by Technophobes;the Kicking;Screaming Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers
• A retractable keyboard shelf fits under a desk or computer table.
Some Other Things You Need to Consider
Certain health issues should not be ignored with regard to choosing where you set up your computer. “Ergonomically correct” is a phrase becoming almost as popular as “politically correct.” It refers to creating a healthy work environment and positioning your body properly to accomplish the task at hand without injury.
Monitor: Your monitor should be at a 15-degree angle below your sight line. Flat-panel monitors often have an adjustable neck to allow you to find the perfect height. If you set the monitor on the computer case, that may or may not bring it to the correct height. If it doesn’t, try setting the monitor on a large phone book or a dictionary instead. Be sure the monitor is stable.
Chair: The chair you sit on is extremely important. Make sure you have proper back support. If you want to make the investment, an adjustable office chair is the best choice. Used office furniture can often be found through your local classified section or online if you have a friend or family member to help you shop on the Internet.
Footrest: You also want to make sure you don’t cut off circulation in the back of your legs. If you need to raise your feet, an open file drawer, a wastebasket, or a couple of books make great inexpensive footrests.
• To avoid eyestrain, it is essential to position the monitor properly.
Glasses: If you wear glasses (especially bifocals), you may want to visit your eye doctor to be sure your prescription will be accurate for the computer. I have several students who have a separate pair of glasses that they use exclusively for the computer.
Keyboard: Your keyboard should be at a height where your elbows are at a 90-degree angle and there is an unbroken line from your wrist to your fingertips. Try adding a cushion to your chair, if you need to sit higher.
• To avoid wrist strain, keep a straight line from your elbow to your fingertips.
Injuring yourself while sitting at a computer may seem a bit odd to you, but it’s not uncommon. Bad posture, repetitive motion, and eyestrain can take a real toll. Many people lose track of time when they’re in front of a computer. Before they know it, they’ve been staring at the screen for two solid hours without ever moving their body from its slightly slumped position.
We’ll review safety issues again when you are actually using the computer.
BUILD IN BREAKS
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recommends that you take at least one 15-minute break for every hour that you are at the computer. You need to relax your eyes and move your body a bit. Something as simple as going to the kitchen to get a drink of water is enough to ease strain.
A Few Don’ts
Besides making sure you’re physically comfortable at the computer, there are a few potential problems to watch out for when setting things up.
Don’t place the computer in too tight a space. A computer generates a fair amount of heat, and you want to make sure that air can circulate around it.
Don’t place the computer by an open window. The glare from the sun may make it difficult to view the screen. Also, constant direct sunlight on the computer can make the computer too warm when in use. And all of the microscopic things that blow in the window (whether it is grit in New York City or pollen in Nebraska) can eventually damage the inner workings of the computer.
Don’t let your animals get too friendly with your computer. Cats in particular are attracted to the heat emitted by the computer case and monitor. Unfortunately, animal fur can really muck up your system.
Don’t put your computer equipment in a room with thick carpeting. Very thick carpeting can conduct excessive static electricity, which can be harmful to the computer. If you choose to get a tower computer case, do not set it directly on carpeting. There are trays you can buy to hold it, or simply set it on a wooden board.
Don’t place any magnets near the computer or the software. Magnets have been known to damage the monitor. Crazy, but true.
Don’t place any kind of liquid near the computer. Spilling fluids on the keyboard can cause serious and expensive damage. This includes cereal and milk. I had to have my computer repaired after breakfast didn’t make it from the bowl to my mouth. If my computer hadn’t still been under warranty, I’d have been crying over spilt milk.
• It’s important to set your computer up properly to avoid strain or injury.
What Else?
You’ve chosen your work area and decided the best way to arrange everything once you make your purchase. Be sure to measure your workspace before you go computer shopping. Bring the measurements with you and refer to them to ensure a perfect fit.
One last thing: You will need a small amount of easy-access storage space near your work area. A shelf in a bookcase or a file box will do. You’ll want a place to store assembly instructions, instruction manuals (although, regrettably, instruction manuals are rarely included anymore), installation CDs and DVDs, as well as other office supplies, such as paper and replacement ink cartridges for your printer.
Addressing the issues of your workspace before you go into a store ensures that your computer will have a good home. Now we can get to the business of deciding what kind of computer is right for you.
* * *
Q: What are some tips for preventing back pain and other discomfort when using a computer?
A: The best thing you can do is take a 15-minute break every hour. Walk around and stretch before you sit down again. Be very aware of your posture as well. Visit the back of the book for some recommended exercises to help computer users.
Q: My cat loves to sleep on top of the CPU. Is that bad?
