Pedagogy of History

HOW TO USE LAPTOP

Laptop or notebook computers are increasingly powerful, portable alternatives to smart phones and desktop computers for getting serious work done on the go. If you're moving up to your first laptop or just sitting down at an unfamiliar one, things might seem a little odd at first. Fear not - follow these steps for getting started with all laptops and we'll get you up and running like a pro in no time.

STEPS:- Part 1: Setting the laptop.

1. If you are using the laptop in your home, find an outlet and plug the charger in. Laptop computers run on batteries that can deplete rapidly, especially if you're using your laptop intensively. Unless you're somewhere remote or foreign where you absolutely have to go without, it's better to leave your laptop plugged in.

 2. Place the bottom part of the laptop on the table/desk you are sitting in front of. They're called "laptops" because they can go on your lap, but that doesn't mean that it's always the best or right place. Try to find a comfortable angle for your wrists and hands - this might mean moving the laptop around until you find the best position for you.

Don't place your laptop on soft, fuzzy or shaggy surfaces that can block its vents. Most laptops have fan vents located on the sides and bottom that should be left unblocked for the laptop to run.

3. Lift the lid to open up until the screen looks comfortable for you. Most laptops have some type of clasp or latch which allows the screen to open.

If the laptop won't open, don't try to force it! Look for a latch instead. You shouldn't have to force the screen open.

Do not pull back the lid too far. A 45 degree obtuse angle is the most the laptop should be open to. The lid or hinge mechanism may be damaged or broken if pulled back any further.

4. Find the power button and turn it on. On most laptops, the power button is located slightly behind the keyboard. The power button is usually marked with the universal symbol for 'power on', a circle with a line going halfway through it.

5. Wait for the laptop to boot up. Since laptops are designed for portability as well as computing power, your laptop may have specialized hardware that will cause it to take longer to boot up than a desktop or smart phone.

Part 2: Installing Software.

 1. Keep your laptop's software up to date. Your laptop probably came with some basic accessory software: a simple word processor, a calculator and maybe some basic photo sharing software. Laptops also have special software for controlling power and graphics; they'll will often require a lot of driver updates before they'll be ready to use. With a little know-how, you can add software to dramatically boost your laptop's capabilities — in many cases, for free.

·         You will need to update your laptop's version of Windows if your laptop is Windows-based. Your Windows-based laptop might use Windows Update or the manufacturer's own software to update Windows.

If you are using a Mac laptop, use MacOS's built-in upgrade option. On a Mac laptop these are usually easy to find.

2. Install office software. For basic drafting and note-taking, your laptop's built-in software accessories will suffice, but for more serious academic or professional work, you're going to want a more full office suite.

·         Open Office can do word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, similar to proprietary software like Microsoft Word - but for free.

·         Use Google Docs as an online alternative to office suites. Google Docs is 'cloud-based' office software that offers a lot of the same functionality as OpenOffice or Microsoft Office. It's free to use and very powerful, in particular if you have to share documents with others.

·         If you simply have to use Microsoft Office, you might be able to get it for free or a discount if you're a student. Check before you go down to the store and buy a copy.

 3. Install photo editing software to organize, touch up and share your photos. Your laptop may have come from the factory with some basic photo software. It's quick, easy and in some cases free to upgrade it.

·         Use Photo Stream to organize and share your photos. If you have an iPhone or if your laptop is a Mac, you can follow our basic setup instructions to get Photo Stream up and sharing your photos.

·         You can use Picasa to organize and share your photos. Picasa is made by Google and provides you with a lot of the basic tools you'll need to work with photos like cropping, retouching and even recoloring and making panoramas.

Part 3: Getting Online with the Laptop.

1. If you don't have a home network set up, you'll need to do that first. Your laptop is a powerful portable computer by itself, but really using it to its full potential requires connecting to the Internet. Your laptop may have built-in software to make this easier as well.

2. Most laptops have a socket somewhere on the back or side that fits an Ethernet cable. Plug in an Ethernet cable from your router or modem into this socket and your laptop should automatically recognize your connection.

3. If you're using a Mac laptop, use Mac OS to connect your Mac to the Internet. Follow our directions and your Mac will be able to connect via Ethernet or wireless Internet.

4. On a Windows laptop, use Windows to connect to the Internet. If you're plugging in a new or different wireless card into your laptop, you might need to use the software that came with your card rather than Windows' built-in wireless utility.

5. While you're on the road or just outside of the house, you can often pick up wireless Internet for free. Schools, libraries and cafes often have free wi-fi for you to use, and you can often find wi-fi in places that might surprise you (like some supermarkets, banks and outdoor venues).

Part 4: Living and Working with Laptop.

1. Add a wireless mouse to your laptop. An external mouse can make it easier to work on your laptop - you won't need to pinch your wrists in at an angle to use the touchpad or mouse pad.

2. Use your laptop in combination with another screen for a high-productivity two-screen workspace. You can arrange your laptop and your second screen as one big workspace, or set up your second screen to mirror what's on the laptop screen (useful if you're giving presentations).

3. You can use your laptop to play movies and show photos on your TV. Some laptops in fact have HDMI or DV-I connections as well as DVD or Blu-Ray players that can provide high-resolution, HD video - just the ticket for playing movies or recorded TV shows on your friends' TVs.

4. Connect your laptop to speakers and you've essentially got a huge, powerful, high-capacity MP3 player. Your laptop may even have digital audio, SPDIF or 5.1 surround outputs to provide high-fidelity audio.

Your laptop may be able to connect to your car's audio system. Follow our how-to on connecting to car audio, but be careful - driving down the street at the same time that you're trying to click a tiny button on your laptop to change the music is a really easy way to get into an accident.

5. Laptops can be used as desktops. If you want to use the laptop as a desktop, it's as simple as hooking a monitor into the VGA socket, attaching a mouse and a keyboard and connecting speakers if desired.