Comments on: What Should Computer Noobs Be Taught First? [We Ask You]

By: AP

AP — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:53:14 +0000

One can also try ‘Open Office’, its also an open source software.

By: Freecycle Me

Freecycle Me — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:13:25 +0000

My personal advice would be don’t learn alone. There are more people who know how to use computers than not so fin a friend, someone you trust, and who does not take over, then invite them round for coffee to show you some of the basics. They would have an email address and this would give an immediate person to contact and get to use the software. If someone is too shy, reclusive or burnt all their bridges, then most local colleges or libraries give sessions on how to learn computing. It is much better to share the experience. So – phone a friend, ask the audience and share the problems 50/50 :D

By: John Wilkers

John Wilkers — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:32:26 +0000

The first and most important thing to learn new users is that they should make backups of their valuable data. The second thing to learn new users is that they should make backups of their valuable data. The third thing to learn new users is that they shoul d make backups of their valuable data. The fourth thing they should learn is WHY they must make backups of their valuable data.
You should not learn them something new if they dont get the first, second, third and fourth thing. Period..

By: bonioloff

bonioloff — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:41:17 +0000

Learn typing, because when you already familiar to type with 2 fingers, it is a lot difficult to learn 10 fingers :D

By: Roger Leer

Roger Leer — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 02:12:03 +0000

Your work is fantastic! A teriffic source for accurate digestible information. I am so happy to have found your site.

First Lessons:

1. Cut, paste, copy, ect.
2. System Restore.
3. Backup.
4. Virus and Malware removal.
5. CYA when sharing personal information.
6. Computers are smarter than you are! They never forget.
7. Never write or do anything online that you wouldn’t want your mother to see or read.
8. Keep your ego in check.
9. Have fun and try to expand your scope of thinking.
10. Respect yourself and all others you meet online. Remember we all bleed the same and share similar pain thresholds.
11. One more for the road. Try voice recognition. It is slow and tedious at the start, but you can really become a much better writer and PC user. Caution: Don’t be cheap, get a very good microphone, it really makes a BIG difference.

By: GodSponge

GodSponge — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:30:48 +0000

That’s not entirely true. The Knology modem we have requires a restart almost weekly.

Granted if Knology didn’t break it, it wouldn’t need a restart…..

By: Denise Durham

Denise Durham — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:37:19 +0000

Teach them the desktop, folders, then how to access the web. Once on the web, teach them a homepage, then an email for them to use.
Keep everything as simple as possible so they don’t get overwhelmed.

By: raj gopal

raj gopal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:30:27 +0000

first and foremost a new learner must be acknowledged as a beginner and not a “noob”, and as far as answer goes they must be thought productive apps such as Microsoft office(that’s what i learned first) followed by secondary apps such as image editing, video editing and last but not the least different programing languages such as c,c++ and mainly java

By: Marty Troum

Marty Troum — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:52:58 +0000

The first and most important element to teach (after a few moments of getting the terminology correct…DESKTOP, TASKBAR, ICONS, ETC.) is the method of interfacing with the computer/tablet/laptop/etc. That is, if it’s a mouse, then using the mouse (left-click, right-click, scroll wheel, click-and-drag, etc.) is the critical learning. An exercise that forces different mouse usage, like solitaire, or another fun exercise, is useful. If it’s a trackpad, then showing the same types of actions above using the trackpad. Once the interface is discussed, the basic operating system controls are next…minimize, maximize, closing program windows, moving windows around the desktop, etc. Once these “basics” are understood, then you can dive into things like word processing, internet surfing, email, one at a time and repetitively.

By: Patrick Jackson

Patrick Jackson — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:27:22 +0000

Easy boy!

That’s is too much for most of the n00bs to learn for the first time at straight, much like a ‘torture’, if one may put it like that.

Just the ‘browsing’ thing is good as today, we can do most of the things online, can’t we?

By: Patrick Jackson

Patrick Jackson — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:25:04 +0000

Yeah, agreed, but many of them can surprisingly do it their iPhone and they are just too proud about it, if you know what I mean! :)

But, What…?!

By: c

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:54 +0000

I bought my first computer because I am a gadget addict. I have little patience waiting to be taught the right way. I prefer to find out by trial & error. Since then I am compelled to constantly go online or mess about offline. My main problem has been the boring way information is presented to the user. Which is why I like using makeuseof. Here I can search directly for informatioin needed and often I am directed to other relevant sections which I find very useful. This way I can find out what ‘ I want to know ‘ and not fill my head with useless information.

By: DashaR

DashaR — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 03:46:17 +0000

Firstly and most importantly correct posture, and the use of a height adjustable chair.
Secondly Instruction in the difference between hardware and software and the operating system and programmes .
Understanding the use of important keys on the keyboard is also helpfull in using a word processing program or typing up an email.
File management (basic) is another important subject that needs to be shown so that saving, renaming, and moving files can be achieved.

By: Kwanitt

Kwanitt — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:51:46 +0000

I totally agree with you. The first two months I lived in Los Angeles in 1982 gave me nothing but boredom. I found a type writer kept away in a corner; I started to learn typing with my friend’s help. That gave me a leap when I started to learn computer the first time two years later.

By: Ivan Antochiw

Ivan Antochiw — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:59:25 +0000

Can’t blame anyone… it seems like holding a cup might be a more frequent use for those trays these days