Understand Tablet Operating Systems...65 Compare Tablet Features and Prices...66 Explore Touchscreens...67 Use an Onscreen Keyboard...68 Choose How to Connect to the Internet...69 Discover the World of Apps...70 Part II: Exploring Windows... 73 Chapter 6: Getting around the Windows 7 Desktop... 75 Understand the Desktop...75 Work with the Start Menu...78 Work with Frequently Used Programs...81 Arrange Icons on the Desktop...82 Empty the Recycle Bin...83 x
Table of Contents Find a File with Windows Explorer...85 Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder...86 Start a Program...88 Resize Windows...90 Switch between Programs...92 Use the Shake Feature...92 Use the Snap Feature...93 Use the Peek Feature...94 Close a Program...95 Chapter 7: Setting Up Your Display... 99 Customize Windows Appearance... 100 Set Your Screen s Resolution... 101 Change the Desktop Background... 102 Use Your Own Picture as a Background... 104 Choose a Desktop Theme... 105 Set Up a Screen Saver... 107 Change the Color and Appearance of Windows... 109 Modify Windows Transparency... 110 Chapter 8: Getting Help with Vision, Hearing, and Dexterity Challenges... 113 Use Tools for the Visually Challenged... 114 Replace Sounds with Visual Cues... 117 Make Text Larger or Smaller... 118 Set Up Speech Recognition... 120 Modify How Your Keyboard Works... 123 Use the Onscreen Keyboard Feature... 125 Set Up Keyboard Repeat Rates... 127 Customize Touchpad Behavior... 129 Change the Cursor... 130 Chapter 9: Setting Up Printers and Scanners... 133 Install a Printer... 134 Set Up a Wireless Printer... 137 xi
Laptops & Tablets For Seniors For Dummies, 2nd Edition Set a Default Printer... 138 Set Printer Preferences... 140 View Currently Installed Printers... 143 Remove a Printer... 145 Install a Scanner... 146 Modify Scanner Settings... 147 Chapter 10: Getting Help... 151 Explore the Help Table of Contents... 152 Search for Help... 154 Post a Question in Windows Communities... 156 Access Windows Online Help... 159 Connect to Remote Assistance... 161 Change Windows Help and Support Display Options... 164 Contact Microsoft Customer Support... 165 Part III: Having Fun and Getting Things Done with Software... 167 Chapter 11: Working with Software Programs... 169 Install a Program... 169 Launch a Program... 170 Move Information between Programs... 173 Start a Program Automatically... 175 Set Program Defaults... 177 Access a Program Online... 179 Remove a Program... 180 Chapter 12: Working with Files and Folders... 183 Understand How Windows Organizes Data... 184 Access Recently Used Files... 186 Locate Files and Folders in Your Laptop... 188 Search for a File... 189 Move a File or Folder... 191 Rename a File or Folder... 193 xii
Table of Contents Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder... 194 Delete a File or Folder... 196 Compress a File or Folder... 197 Add a File to Your Favorites List... 199 Understand File Storage Options... 201 Back Up Files to a Read/Writable CD or DVD... 202 Chapter 13: Using the Desktop Gadget Gallery and Gadgets... 205 Open the Gadget Gallery and Add Gadgets to the Desktop... 206 Check the Time... 207 Display a Continuous Slide Show... 209 Use the Windows Calendar... 210 Play with Puzzles... 212 Convert Currency... 213 Use the Feed Headlines Gadget... 214 Monitor Your CPU... 215 Check the Weather... 216 Find More Gadgets Online... 217 Chapter 14: Using Microsoft Works... 219 Open a New Document and Enter and Edit Text... 220 Save a Document... 222 Open an Existing Document... 223 Cut, Copy, and Paste Text... 224 Format Text... 225 Check Spelling... 228 Change Page Setup... 230 Print a Document... 231 Explore the Structure of a Spreadsheet... 233 Open Works Spreadsheet and Enter Data... 234 Format Numbers... 235 Apply AutoFormats to Cells... 237 Perform Simple Calculations... 238 xiii
