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Microsoft © is a registered name for the Microsoft Corporation
The Operating System:
This is an essential item that your computer needs, as without it your computer will not function. Not generally known as ‘software’ but as an ‘operating system’, it includes programs as part of the package: email, Paint and games such as Solitaire. Common operating systems are XP, Vista, Linux, and Mackintosh for Apple computers.
If you are buying a computer, make sure than it has a valid operating system installed, ideally there should be one, pre-installed, and also an anti virus program and a browser. You will need to check which other programs your computer has already installed. To find out, click on the start button and then Programs, all these programs are installed.
Anti-Virus Software:
There are people who develop viruses for computers which generally disrupt the normal workings of a PC. It is vital that you have an Anti-virus program installed and update it regularly (ideally daily or each time you go on line). Updating, is usually carried out automatically and added to the database each day to combat new viruses.
In addition to an Anti-virus software package, you may need a Firewall. Most Anti-virus software includes a Firewall but some do not. A Firewall prevents hackers from spying on your computer and gaining sensitive information from you that you do not want to share; it also prevents hackers from interfering with your PC, making your computer not work correctly.
Other types of prevention you may need if you go online or receive email messages is a firstly a Spyware software program, this will prevent sites from ‘spying’ on you. Most spying done online is harmless; Google keeps track of all its users’ online habits for instance. The second type of prevention is against Malware. This is when you have a malicious software program attached to your browser; the best way to rid yourself of this if you are infected is to close any pages that act strangely. The ‘Pop-ups’ of some advertisements is a common form of malware. For the programs that remain you will need to run an anti-malware scan, again most anti-virus software has this installed, but do check on that.
The best known Anti-Virus programs are McAfee and Norton, these cost between £30 and £80 depending upon the version. There is also free Anti-virus software called AVG which is fine for most people.
Word Processing Software:
Word Processing software works with text documents and allows you to add tables and images to your work. Although this kind of program works best with basic text, there are all sorts of things a Word Processing program can do, such as adding headers and footers. You can count the words and pages for your college essays of 1000 words for example. You can create mail merge documents whereby you do not need to prepare a document for each person; you can add the contact details into a table and then merge these to one document. When first learning how to use a computer, most people start with Word Processing. Popular Word Processors are: Microsoft Word and Write.
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Spreadsheet Software:
Spreadsheet software works with figures, there are many calculations you can perform on Spreadsheet software. You can create a budget. Work out the mortgage repayments over a year and the interest charges. Invoices with VAT, forecast figures, graphs, charts and much more. Some people also use Excel as a simple database. Popular programs are Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123 and Calc.
Database software:
Database software stores information in an orderly manner, like a filing system. It allows you to create queries to sort out the information for you in a certain way; for example say you wanted all the members that joined in the year 2007, you can add a query to gain this information from the database. There are many more involved functions and queries that you can develop should you need to. You could create a contacts database, keeping all your contacts ordered should you need them – useful to create your Christmas card labels. Popular database programs are: Microsoft Access, Lotus Approach and My SQL for the web.
Desktop Publishing Software:
This software is designed to create leaflets, brochures and calendars and a host of other documents. Basically, it works like a load of ‘post-it’ notes on the page, with pictures, clipart, text and shapes which can be moved around individually. It tends to be easier to use and more creative than a word processing program, although there are similarities. Popular Desktop Publishing Programs are: Microsoft Publisher and Serif Page Plus.
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Presentation Software:
A presentation is an ‘electronic slideshow’. Presenters use these shows to demonstrate in a clear and vivid way the points they are trying to explain. Items are often short and bulleted. The speaker uses them as a basis for his talk. Popular Software includes Microsoft PowerPoint.
Web Design Software:
You will have seen websites if you have browsed the internet. Each page has been created using a special language called ‘HTML’ (hyper-text markup language). One webpage can be created from scratch in a basic text editor such as Notepad. If you need to design a whole site of several linked pages, you will need more complex software, which will turn your text, pictures, tables and links into HTML automatically. For a site to have each page looking similar, you will want to start with a template and build each page from it. Updates to the whole site may be made globally by just changing the template. Popular web design software includes Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Expression Web, Macromedia Dreamweaver MX2004 and Adobe Dreamweaver CS3.
eMail:
Is a software program for email messages, you can have your own email program or an online email program, they will enable you to send and receive messages to other people with an email address. Whenever you display your email address online it is open to abuse, so if you do this, you will get Spam, which generally is unwanted messages, such as sales, porn, or medical pill pushing. Generally, if you have an all in Anti-Virus software package, most will have an anti-Spam prevention installed, for your emails but again you will need to check it is turned on and kept up to date.
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Browsers:
One of the most common browsers is Internet Explorer which comes free with Microsoft Windows. Safari comes free with Apple Computers and there are many other browsers too, the most popular being Netscape and FireFox, which is not affiliated to any but free to use and download. Browsers are software programs that browse the internet. There are settings within the browser you can adjust to make your browsing life easier, such as a ban for pop-ups, you can set your browser to display with larger text should you be visually impaired, there are many other things you can do with your browser, many, use them as they come but exploring and changing settings will lead you to a better browsing experience.