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Getting ready

When you contact me, it would be very helpful if you have ready some information about the computer you are currently using.

  • Is it a laptop or a desktop computer?
  • Do you know what operating system your computer uses?
  • Are you on the Internet?
  • Do you know who your Internet provider is?
  • Is your Internet connection broadband or dial-up?
  • Does your computer have any antivirus software installed?

Operating Sytems

I will be able to identify your operating system when I first visit you, but it does help to know in advance so that I can prepare material for you if need be. By far the most commonly-used operating systems are versions of Windows.

(Read more...)

The operating system is the software that controls your computer. Microsoft Windows is an operating system.

Microsoft have brought out several versions of Windows over the last 15 years or so. Windows XP was reckoned to be a significant improvement in 2003 and is still being used. Windows Vista was produced in 2007. The 'home' version has proved rather frustrating.

If you have bought a new computer from a high street retailer in the last two or three years it will almost certainly be running the Windows 7 operating system.

The rival to Microsoft is AppleMac, who have a minority but significantly loyal following. Mac users please note that I have very little experience of Macs but will help on a 'best endeavours' basis!

The Internet

The great majority of my clients want to use the computer for communication by email and finding information on the Web. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are numerous and very competitive: BT/Yahoo!, Tiscali, TalkTalk/AOL, Orange, VirginMedia...

(Read more...)There are also various contracts available with mobile phone companies, some of which offer a 'free' computer. The contracts are usually for 2 years.

You will have to assess the value of the monthly payments against the computer they provide and your likely use of their phone service.

Antivirus software

I strongly recommend that you install antivirus software on your computer if you intend to use the Internet. There are people 'out there' who seem to delight in wrecking computers by sending out programs that literally infect your information, making your computer go very slowly and eventually grind to a halt. Others will try to get into your computer and retrieve information from it - like your bank account details.
(Read more...)There are several proprietary antivirus packages available: Norton/Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky, BitDefender, Bullguard...to name a few. Typically they cost between £30 and £60 from the high-street retailers. If you buy a new computer the retailer might include an antivirus package as part of the deal.

It's important to realise that the protection these packages provide only lasts one year. After that, you will have to renew the licence - at much the same price!


Website design by My Computer Tutor 2009

Glossary

A desktop computer has a separate screen and keyboard.

A laptop is portable. The screen is in the folding lid.

The Internet is the system of telephone lines and satellite links that connect computers around the world.

The Web is the network of server computers or hosts that hold pages of information - websites. These are open to access by other computers, like yours and mine. This network is the "World-Wide Web".

A dial-up connection takes over your telephone line to connect your computer to the Internet. You can't use the phone while on the Internet.

A broadband connection enables you to use the telephone while you are connected to the Internet. The connection is broad enough for both.