Netbooks: The Missing Manual

✍ Scribed by J.D. Biersdorfer

• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 334
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Netbooks are the hot new thing in PCs--small, inexpensive laptops designed for web browsing, email, and working with web-based programs. But chances are you don't know how to choose a netbook, let alone use one. Not to worry: with this Missing Manual, you'll learn which netbook is right for you and how to set it up and use it for everything from spreadsheets for work to hobbies like gaming and photo sharing. Netbooks: The Missing Manual provides easy-to-follow instructions and lots of advice to help you: Learn the basics for using a Windows- or Linux-based netbook Connect speakers, printers, keyboards, external hard drives, and other hardware Get online using a wireless network, a public network, broadband cards, or dial-up Write email, browse the Web, transfer bookmarks, and add tools to your web browser Use business tools like Google Docs and Office for Netbooks Collaborate with others online via instant messaging Edit and share photos, play games, listen to music, and watch TV and movies online You'll also learn about web-based backup and storage, staying secure online--especially when using wireless networks--and tips for troubleshooting. Netbooks point to the future of computing, and Netbooks: The Missing Manual will show you how to get there.

✦ Table of Contents

Netbooks: The Missing Manual
......Page 1
Title Page
......Page 2
Copyright
......Page 3
Contents
......Page 4
The Missing Credits
......Page 8
Introduction
......Page 14
Ch. 1. Buying and Setting
Up Your Netbook
......Page 20
What to Look for When Buying
a Netbook......Page 21
Customizing and Buying Your Netbook......Page 27
Setting Up Your Netbook......Page 29
Transferring Files to Your Netbook......Page 32
Netbook Battery Options......Page 38
A Note About Netbook Keyboards......Page 39
Ch. 2. Getting to Know Your Windows Netbook
......Page 42
Which Windows?......Page 43
Seven Things You Should Know About Windows 7......Page 45
Setting Up a Windows XP Netbook......Page 46
The Start Menu: Where It All Begins......Page 48
Windows Desktop Basics......Page 50
Taking Control with Control Panel......Page 55
A Tour of the Windows
Programs Menu......Page 56
Adding More Programs......Page 59
Removing Programs......Page 61
Organizing and Finding Files......Page 62
Checking Hard Drive Space......Page 66
Backing Up Your Windows Netbook......Page 67
Closing Down Your Netbook......Page 69
Ch. 3. Getting to Know Your Linux Netbook
......Page 72
Which Type of Linux?......Page 73
Setting Up a Linux Netbook......Page 74
Exploring the Linux Desktop......Page 76
Applications Menu:
All Your Programs......Page 82
Places Menu: Organizing
and Finding Files......Page 86
System Menu: Preferences and More......Page 89
Seeing How Much Hard Drive Space Is Left......Page 95
Backing Up Your Linux Netbook......Page 97
Closing Down Your Linux Netbook......Page 98
Ch. 4. Connecting Devices to Your Netbook
......Page 100
Mice, Trackballs, and Tablets......Page 101
Connecting an External
Monitor or TV......Page 107
Setting Up a Printer......Page 109
Storing Data on External Drives......Page 116
Capturing Images: Connecting Scanners and Webcams......Page 118
Listening to Music: MP3 Players and External Speakers......Page 122
On the Road: Cases and Cables......Page 125
Ch. 5. Getting Online
......Page 128
Ways to Connect to the Internet......Page 129
What You Need to Connect......Page 130
Setting Up a Wired Network......Page 131
Setting Up a Wireless Network......Page 136
Connecting to a Wireless Network......Page 137
Common Wireless Network Problems......Page 139
Using Public Wireless Networks......Page 140
Getting Online with a Wireless Broadband Card......Page 141
Using Your Mobile Phone
as a Modem......Page 142
Using a Dial-Up Connection with Your Netbook......Page 143
Ch. 6. Email and Web Browsing
......Page 146
Setting Up an Email Program......Page 147
Email Basics......Page 156
Using a Web Browser......Page 164
Transfering Bookmarks from Another Computer......Page 170
Adding Tools to Your Web Browser......Page 172
Ch. 7. Business Basics: Word Processing and More
......Page 176
Microsoft Office for Windows Netbooks......Page 177
Microsoft Office Live Workspace......Page 182
OpenOffice.org: Free Word Processing, Spreadsheets,
and More......Page 184
Google Docs: An Online Alternative......Page 188
Working with Contacts......Page 191
Staying on Track with Calendars......Page 199
Online Calendars......Page 202
Viewing PDFs with Adobe Reader......Page 204
Working with Graphics......Page 206
Welcome to the Free World: Software......Page 208
Ch. 8. Collaborating with Others
......Page 210
What You Can Do Online......Page 211
Setting Up Instant Message Software......Page 212
Voice Chat by Instant Messenger......Page 216
Video Chat by Instant Messenger......Page 218
File Transfer by Instant Messenger......Page 220
Making Phone Calls with Skype......Page 221
Working Together with
Google Docs......Page 224
Online Collaboration Sites......Page 225
Social Networking Sites......Page 228
Ch. 9. Multimedia Fun: Photos, Music, and Video
......Page 232
Importing Digital Photos......Page 233
Organizing Your Photos......Page 236
Editing Photos......Page 238
Sharing Photos Online......Page 243
Photo Sharing Websites......Page 245
Popular MP3 Jukebox Programs......Page 249
Playing Digital Music on the Netbook......Page 252
Recording and Editing Sound......Page 257
Watching TV and Video Online......Page 259
Ch. 10. Playing Games
......Page 264
Games That Come with
Your Netbook......Page 265
Gaming Websites......Page 267
Downloading Games......Page 270
Serious Gaming on a Netbook......Page 271
Ch. 11. Protecting You and Your Netbook
......Page 274
Ten Online Safety Tips for Netbooks......Page 275
Keeping Viruses at Bay......Page 277
Putting Up a Firewall......Page 281
Other Security Software for Netbooks......Page 284
Public Wireless Network Security......Page 288
Protecting Yourself: Ergonomic Tips......Page 289
Ch. 12. Troubleshooting Your Netbook
......Page 292
Troubleshooting Common Problems......Page 293
Built-In Windows Help Files......Page 295
Tuning Up with Windows
System Tools......Page 296
Using Remote Assistance......Page 300
Reinstalling Windows......Page 302
Built-in Linux Help Files......Page 303
Maintaining a Linux Netbook......Page 304
Ubuntu Remote Desktop......Page 306
Installing (or Reinstalling) Ubuntu......Page 308
Finding Help and
Information Online......Page 312
Index
......Page 314