Ever have this experience when someone is trying to show you something on your computer? Usually one your kids? Their fingers fly around on the keyboard, something happens on the screen, you look confused, then they look at you like you're a moron? And you get the feeling that everyone in the world knows that cute little keyboard trick but you? Well guess what? Everybody else does. Computers aren't new any more. You don't get a pass by looking dazed and saying "I'm just such a klutz with these things." This stuff is here to stay, so focus, and learn a few things. You'll be glad you did.
The following skills are extremely basic. But anyone reading this who is rolling his eyes and thinking that everybody knows them already obviously never met my friends.
Selecting text and images:
You can select almost anything that you want to copy by holding down the left mouse button while dragging the cursor across the screen. As you do that,notice that the text gets highlighted. That means it's selected. When you've highlighted everything you want to select, release the mouse button, and it should stay highlighted (highlit?).
Here's a selection trick that comes in handy for making small selections and also for refining larger selections. Highlight some text, then hold down the shift key and use the right or left arrow key to expand or contract your selection. When you're done, just let go.
Copy and Paste:
You can copy text and/or images in almost any program or web page. Then you can paste them somewhere else, such as into another program. Here, there, anywhere. Very handy.
All you have to do is first select the content you want to copy (see previous paragraph) and then do one of two things (I know, there are other ways, too, but these are the easiest to remember for most people) - either click on the program's File menu and then Copy, or use a keyboard shortcut (Windows users hold down the Control key and the letter C, Mac users hold down the Command key and the letter C). At this point, nothing will happen, you just have to take it on faith that you've made a copy of the selection.
To paste, put the cursor into the space where you want the selection to go. Make sure you see the cursor blinking in the space where you want the text to go. Then do one of two things - either click on the program's File menu and then Paste, or use a keyboard shortcut (Windows users hold down the Control key and the letter V, Mac users hold down the Command key and the letter V).
So, Control-C for Copy and Control-V for Paste? What's up with that? Why not Control-P for Paste? Don't ask me, I didn't design the system. That's just the way it works. Control-P is for print. Get over it.
Copy and Paste is nearly universal among computer programs. Doesn't work with Quicken, but with almost everything else I've used. You can even use the keyboard shortcuts in situations where the window you're dealing with doesn't even have a File menu. So give it a try.
Setting your browser's home page:
A lot of people don't know that you can change the web page that opens whenever you start your browser. In fact, I know a few people who think that without the Yahoo home page they can't get to the internet. Not so. In fact, if you want, you can have your browser open to no home page at all, just a nice white blank space, which can be very soothing sometimes.
Every browser has some sort of "preferences" menu that lets you choose what page you want to see on start-up. It won't be hard to find, it's somewhere in one of the menu bars at the top of your browser window. And the directions are pretty clear. So change it to something fun, like CNN or Martha Stewart. You'll all be happier when you don't have to look at Yahoo any more.
Use Google to find help:
This is the biggie. Google really does have all the answers. You know when you email me and describe a problem you're having with your computer and I get back to you right away with the answer? It's not because I'm a genius. Not even close. The truth is I just googled the symptoms you gave me, and the answer was right there. Usually on the first page of results.
So the next time you run into a stumbling block, can't figure out how to do something, have an odd error message - instead of emailing me, try typing the problem into Google first and see if you can figure out the answer on your own. You'll feel so empowered.
Back in the early days of home computing you had to follow very rigid search rules. Things had to be within parentheses, in order of importance, etc. Life has gotten a lot easier since then. Now you can be pretty relaxed about the search terms you type in. Recently I couldn't remember how to type the character for a trademark. So here's what I typed into the Google search bar - keyboard shortcut for trademark symbol on a mac. Got the answer right away. No special syntax needed, just plain english. ™