Definition of Delete vs Cancel – Two Commonly Confused Computer Terms
In this article, I want to talk a little bit about two computer terms that I see people confusing or demonstrating that they don’t understand completely. People often use the two interchangeably or consistently use the wrong one. These two terms are “cancel” and “delete.”
Four Basic Computer Training Kindle Books Available on Amazon
I’m happy to announce that the first four of a series of books covering computer basics and online privacy & security advice are now available to order from Amazon.com (and on the overseas “local branches” of Amazon) for Kindle.
You can see cover images and titles for the books – clicking them will take you to Amazon where you can order them and have them instantly delivered to you.
How to Prevent Computer Problems
How to Back Up Your Computer
What is A Safe Password
What is the Internet (Internet Basics)What is a USB Flash Drive – Computer Terms in Plain English
In this audio lesson & transcript, I’m going to take a question from Mark. He writes and asks, “What’s a flash drive?”
Transcript of computer lesson begins:
A flash drive is a type of storage device for a computer. A storage device is the broad or general term for anything that is used to store data or files.
A hard drive in your computer is a storage device. An old floppy disk is a storage device. A CD-ROM or DVD is a storage device, and so is a flash drive.
A lot of people call flash drives by specific brand names. They think that is the correct name for them. Sometimes they’ll refer to them as a thumb drive, jump drive, go drive, key drive or any number of things. These are actually all brand names or partial brand names that people have mistakenly thought was the correct general term for that type of device.
A flash drive is a
Computer Question: What is a Bookmark – Basic Computer Term Explained
This computer question comes from Mahakali Ramesh Kumar, who writes:
“Dear Worth Godwin,
I want to know what is Bookmark in internet or in computers.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully Mahakali”
TRANSCRIPT BEGINS:
That’s a pretty simple thing to answer. A bookmark is sometimes also known as a favorite, although originally it was known as a bookmark in most web browsers. Those are the programs you use to navigate around on the internet.
It’s really Internet Explorer that refers to them as favorites. I think they did this originally because they were concerned about avoiding copyright infringement. I’m not positive about that. At any rate, a favorite or bookmark is the same thing.
When the web was created in the early to mid ‘90s, the way we thought about it is like pages like pages in a book. If you have a book you’re reading and you want to get back to a page in that book, what do you do? You bookmark it. It’s the same basic idea.
Computer Question About Ubuntu and Free Open Source Software
I received a computer question by email from a subscriber named Willa Valdez, who is wondering what I think about Ubuntu and Open Source software in general. Here’s her question:
“Dear Worth,
Mahalo Nui Loa for your Newsletters. Your computer lessons have helped me tremendously.
I am thinking of purchasing a netbook. They both have the operating system Ubuntu (latest version) already installed. I am a newbie when it comes to Linux but I am curious about how how this system works. I installed Ubuntu via WUBI along side VISTA, however, my computer would freeze when I chose to boot with Ubuntu. I was able to boot with Ubuntu a couple of times and liked the Gnome desktop. Unfortunately, some of the applications I use were not supported i.e. Skype. I did not delve into learning the Command Line just yet.
I would appreciate your thoughts on Ubuntu and your general opinion on the Open Source concept.
Again, thank you for expertise and assistance.
Aloha,
Willa Valdez”
Below is a partial transcription of the audio:
What do I think about Ubuntu and open-source? There are a few things. Let’s start with some definitions.
Computer Question: What is Grounding & Can Electrostatic Damage Hurt Your Electronics?
This time I’m going to take a question from someone who asks, “What is grounding? I’ve heard it phrased in so many places but don’t know what it is.”
Use the audio player above to listen to the plain English explanation of this computer term, or read the transcription of the audio below:
– Compute training audio transcription begins –
Grounding is something that is important for electronics. As usual, I’m going to give you a nontechnical answer. Ground or grounding is the main way it’s called in the United States. Elsewhere, such as in the UK, it’s often referred to as earth or earthing. It’s the same thing.
This refers to draining off excess electricity. That’s basically what it’s about.
I’ve talked about how it’s important for someone working on the inside of a computer or any kind of electronic device that they be grounded.
If I work on a computer, take it apart and am upgrading or repairing it, any time I have the case open and am working in the inside of it, I’m always making sure that I’m grounded. The way I do this is
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