Laptop computers have rapidly fallen in price, increased in specification and performance and become much lighter in weight. They can be used practically any where, then stored out of sight when not in use.  Therefore, it is not surprising that their sales now far exceed desktop machines and  are also becoming increasingly popular with the older generation of computer users.

The friendly and practical approach of this book will help you to understand and get the most from your laptop PC in an easy and enjoyable way.

The book is divided into five chapters:

• LAPTOP BASICS AND SELECTION covers the pros and cons of laptops for various uses and applications. It also offers advice on selecting the right machine for you.
• SETTING UP YOUR LAPTOP covers unpacking, connecting and getting your   machine operational. Also covers charging using mains power and adjusting the screen, touch pad etc.
• USING YOUR LAPTOP PC covers the installation and configuring of applications software. Also covered are using external drives, printers ,expansion cards and     docking stations etc.
• INTERNET SECURITY covers connecting to the Internet using Wi-Fi and general security matters such as Firewalls, encryption, antivirus etc.
• TROUBLESHOOTING covers using System Restore. Backing up data. Battery and power management. Possible keyboard   difficulties and screen problems etc.

PLEASE NOTE

This book is printed on high quality non-reflective long grain paper for easy opening and reading.

Paperback: size198 X130mm, spine 7.2mm

If you have recently bought a new desktop or laptop PC it will almost certainly have Windows Vista as its operating system.  Windows Vista manages the available resources of a computer and also ‘controls’ the programs that run on it.

To get the most from your computer, it is important that you have a good understanding of Vista. This book will help you achieve just that. It is written in a friendly and practical way and is suitable for all age groups from youngsters to the older generation. It has been assumed that Vista is installed and running on your computer.

 Among the numerous topics explained are:

• The Vista environment with its many windows
• How to organise your files, folders and photos
• How to use Internet Explorer for your Web browsing
• How to use Microsoft Mail for your e-mails
• How to control your PC and keep it healthy
• How to use Vista’s Accessibility features if you have poor eye sight or difficulty in using the keyboard or mouse

And much more besides…

 This book will give you a better understanding of Microsoft’s amazing Windows Vista operating system.

PLEASE NOTE

This book is printed on high quality non-reflective long grain paper for easy opening and reading.

Paperback: size198 X130mm, spine 7.2mm

The practical and friendly approach of this book will help newcomers to easily learn and understand the basics of spreadsheets. This  book is based on Microsoft’s Excel 2007 spreadsheet, but the vast majority of the book will still apply to earlier versions of Excel. The book is written in plain English, avoiding technical and mathematical jargon and all illustrations are in full colour. It is suitable for all age groups from youngsters to the older generation.

Among the many topics explained are how to:

• Install the software
• Use the exciting new features of Excel 2007
• Create and use a spreadsheet
• Enter, edit and format text, numbers and formulae
• Insert, delete and hide columns and rows
• Save and print a spreadsheet
• Present the information on a spreadsheet as a graph or chart
• Manage and safeguard Excel files on disc
• Use Excel as a simple database for names and addresses

This  book will help you to quickly gain confidence and get to grips with using spreadsheets. In fact you will wonder how you ever managed  without them.

PLEASE NOTE

This book is printed on high quality non-reflective long grain paper for easy opening and reading.

Paperback: size198 X130mm, spine 7.2mm

The friendly and practical approach of this book will help newcomers to digital photography and computing to easily learn the basics they will need when using a digital camera with a laptop or desktop PC. It is assumed that your PC uses Windows Vista, however, if it is a Windows XP machine the vast majority of this book will still apply. This book is written in plain English, avoiding technical jargon and all illustrations are in full colour. It is suitable for all age groups from youngsters to the older generation.

Among the many topics explained are how to:

• Understand the basic features of a digital camera
• Transfer photographs from your digital camera to your computer
• View your photographs
• Save, sort and file your photographs
• Manipulate, crop and carry out simple corrections to enhance your photographs
• Copy your photographs on to a CD
• Print your photographs
• E-mail your photographs to friends and family all around the world.

This  book will help you quickly get to grips, gain confidence and expand your horizons in the fascinating hobby of digital photography.

PLEASE NOTE

This book is printed on high quality non-reflective long grain paper for easy opening and reading.

 Paperback: size198 X130mm, spine 7.2mm

Google is much more than just a search tool that we  are all familiar with. You can use it to do so much more as this book will show.

This book explains:

• How to use Google for browsing and searching the web using the new Chrome web browser, including basic and advanced Web Searches.
• How to make online shopping quick and easy with Google Product Search and Google Checkout.
• How to use Google News to keep up to date with   local and World news, or to search and explore historical news        archives.
• How to get instant up to date and historical financial information using Google Finance.
  