A: Yes, that’s bad! It isn’t good for your computer and I doubt it is healthy for your cat. Set a large bowl on top of the CPU to dissuade the cat from curling up there. Just don’t put anything liquid into the bowl. That would be dangerous near the equipment.
Q: Can I put my computer in front of my air conditioner?
A: The real enemy of a computer is heat, not cold. Nonetheless, my concern is the air blowing onto the computer. I’d imagine unwanted particles would be more apt to get into your computer. Try to find a spot that’s not directly in front of your AC.
GO FOR A TEST-DRIVE
CHAPTER 6
Apples and Oranges
Macintosh vs. PC
Perhaps you’ve decided whether a desktop or a laptop computer best meets your needs. And you’ve scoped out your home for the perfect place to set up shop. The next big question is—should you buy a Mac or a PC?
The Apple Macintosh computer is referred to as a Mac or an Apple and has, as you have probably seen, an apple as its logo. Macs were the first computers designed for personal use that used visuals (or icons) as a way to get from one piece of information on the computer to another. They also introduced the mouse and menus (lists of options). These innovations were designed to make the Mac easy, fun to use, and less confusing (aka user-friendly).
In the 1980s, IBM came out with a model called the IBM PC (IBM Personal Computer). For a while people referred to other non-Mac brands as IBM-compatible, but that didn’t make for catchy advertising, so the partial name PC (Personal Computer) stuck.
Technically, a Mac is also a personal computer (PC), but it has the prestige of carrying its own brand name. For our purposes a Macintosh is a Mac or an Apple, and a PC is everything else.
Many companies followed in the footsteps of the original IBM PC and actually surpassed IBM in sales. Some of the manufacturers’ names might be familiar to you: Hewlett-Packard (HP), Dell, and Toshiba, among others.
* * *
“I had no idea that my daughter used a different type of computer than I did. I thought they all worked the same. When I called her in a panic and she couldn’t help me, I felt lost. Luckily, my neighbor also has a PC, and he came to my rescue.”
—Dan
* * *
What Makes a PC and a Mac So Di
fferent?
When the Macintosh hit the market in 1984, the differences between its system and that of the PC were enormous. Mac had an incredibly easy operating system (remember, the operating system is what manages the information you have in your machine) and became known as the company that made computers user-friendly. That translates to being easy to use, less intimidating, and more fun. They accomplished this through creative graphic design and the use of visual cues to access information on the computer.
Macintosh made the decision not to share its operating system with any other manufacturers. Think of it this way: Macs speak a special language all their own. The pickle is that Macs and PCs have different operating systems. When software is designed, it needs to be designed in one version for Macs to understand and in another version for all other PCs to understand.
When Mac decided not to share its operating system, this left the door open for someone else to enter the market. That is exactly what Microsoft did when it came out with Windows 95 (an ancestor of Windows XP, Vista, and the great, great, great grandfather of Windows 7). Microsoft designed a PC operating system based on a lot of Mac’s original ideas. The creation of Windows 95 gave PCs an operating system as straightforward and user-friendly as the Mac’s.
At this time PCs dominate the market. There are close to eight PC owners for every Mac owner. If the majority of people are buying software for a PC, naturally the priority for manufacturers is to create software for the majority. Until recently a lot of computer software came out in a PC version long before the Mac version hit the stores, and in some cases it was never designed for Macs at all. Now, however, there is software that allows a Mac to run most PC applications. It doesn’t always run perfectly, but it’s improving all the time.
The Pros and Cons of Macs and PCs
Pros
Macs
• still considered more user-friendly
• great service record
• used by most graphic designers
PCs
• less expensive
• software hits the market first
• more brands available
Cons
Macs
• more expensive, but prices are dropping
• not always compatible with non-Mac software
• software can take longer to come to market
PCs
• design is still catching up to the Mac
• operating system is more vulnerable to viruses
From a teaching and learning point of view, this translation software will make life so much easier. That way we can all speak the same language. You’ll see what I mean later when I describe how to use a computer if you have a PC, then how to use it if you have a Mac. It would be much more efficient to have only one system to explain.
The basic pieces of hardware are the same on both systems. However, the ports where you plug in the monitor, keyboard, printer, and other peripherals in the back of the computer case can be different. That means that you can’t always plug a Mac keyboard into a PC computer case and vice versa without some kind of adapter unless it is a USB port. This is another reason why the division between the two is hard to bridge. You really need to commit to one or the other—they don’t mix well.
• Some of the ports at the back of an Apple/Mac computer (right) are different from those on a PC (left).
