From the Author
There are five main reasons for anyone in their 50s, 60s or 70s buying the book for themselves or for a friend or relative of a similar age:
·Save money - learn to use the World Wide Web to compare prices, find bargains or as an alternative to buying books, magazines or TV listings; follow the advice on keeping down telephone charges that you inevitably run up during an Internet session; make your own greetings cards, headed paper, advertisements or other publications; set up a simple spreadsheet to monitor your expenditure; or publish a Website to advertise your services or organisation for free.
·Geared to the older home user - applications and projects explained in the book are aimed particularly at those of you who are retired, work part-time or as volunteers or who want to use your machine for developing leisure interests, staying in touch with friends and family or helping other members of the family. Many relevant Websites are identified and IT training for older learners is explained.
·Offers practical help to the less mobile - find out about chatrooms and newsgroups as a way to make new friends; discover on-line newspapers and TV Websites to save trips to the library; learn about safe ways to shop on-line and have goods delivered; and keep in touch via e-mails.
·Use shortcuts and familiar applications more fully - have you understood how to use and organise your e-mail Address Book
.Bookmark web pages and keep them tidy in named folders
.File your work safely so that it is easy to find again
.Manipulate images and copy or import them from scanners, digital cameras or the Web
.Find missing programs or create shortcuts to them from the Desktop
.And are there aspects of word processing, spreadsheets, charts, databases or presentation software you have never explored
·Build your confidence - each major application starts with the basics, in case it is new to you, and the chapters end with a clearly set out checklist as a memory aid; a full glossary at the back explains all the technical terms; and projects are clearly explained and illustrated in colour so you will know exactly what you should be seeing on your own screen.