Best book for teaching basic computer skills? (presumably Windows)

by philg

A friend asks

I have a lady friend who knows less than even the very basic basics of computer use, why and what programs are used for, etc.

Can you recommend a down-to-earth, layman’s terms book or possibly a website instructional that would help her get a firmer understanding of simple, basic computer use and the accompanying jargon that surrounds it?
Unfortunately this ties into my theory that modern computers are almost impossible to use. The original Macintosh, circa 1984, ran one program at a time. Each file was stored on a floppy disk that could be placed into a standard manila folder. A modern computer, whatever the operating system, runs 5-10 programs at any one time. All of the files are mushed together somehow inside the machine (or out there on the Internet!).
What are some good places to start? The operating system was unspecified, but I’m going to assume that he meant for Windows.

7 thoughts on “Best book for teaching basic computer skills? (presumably Windows)”

  1. Actually, the secret is to cripple the computer and make it as useful as that early Macintosh.

    You can set up Windows to run just one program, full screen, no windowing.

    Make it Word.

    Word can be told to show the recently used documents in a little dialog box when it starts up (well, the Mac version can, I am sure the same is true on the Windows version).

    There. Now she can see her files, click to open them, click to open a blank one and print. Hide the task bar.

    When she is really comfortable, show her the browser.

    Isn’t there a whole set of books for dummies? There must be a “Computers for Dummies” book. But what you are complaining about means that she has to learn a LOT to use the computer, which isn’t necessarily true if someone is willing to do the work to cripple the machine.

    You can still buy an original Mac on eBay. No web browsing, but if someone still doesn’t know the “jargon” of computers today, do they really need a browser in the next year or so?

  3. There is a newer crop of computer aided learning tools that may be worth checking. Pop in the CD, it auto plays the lesson and usually assumes that the person doesn’t know a thing.

    The old crop of these was pretty terrible, basically a video of a talking head blabbling nonstop for an hour per lesson. Newer products take advantage of screen recordings to show the student exactly how the task is done, and usually the student can pause the lesson and try it on her own computer.

  4. I believe I am the friend that Phil mentions here seeking a good “computer info for beginners” book and I appreciate him posting this question to the readers of this blog.

    So could someone please share a couple of suggestions on an actual book?

    I realize for some here it’s sort of like me asking Motzart for a primer on warm-up scales for orchestras, but I would love to purchase a couple of good books for my friend. She is an uneducated individual who needs some assistance and any suggestions would be dearly appreciated. Even lower paying jobs now often require basic computer skills and she has none.

    It is exactly like Phil opined, these machines are pretty complex when it comes to helping someone understand them better.
    Thank you again for any opinions!
    Mark

  6. I would suggest signing up for a night course at a local school or library. It’s so much easier to learn from a person than from a book. If you know “nothing” you’re not going to understand the lingo used in the book, and it will only make the person more confused. What do you do when you have questions about what your reading? It’s best to have a live teacher who can sit with you and show you everything.

  7. Take a course at a local YMCA or night course at a high school. They will give hands on teaching. It’s the best way to do it. If you have to buy a book, get one of those “Dummies” books. I still think actually taking a course is her best bet. Get the book afterwards, so she has it by her computer if she runs into problems.

    Of course, if she gets a Macintosh, it would be a lot easier!! 😉

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