The dispute between Mac users and PC users is legendary. If you haven’t experienced it, just ask Mac users if they would change to a PC, and they will more than likely square their shoulders and give you a powerful “never.” A PC user might even offer you a knuckle sandwich. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
• USB cable.
USB = UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS
Universal is the key word. A USB cable will plug into both a Mac and a PC.
Enough Already. Which Should I Buy?
One big consideration is what your friends and family have—not because you can’t march to a different drummer, but because if you find yourself calling someone at 3 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon with a computer problem, if that person has a different operating system than you, his or her ability to advise you will be limited. What if your daughter wanted to give you her old monitor or share some software, but she has a Mac and you have a PC? You’d be out of luck.
That said, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. You will learn to use and love whatever computer you decide to buy. This is a win-win situation. There are more happy PC users in the world than blades of grass in your backyard, and the same is true for Mac users.
Let’s Review
Mac
brand of personal computer with a unique operating system
Apple
synonym for a Mac
PC
personal computer; used as a name for any computer other than a Mac
Windows 7
the operating systems currently used on most PCs
POPULARITY CONTEST
If all your friends have Macs, get a Mac. If they all have PCs, get a PC, but don’t limit yourself to purchasing the same brand as all your friends. All PCs work the same way, no matter who manufactures them.
* * *
Q: If I learn on a Mac, will I be able to use a PC at some point?
A: Sure. You can learn anything. There are some differences in how things look on the screen and how to organize documents, but I have total faith that you can make the transition. And once you’re on the Internet there are very few differences between the two.
Q: How can I tell an Apple computer from a Mac computer?
A: You can’t tell one from the other because they are one and the same. Apple and Mac are two names for the same brand of computer.
Q: What if I don’t want to buy an Apple or a PC?
A: At this point in time, that would mean you wouldn’t be buying a computer. I don’t know of a computer store that sells any computers that are not either a Mac/Apple or a PC.
Q: Do I need to buy an Apple computer from an Apple store?
A: Apple computers can be purchased from non-Apple computer stores. However, I wouldn’t recommend it. Only if you purchase directly from Apple are you given the opportunity to purchase AppleCare (their tech support services, which are good) and become eligible to take their in-store classes.
CHAPTER 7
Would You Buy a Car Without Test-Driving It?
What to look for when you get behind a keyboard
On more than one occasion I have received calls from students who want me to “choose whatever computer you think is best for me.” For the same reasons that it is unwise to buy a car without a test-drive, it is unwise to buy a computer without taking a few different models for a spin. As with a car, you’re looking for comfort, ease, speed, and quality at the best price possible. How can you know about comfort and ease until you actually touch the machine? Speed and quality, however, can be determined through research, which includes talking with computer-using friends and family.
What makes one person buy a Cadillac and another a VW bug? I can tell you what kind of computer I like, but my hands may be smaller, my eyesight worse, and my needs entirely different from yours. No matter how tempting it is or how much easier it seems, don’t have someone else make your computer-buying decisions for you. An experienced computer user can give you great advice, but you have to get your hands on the machine before you make the final decision. Your adviser is not the one who is going to sit in front of the machine and use it. You are. Would you buy a pair of shoes without trying them on?
* * *
“I think I was more scared buying my first computer than when I went in for surgery. So, I brought a friend for support. In the end it wasn’t that bad.”
—Eliza
* * *
Preparation for Your Test-Drive
Here is a little homework that you need to do before you step into a store to test-drive computers:
Try out the computers of your friends and family. Keep in
mind that people are usually very loyal to the computer they use and think it is the only choice. For your research assignment, the more variety, the better. If no one you know has a computer, go to your local library, community center, or even high school. I guarantee you’ll find someone around who is proud of his or her computer skills and eager to show them off.
Do research. An eager salesperson can send you reeling with too much information, so it’s best to go into the store with a few computer brands in mind. The salesperson might very well show you a gem that you didn’t know about, but you’re always better off having done some research on your own.
Look through computer magazines to get an idea of what computers you’re interested in seeing. Call the magazine publisher and see which issue has the most recent list of the top-ten computers to buy. Get a copy of that issue and narrow your choice to three or four of their top recommendations. Mark the articles so that you remember which computers you want to see. Don’t try to read the entire magazine unless you’re very interested. It can be confusing (and boring) and may put you off buying a computer.
You might want to call several computer mail-order stores listed in the back of this book. Feel free to ask whatever questions you have. The telephone salespeople are usually very helpful and informative. Give them a call, but do not make a purchase yet. It is still important that you go into a store and test-drive different machines—although you may ultimately decide to buy your computer through the mail.
