XP Practical PC, 3e Chapter 2 1 Looking at Windows

Practical PC, 3eChapter 2

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XP

Chapter 2

Looking at Windows


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XPLooking at Windows

• In this Chapter, you will learn:– What the Windows desktop looks like

– How application programs are started

– How to work with windows

– How to deal with dialog boxes

– What version of Windows you have

– Some other input devices

– What controls Windows provides


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XPThe Windows Desktop

• When you boot your PC, the operating system takes you to your desktop

• The desktop remains in the background when you run your programs

• The desktop contains objects and menus to help you control the PC

• Your desktop can be personalized


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• The desktop displays:– Small graphics or icons representing programs,

hardware and data

– There is a taskbar at the bottom that shows status of the system

– On the bottom left is the Start button which is the main control of the desktop. This button displays the Start menu.


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A typical Windows desktop, showing the components

Icons representing hardware and software components

Start Button

Taskbar buttons for quick access

Taskbar icons indicating status of system


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XPStarting an Application Program

• To accomplish a task on your PC, you will need to use a software program called an application program.

• An operating system (also software) helps control your environment

• An application program helps you do tasks – such as drafting a letter in Word or doing a spread sheet in Excel


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• There are several ways to start an application program. Two of the more common ways are:

– Use the Programs option on the Start menu, highlight the program you want to use, and click it.

– Double click the program’s icon on the desktop. These icons are called shortcuts


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• Modern PCs can do more than one task at the same time.

• The taskbar contains a button for each active program.

• Clicking on the taskbar button opens a window with for the selected program for display on the desktop.


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Starting a program from the Start menu

The Start Menu

The Program menu showing all of your programs

Program buttons for active programs


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XPWhat’s a window?

• The Windows operating system works in rectangular areas on the screen called “windows.”

• Each window has several parts to help you work:– A title bar with the name of the program and 3 buttons

to allow you to size or close the window.• Minimize button – shrinks the window to the taskbar

• Maximize button – fills the screen with the window

• Close button – ends the program and closes the window


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• Each window has several parts (cont):– A menu bar that gives you access to the program’s

working commands

– One or more toolbars, depending on the application

• Toolbars contain buttons that give direct access to a task. For instance, the scissors, cuts highlighted material.

– Scroll bars allowing you to see items outside of the size of the window.


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Looking at the parts of an application window

Title Bar Menu Bar Toolbar

Close

Maximize

Minimize

Scroll Bar


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XPWhat’s a Dialog Box?

• When you click certain menu options, a dialog box appears.

• Dialog boxes allow you to specify your personal options for the task to be done.

• Dialog boxes contain many Windows control features, such as option buttons, check boxes, and list boxes.


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XPWhat’s a Dialog Box?

The Print Dialog Box showing the options you have available


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XPChecking the Windows Version

• The version of Windows that you are using affects:– What version of programs you will need to buy.

– How your hardware operates.

– How a technician will fix any problems you may encounter.


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• There are many version of Windows still available and running on PCs– Windows 3.1 – the first commercial version

– Windows 95 & 98 – released between 1995 and 1999

– Windows ME – released in mid 2000

– Windows NT – networking environments

– Windows XP – released in 2001, combining features of NT, 98 and ME


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• To determine the information about your Window’s Version:– Click the My Computer icon on the desktop click the

Start button on the taskbar

– Click the Control Panel icon

– Click the System icon

– Click the General tab


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Finding out what Version of Windows you have


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XPAlternative Input Devices

• You communicate with a PC through user interfaces – a combination of hardware and software that makes tasks happen.

• Software that is designed to work with Windows operates using the Windows standard graphical user interface (GUI) environment.

• A GUI interface provides for both input to the PC and output to the user.


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• A touch-sensitive LCD provides access to the PC by the use of a stylus.

• Handwriting-recognition software attempts to recognize the data from the LCD and translate it to alphabetic characters.

• The LCD also displays output back from the PC


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The Graffiti alphabet recognized on the PalmPilot PDA


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• Another example of a feedback device that both accepts input and sends back feedback is a force-feedback joystick.

• This type of joystick still moves objects and accepts a number of commands.

• It will also accept commands from the PC to do such things as vibrate or change the force needed to move the controls.


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• Speech-recognition software is also available to recognize and translate human speech.

• Speech-recognition software must first be trained to individual speech patterns.

• Speech-recognition software has a limited vocabulary of 20,000 to 300,000 words, but can be trained to accept others.


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XPHow to use Windows Controls

Different Controls on application windows

Clicking on an item with an ellipsis displays a dialog box

Clicking on an item with a triangle displays a sub menu

A pull-down menu displays when you click the down-arrow. Clicking on a color changes the selected item to that color

ToolTips show a button name when you hover over it


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XPHow to use Windows Controls

Different Controls on application windows

A check box where you can select one or more options

An option button, where you can select one option

A Dialog box. Each tab displays different controls.


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XPWhat do you think?

Monopoly is not just a game

1. If you purchase a new computer, would you prefer to use preinstalled Internet software instead of obtaining and installing the Internet software of your choice?

2. Do you think Microsoft has used its operating system monopoly to illegally force people to use its Internet software?

3. Did you try to find additional information on this issue?


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XPChapter Summary

• You should now be able to:– Recognize and use the features of the Windows desktop

– Start an application program two different ways

– Recognize and use the parts of a Window

– Use and respond to Dialog boxes

– Determine the version of Windows running on a PC

– Know several more ways to communicate with the PC

Documents

XP Practical PC, 3e Chapter 2 1 Looking at Windows