October 27, 2013 - Chapter 2 - Working with the Windows 7 Desktop
This chapter begins to delve into the nuts and bolts of Windows 7, and starts in a very important place, the Desktop. The Desktop is the "main screen" of the Graphical user Interface, or GUI. It is the place that users see when they start their computer and before they start any applications. The Desktop can be personalized in many ways, for example by changing the background image or by adding Windows Gadgets to it.
The Desktop also functions as a file storage location, so that users can directly access files or shortcuts placed there. I personally hate this feature, as I prefer my Desktop to be as uncluttered as possible. This allows me to enjoy the image that I am using as my background without it being spoiled by many files or shortcuts cluttering up things.
This chapter goes into great detail about using WordPad, Microsoft's minimally-featured word processor and how to save files to the hard drive and USB flash drives. It also talks about using Document Libraries, a feature that first appeared in Windows Vista.
There is a great deal of information about Windows Gadgets, software applets that live on your Desktop. Examples of these that come with Windows 7 include Gadgets for weather, news headlines, an analog clock, and a currency converter. Many more can be downloaded from Microsoft free of charge.
There are many more features on the Windows Desktop, these are but a sampling. Happy computing, see you next week with another exciting update!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
October 20, 2013 - Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Windows 7
The blogging assignment this week is to cover the material in Chapter 1 and Appendix A in our text, Shelly Cashman's "Microsoft Windows 7 Comprehensive". Chapter 1 contains an overview of the fundamentals of using of Windows 7, and comprehensive explanations of using its basic features. As many features have been changed, added or expanded from Windows XP and earlier versions, this is very informative to someone like me who has been using this operating system through each of its successive editions since Windows 3.0 was introduced in 1990.
The text begins by defining the basic concepts involved in computer use; it defines the operating system, various hardware types of servers, workstations and peripherals; and discusses the differences between the types of network topologies of intranet, internet and intranet.
There are several differing types of Windows 7 to meet the needs of the computing public. Editions range from Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic, which contain only basic features and are used on computers with limited capabilities or in emerging markets. These editions are generally not available for retail sale, and are preinstalled by a hardware builder.
Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional are contain more features, and are available for retail purchase. A distinction between the two is that Win 7 Pro contains features designed for small business users, such as networking software, backup and restore functions, and the ability to join a domain.
Windows 7 Enterprise is designed for corporate users, and includes support for data encryption and multiple languages.
Windows 7 Ultimate contains all possible features from each Windows 7 variant and is targeted for home and small business users who want features included in the enterprise package. The text states that this is the more expensive Windows 7 software.
Microsoft has changed their strategy with Windows 7, in that certain features that were available with the preceding Windows Vista operating system software such as Movie Maker and Windows Mail are now available as a separate download known as Windows Live Essentials.
The chapter concludes by discussing ways to use Windows 7, including logging on to the operating system; navigating basic functions like windows, scroll bars and boxes; accessing the "Getting Started" window; minimizing, maximizing, resizing and closing windows; using desktop gadgets, the recycle bin, the Start and Program menus; the Taskbar; and using Windows Help and Support to name a few items.
I look forward to a deeper look under the hood of Windows 7!
The blogging assignment this week is to cover the material in Chapter 1 and Appendix A in our text, Shelly Cashman's "Microsoft Windows 7 Comprehensive". Chapter 1 contains an overview of the fundamentals of using of Windows 7, and comprehensive explanations of using its basic features. As many features have been changed, added or expanded from Windows XP and earlier versions, this is very informative to someone like me who has been using this operating system through each of its successive editions since Windows 3.0 was introduced in 1990.
The text begins by defining the basic concepts involved in computer use; it defines the operating system, various hardware types of servers, workstations and peripherals; and discusses the differences between the types of network topologies of intranet, internet and intranet.
There are several differing types of Windows 7 to meet the needs of the computing public. Editions range from Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic, which contain only basic features and are used on computers with limited capabilities or in emerging markets. These editions are generally not available for retail sale, and are preinstalled by a hardware builder.
Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional are contain more features, and are available for retail purchase. A distinction between the two is that Win 7 Pro contains features designed for small business users, such as networking software, backup and restore functions, and the ability to join a domain.
Windows 7 Enterprise is designed for corporate users, and includes support for data encryption and multiple languages.
Windows 7 Ultimate contains all possible features from each Windows 7 variant and is targeted for home and small business users who want features included in the enterprise package. The text states that this is the more expensive Windows 7 software.
Microsoft has changed their strategy with Windows 7, in that certain features that were available with the preceding Windows Vista operating system software such as Movie Maker and Windows Mail are now available as a separate download known as Windows Live Essentials.
The chapter concludes by discussing ways to use Windows 7, including logging on to the operating system; navigating basic functions like windows, scroll bars and boxes; accessing the "Getting Started" window; minimizing, maximizing, resizing and closing windows; using desktop gadgets, the recycle bin, the Start and Program menus; the Taskbar; and using Windows Help and Support to name a few items.
I look forward to a deeper look under the hood of Windows 7!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)