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Thread ID: 71865	2006-08-20 01:43:00	windows XP for dummies	Greven (91)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
479571	2006-08-20 01:43:00	My grandparents want a book they can refer to that will help them to learn to use a computer. They are also going to go to seniornet classes. Will Windows XP for Dummies do a good job of describing the basic use of a computer, or does it assume that the reader has a little bit of knowledge about computers? Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what books would be helpfull (either in hard copy, or online & print ready)	Greven (91)
479572	2006-08-20 02:10:00	Suggest check your library for a copy that you can preview.	Greg (193)
479573	2006-08-20 02:24:00	Can they stand long reading??? ;)	bob_doe_nz (92)
479574	2006-08-20 13:43:00	You look after the operating system and teach them a little regarding backup or copies. For that matter File management as well. I just received a computer here yesterday and files are all over the place. The main point here is they don't know where they are. The computer does not boot at the moment as the man of the house was shifting files. He moved the windows folder or directory to the program folder because windows is a program he thought. Now it all ran happily until he turned it off and tried to boot the computer the next day. SeniorNet should teach them about Internet browsing, Word processing, email and a few other applications they wish to use. The basic ones anyway. I should not think that they would wish to build Access databases, design spreadseeets or play high end games. They might want to buy a camera so they can take pics of the grandchildren. XP for dummies may teach you how to use a mouse and keyboard along with some file management. Solitaire is useful for learning a mouse but there a quite a number of people that do not know about a right mouse click and what it will bring up on screen. We do not learn all this in reading a book.	Sweep (90)
479575	2006-08-20 22:02:00	My grandparents want a book they can refer to that will help them to learn to use a computer. They are also going to go to seniornet classes. Will Windows XP for Dummies do a good job of describing the basic use of a computer, Seniornet is good for doing a few classes in how to use an app. Its good after that as they then have someone to call if they get stuck with something. But then they already have you for that. XP for Dummies is good, but I'd advise they don't sit and read it cover to cover. The best way is for them to sit at the PC and play around - referring to the book when they need to. By looking up whatever bit they are playing with in the index. Sweep makes a good point. Teach them file structure so they know how and where data is stored on the HDD. Not with My Computer, get them to use Windows Explorer so they see the structure fully when its opened. Its a lot less confusing that way. I'd set it up with 2 partitions, O/S and data. Ghost the O/S so that if there is a disaster its not a major and you can get it all back quickly. Then let them mess about with it, its the best way to learn.	pctek (84)
479576	2006-08-20 23:10:00	Get them to join HP Online classes (h30187.www3.hp.com 3). There are no classes suitable for them listed at the moment but there should be some beginners classes repeating later on in the next month or two. Although the classes are done "online" it is easy enough to open the pages for each "lesson" and view them offline, or save them to the hard drive for reference as I used to do. The lessons are free and the only catch is that not long ago I discovered that NZers were no longer eligible to sign up for them but that is easily got around by specifiying your country of origin as the US ;) <cough>.	FoxyMX (5)
479577	2006-08-21 03:55:00	Aha, now computer lessons are "munitions" and subject to export restrictions. :D There are branches of the Senior Net in a lot of places ...	Graham L (2)
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