Laptops & Tablets For Seniors For Dummies, 2nd Edition Chapter 15: Getting the Most from Movies and Digital Photos... 241 Work with Media Software... 242 Play Movies with Windows Media Player... 244 Upload Photos from Your Digital Camera... 247 View a Digital Image in the Windows Photo Viewer... 248 Add a Tag to a Photo... 249 E-Mail a Photo... 251 Burn a Photo to a CD or DVD... 253 Create and Play a Slide Show... 255 Watch Movies Online... 257 Chapter 16: Playing Music in Windows 7... 259 Set Up Speakers... 260 Adjust System Volume... 262 Create a Playlist... 263 Burn Music to a CD/DVD... 265 Sync with a Music Device... 267 Play Music... 268 Make Settings for Ripping Music... 270 Chapter 17: Playing Games in Windows 7... 273 Play Solitaire... 274 Play FreeCell... 277 Play Spider Solitaire... 279 Play Minesweeper... 282 Play Hearts... 284 Play Chess Titans... 286 Play Checkers Online... 288 Chapter 18: Dabbling with Online Programs... 291 Understand the Cloud... 291 Use Google Docs... 292 Exchange Files Using SkyDrive... 294 xiv
Table of Contents Open E-mail Attachments in Office Online... 297 Share Photos and Videos Online... 298 Play Online Games... 302 Part IV: Exploring the Internet... 305 Chapter 19: Understanding Internet Basics... 307 Understand What the Internet Is... 307 Explore Different Types of Internet Connections... 309 Set Up an Internet Connection... 313 Compare Popular Browsers... 315 Navigate the Web... 316 Use Tabs in Browsers... 318 Set Up a Home Page... 319 Chapter 20: Browsing the Web with Internet Explorer... 323 Search the Web... 324 Find Content on a Web Page... 327 Add a Web Site to Favorites... 328 Organize Favorites... 330 View Your Browsing History... 332 Customize the Internet Explorer Toolbar... 333 Add RSS Feeds... 334 Print a Web Page... 336 Play Podcasts... 337 Get Advice about Finances Online... 338 Bank Online... 340 Invest Online... 341 Chapter 21: Staying Safe While Online... 343 Understand Technology Risks on the Internet... 344 Download Files Safely... 347 Turn on InPrivate Browsing and Filtering... 348 Use SmartScreen Filtering... 349 Change Privacy Settings... 351 xv
Laptops & Tablets For Seniors For Dummies, 2nd Edition Enable the Content Advisor... 353 Understand Information Exposure... 356 Keep Your Information Private... 358 Spot Phishing Scams and Other E-mail Fraud... 361 Create Strong Passwords... 363 Chapter 22: Keeping In Touch with E-Mail... 365 Set Up an Internet-Based E-Mail Account... 366 Manage Accounts in Windows Live... 368 Get to Know Windows Live Hotmail... 370 Open and Receive Windows Live Hotmail... 371 Create and Send E-Mail... 373 Send an Attachment... 376 Read a Message... 378 Reply to a Message... 379 Forward E-Mail... 381 Create and Add a Signature... 381 Format E-Mail Messages... 383 Apply a Theme and Add a Picture... 385 Add People to the Contact List... 386 Customize the Reading Pane Layout... 388 Create Message Folders... 389 Organize Messages in Folders... 390 Chapter 23: Connecting with People Online... 391 Use Discussion Boards... 392 Participate in Chat... 394 Send and Receive Instant Messages (IMs)... 395 Use Webcams... 399 Use Skype to Make Calls Online... 400 Schedule Events... 403 Send E-greeting Cards... 404 Recommend a Site to Others... 405 xvi
Table of Contents Chapter 24: Getting Involved in the Social Net... 407 Overview of Collaborative and Social Networking Sites... 407 Compare Popular Services... 410 Sign Up for a Social Networking Service... 410 Create a Profile... 413 Invite Friends... 414 See How Online Dating Works... 415 Select a Dating Service... 417 Explore Twitter... 419 Get Involved in Video and Photo Sharing... 420 Part V: Taking Care of Your Laptop... 421 Chapter 25: Laptop Security and Safety... 423 Understand Laptop Security... 424 Understand Windows Update Options... 427 Run Windows Update... 429 Set Up Trusted and Restricted Web Sites... 431 Enable the Windows Firewall... 434 Set Up a Password for Your Laptop... 436 Check Your Laptop s Security Status... 438 Use a Lock to Deter Thieves... 440 Utilize a Fingerprint Reader... 440 Protect Your Laptop from Damage... 441 Use a Service to Find a Lost Laptop... 442 Chapter 26: Maintaining Windows... 445 Shut Down a Nonresponsive Application... 446 Start Windows in Safe Mode... 447 Create a System Restore Point... 450 Restore the Windows System... 451 Defragment a Hard Drive... 454 Free Your Disk Space... 456 xvii
Laptops & Tablets For Seniors For Dummies, 2nd Edition Delete Temporary Internet Files by Using Internet Explorer... 457 Schedule Maintenance Tasks... 460 Troubleshoot Software Problems... 462 Index... 465 xviii