Talk:Computers for Beginners/The Basics

"Also, the computer shouldn't be sitting directly on carpet, as this may create static electricity and short out your components."

Is this true? Sounds kind of hokey to me. Computers are well-grounded so if you want to protect it from static electricity you need to ground yourself, not the computer (you're the one moving and thus the one getting charged). Besides, unless the computer is actually open and there is a risk of touching the inside components, any static would go through the grounded case and thus not be an issue. I would take this sentence out since it's just going to scare people who are already unsure of themselves around computers.

I read one time in a Dell Manual not to put the computer directly on carpet, which is why I included it. Better be safe than sorry, right? --Kram 18:55, 27 Mar 2005 (UTC)

This is mostly a dust issue. if the computer is on carpet the fan can draw in fibers from the carpet and damage the computer. - "The "escape" key at the top left normally exits a program or stops a task."

I would change this to something like: The "escape" key at the top left is rarely used.

There aren't many programs that use Escape to exit and so saying this early on might lead people to try to close programs using the Escape key and being confused when it doesn't work.

To whoever wrote this: If you want to add that than go right ahead. It's only deleting content that really needs to be discussed. --Kram 18:55, 27 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Is this worth it?
Is there a reason for Computers for Beginners/The Basics being on wikibooks? Who is going to use it? Anyone who can find it on wikibooks is going to know everything here. Can someone offer their opinion about this? (perhaps that's why no one has done much here) Gavin 12:15, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes, it's worth it
I'm trying to teach my grandmother basic computing. I can print this out and show it to her. #Brandon Johnsonn 12:41, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Linux OS????
Ok. Who's been calling Linux "Linux OS"?

Mac OS I understand, but Linux is a name of its own! It's like Windoze... sorry. Windows. You wouldn't call it "Windows OS" even though it IS an OS. People have to understand that the OS suffix is part of the name, and you can't just randomly add it on.


 * 1) Brandon Johnsonn 12:42, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

a computer is electronic machine.