CONTENTS

A Word Before We Begin

There Is Nothing to Fear but Technology Itself

CHAPTER 1
Bring the World to Your Fingertips

Research, find, and buy anything you can imagine, and communicate with loved ones without leaving home—what a computer and the Internet offer

CHAPTER 2
Hardware: The Thigh Bone’s Connected to the…

A simple introduction to the parts of a computer and how they relate to one another

CHAPTER 3
Software: Feeding the Computer Brain

An explanation of software and how it is used

Where Will It Sleep and How Often Do I Need to Water It?

CHAPTER 4
There’s No Place Like Home vs. Taking Your Show on the Road

Desktop vs. laptop

CHAPTER 5
Creating a Computer Comfort Zone

Tips on finding a comfortable and safe work area

Go for a Test-Drive

CHAPTER 6
Apples and Oranges

Macintosh vs. PC

CHAPTER 7
Would You Buy a Car Without Test-Driving It?

What to look for when you get behind a keyboard

CHAPTER 8
Choosing the Best Route

What software and Internet services fit you best

Let the Shopping Begin

CHAPTER 9
Make Your Purchase

Old vs. new, extended warranties, store vs. mail order, and what questions to ask

Baby’s First Day Home

CHAPTER 10
Counting Fingers and Toes

Taking your new computer out of the box and connecting all the parts

CHAPTER 11
Shaking Hands

Meet your computer and mouse

CHAPTER 12
Getting to Know You

Experimenting with what you can do on the computer

The Newlywed Game

CHAPTER 13
Spanning the Globe

“Surfing the net”—traveling around the World Wide Web

CHAPTER 14
Shall We Dance?

Let’s send e-mail

CHAPTER 15
Mind Your Ps & Qs

An introduction to word processing

CHAPTER 16
Practical Precautions

Secure your identity and your computer

Make New Friends and Keep the Old

CHAPTER 17
Advanced E-mail

Let’s go to the next level—web links, attachments, and more

CHAPTER 18
Picture This

Digital and scanned photos from A to Z

CHAPTER 19
Join the Conversation

Instant messaging, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, online dating and more

CHAPTER 20
Put It All in Order

Create a filing system, organize, and maintain all that lives on your computer

Exploration and Discovery

CHAPTER 21
Detective Work with Your Computer

Get the most out of your searches

CHAPTER 22
Shop Till You Drop

Shopping, auctions, airline reservations, prescriptions, and online banking

CHAPTER 23
The Wide, Wide World of Entertainment

Finding fun on the web

CHAPTER 24
Extra, Extra, Read All About It

The scoop on smartphones, BlackBerry, iPods, e-readers, and the iPad

CHAPTER 25
Troubleshooting

“I think it has a fever”—what to do if something doesn’t seem right

Appendices

Over 200 Recommended Websites

Glossary

Keyboard Shortcuts

Index