What is a Blog ?

A blog is similar to an electronic journal or dairy. Most people or (bloggers) periodically add entries,sometimes as frequently as few times a day.Blogs can be on any subject like politics, relationships or daily observations. It all depends on how thoughtful and compelling they are. What distinguishes blogs from other online content is that it is highly personal, reflecting the point of view of the writer.

Peer 2 Peer File Sharing

Is p2p software illegal ? No, the software is not illegal.

Alot of users download files through P2P services without realising that the files may be protected by copyright laws.
The files that you download using a P2P may have been illegally obtained initially, or may have been legitimately purchased, but are still covered by intellectual copyright. Sharing such material without the permission of the copyright holder is going against international law. So,it is illegal to use P2P to share copyrighted files without permission.

File sharing is a legal technology with legal uses, But downloading materials without permission or authorization, is known as copyright infringement.

Files,Folders and Drives

Your computer's filing system has three basic divisions: files, folders and drives.
Everything saved on your computer is stored as a file; whether it is a letter you wrote to a friend or the word processing program you used to write it. The letter you write might be a Word document, for example, or a text file. Microsoft Word, on the other hand, is an "executable" file, that is, a file that "executes" a series of commands to do some work for you; you run this executable file so that you can, in turn, create or edit document files. Other examples of files include database files and various types of system files.

You can store a file in a folder and, in turn, store that folder inside another folder. Using different folders helps you and the computer keep track of information. For example, you might save the letter to your friend in a folder named "Joe" inside another folder called "Friends." Your computer also stores files in folders. For example, all the files the computer uses to run Windows XP are usually stored in a folder called "Windows." When the computer needs one of those files, it follows a "path" to the folder, and then to the file.

File:
Each document, whether it is a plain text file or a letter in Word or music or the directions for a program , is called a file.

Folders:
Files are grouped together in folders , also called directories by folks who are used to certain other operating systems.

Path:
The drive and folders you must go through to get to the folder or file that you want is called the path. A path always starts with a drive letter. The file that starts Notepad has the path C:\Windows\notepad.exe The path C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer leads to the folder that holds Internet Explorer's program files.

Files and folders are stored on drives. Drives are essentially like filing cabinets. Each drive is assigned a letter name. Your hard drive (the drive inside your computer) is also known as the C:\ drive. If you have a floppy disk drive, it is usually known as the A:\ drive. If you use files stored on a CD-ROM, the drive where you put the CD is assigned another letter.

The four functions of a computer

1.  Accepts data Input- Data is the raw facts given to the computer.

Programs are the sets of instructions that direct the computer.

2.  Processes data - Manipulate Data. CPU (central processing unit)

3.  Produces output-Output is data that has been processed into useful form, now called Information. It can be printed on paper (Hard copy) or other permanent media Displayed on screen or by other non-permanent means. (Soft copy)

4.  Stores Data- Storage refers to the media and methods used to keep information available for later use. Hard drive, Floppy Disk, Jump Drive etc.

 

Starting the Computer

Turn on the computer's main power using the Power button or switch.

 When you start your computer, that's called "booting". When you restart it's called  ( re-booting) 

The computer POST (Power On Self Test) tests the computer, insuring that it meets the necessary system requirements before booting up.

•  Usually the power button is located in the front of the computer.
  
•  You will also need to cut on the monitor.
  

 

 

A Computer is

A device that computes, especially a programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information.

A general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanently. The computer and all equipment attached to it are called hardware. The instructions that tell it what to do are called "software." A set of instructions that perform a particular task is called a "program" or "software program."

 

Examples of early mechanical computing devices included the abacus, and the slide rule. Which date from about 150-100 BC.

EMAIL

 

 Email 

  In its simplest form, e-mail is an electronic message sent from one device to another.

E-mail passes from one computer, known as a mail server,

to another as it travels over the Internet.

Once it arrives at the destination mail server,

it's stored in an electronic mailbox until the recipient retrieves it. 

 

Breakdown of a E-Mail Address

 1)First there is the user name (You) that refers to the recipient's mailbox.

 

   2)Then there's an at sign (@).

   3)Next comes the host name (yourhost), also called the domain name

            You@ yourhost.com 

 

 

 Anatomy of an E-mail

 

 

 

 

                

Email Types

With the growing popularity of the Internet, email has become a part of almost everyone's life. Whether you use your email to correspond with family, friends, business associates, or all three, you need to be perceptive to your vulnerabilities when sending and receiving your correspondence. There are two basic types of email available to users of the internet.

If you get online using an Internet Service Provider (ISP), whether you have a dial-up account (you access the Internet with a telephone line and modem), a cable connection, or satellite connection, you are provided at least one mailbox for email, and sometimes several, with your account.

 

These accounts are called POP3 accounts. POP3 refers to the protocol or language your computer and the mail servers located at your isp use to communicate with each other. To access your mail account you will need what is referred to as a 'mail client'. A mail client is a simple application or program used entirely to receive and send email.

 

Many viruses are written to be specifically activated by usage of the email client, which comes with Internet Explorer, Outlook Express. Therefore, always be cautious of any email you receive, even if it is from a friend, when using Outlook Express. Microsoft works diligently at overcoming these vulnerabilities in Outlook Express, but the internet hackers work just as diligently at overcoming these security features. Your only protection is to be aware of the problem, keep your email client updated with all patches and security fixes made available, and use your anti-virus program, keeping it current with all new updates also.

 

The primary advantage to the POP3 type email account is that it is usually not restrictive of the size of files, which you can send or receive. If you are, for instance, a music buff and love to share your mp3's with friends, this type of account will usually accommodate the large files.

 

 

The second type of email available is what is termed 'web based email'. This type of account is found free from dozens of internet services, such as Hotmail and Yahoo.

Advantages to a web based email account. Filters are easy to use, cutting down drastically to your receipt of spam. Another advantage is that you can access your account from any internet-connected computer anywhere in the world. With a POP3 account, you usually must be logged onto your isp and set up the email client on the computer you are using to be able to receive of send mail. Another huge advantage of web based email accounts is that many of them automatically prescan all your received attachments for viruses before you download them onto your computer. This allows for the catching of many viruses, which might otherwise infect your computer if received through your POP3 account.

Email

What is e-mail?

 In its simplest form, e-mail is an electronic message sent from one device to another. While most messages go from computer to computer, e-mail can also be sent and received by mobile phones, PDAs and other devices. With e-mail, you can send or receive personal and business-related messages with attachments, such as photos or formatted documents. You can also send music, video clips and software programs.

Just as a letter makes stops at different postal stations along the way to its final destination, e-mail passes from one computer, known as a mail server, to another as it travels over the Internet. Once it arrives at the destination mail server, it's stored in an electronic mailbox until the recipient retrieves it. This whole process can take seconds, allowing you to quickly communicate with people around the world at any time of the day or night. 

To receive e-mail, you need an account on a mail server. This is similar to having a street address where you receive letters. One advantage over regular mail is that you can retrieve your e-mail from any location on earth, provide that you have Internet access. Once you connect to your mail server, you just download your messages to your computer or wireless device. 

Downloading Links

Here are two sites


Snapfiles-
Snapfiles is a great download site. Make sure you select FREEWARE tab at the top of the page and Read the reviews. Happy Downloading.

Download.com has been around for a long time. Take your time and learn the site. Make sure you select the free tab under Licences.