• How to e-mail using Google Gmail and socialise using Google Groups as well as organising your life with Google Calendar.
• How to create, organise and share all types of documents by ‘cloud computing’ on line with Google Docs.

How to organise and share your photos with Picasa and search for or display your own videos on the internet with YouTube.
How to use Google Maps to view maps and local business information, get driving directions, and view satellite images of most locations. Also how to use Google Earth and Sky.
And much more besides….

Microsoft Access 2007 is a database management system designed to allow users to store, manipulate and retrieve information easily and quickly. Access 2007 is part of the Professional, Professional Plus, Enterprise and Ultimate versions of Microsoft Office 2007, or it can be purchased separately.

If you are a PC user and want to get to grips with Microsoft’s Access 2007 database as quickly and easily as possible, then this book is for you. No previous knowledge of database design is assumed.

The book deals with  the hardware you will need to run   Access 2007 and how to install it onto your system when using Vista or XP versions of Windows, you are then familiarised with the New Ribbon interface and the Access 2007 environment.

The main features of the package are then discussed by the use of a simple example database that you are encouraged to develop and modify as more advanced features are introduced.

There is  also  a complete listing of all keyboard shortcuts and a glossary.

This book is an indispensable companion to anyone using Access 2007 for the first time or has used an earlier version of Access. It will also act as  an invaluable reference long after you have mastered the program. 

To build your own computer is, actually, quite easy and does not require any special tools or skills. In fact all that it requires is a screwdriver, pliers and some small spanners rather than a soldering iron! The parts required to build a computer are freely available and relatively inexpensive.

Obviously, a little technical knowledge is needed in order to buy the most suitable components, to connect everything together correctly and to set up the finished PC ready for use.

This book will take you step-by-step through all the necessary procedures and is written in an easy to understand way. The latest hardware components are covered as is installing the Windows Vista operating system.

Among the many other topics covered are:

• Selecting  the right components.
• Simple anti-static precautions.
• Configuring the motherboard.
• Fitting the processor and memory modules.
• Fitting the PSU.
• Mechanical assembly and cabling.
• Dealing with the BIOS.
• Disc partitioning and formatting.
• The operating system.
• Troubleshooting.

Broadband has two main advantages over a ‘dial-up’ internet connection. Firstly, a tremendous increase in speed and, secondly, a permanent connection.

These advantages now make it a practical proposition for, say, two or three computers in the same house or office to share an internet connection via a simple wireless network. With a network in operation you can also share files and other hardware such as a printer.

The one draw back of a permanently-on internet connection is that it can make your computer more vulnerable to attacks from hackers. However, it is relatively easy to protect yourself by using appropriate hardware and software, but you must know what you are doing.

This invaluable book provides all the practical information you are likely to need to successfully set up a wireless network with a safe and secure Broadband internet connection and also shows you how to use this to its full advantage.

This book has a sixteen page colour gallery.

Similar principals apply when upgrading both laptops and desktop machines, although physical dissimilarities have to be considered.  Sometimes laptops have to be upgraded by using external devices.

The book opens with a general chapter on what is involved and then moves on to the more hands-on side of  things. For example how to get the case open, how to avoid problems with static electricity, how to remove and fit components and expansion cards, etc.

The book then considers  practical  upgrading by dealing with the individual component parts of the computer such as input devices, memory, processor, motherboard, BIOS, video, monitor, hard disc, CD/DVD drives and power supply, etc.

There is also a chapter on external drives as well as a chapter on network and Wi-Fi upgrades.

The final chapter deals with trouble shooting and what to do if things should go wrong. 

This book has a sixteen page colour gallery.

Now that you are familiar with your PC and have mastered the basics, it is now time to improve your skills and knowledge and see how much more it is possible to do on your computer. This book will gently guide you   through many of these tasks by the use of practical examples.

As the emphasis of this book is mainly on applications rather than the operating system, it applies both to PCs running Windows Vista or XP.

Some of the concepts in this book  that you will be introduced to are the uses of spreadsheets, charts and graphs (Excel), giving presentations (PowerPoint), maintaining a club membership list and printing and mailing a newsletter (Excel, Word and MailMerge) .

Many useful online activities are also covered as  is setting up a simple wireless network to share an internet connection and printer between two or more computers.

You are also shown how to keep your PC in optimum condition by carrying out simple housekeeping tasks.

This book will help you gain the confidence that will be needed to tackle more complex tasks on your computer in the future.