The following is a list of computer tutorials that you can download. I am only including tutorials from applications 2008 and to the current year! The internet has an abundance of online websites that offer free video and online tutorials of software titles as well, you can find some links below to those particular sites!
Downloadable Tutorials 2010 +
(several of the tutorials are courtesy of BGSU)
Adobe Acrobat - This tutorial focuses on creating online forms. Learn about two popular kinds of online forms: PDF forms created using Adobe Acrobat and HTML forms created using Adobe Dreamweaver. This tutorial offers information for Mac and PC users.
Adobe Dreamweaver - This tutorial focuses on the basic steps involved in creating an attractive, functional website. Learn to design a site layout, insert images and text, create links, and how to upload your site to the internet. This tutorial offers information for Mac and PC users.
Adobe Illustrator - This tutorial introduces you to a powerful software application. Adobe Illustrator allows you to produce high quality graphics for a variety of uses such as print, video, the web, etc. Learn how to use Illustrator tools, create basic shapes, insert images and text, and modify your artwork.
Adobe InDesign - This tutorial will discuss some of the basic functions used for desktop publishing such as grouping, placing, arranging, stacking order etc. InDesign replaces programs such as PageMaker and Quark Express. This tutorial offers information for Mac and PC users.
Adobe Photoshop - This tutorial will teach you the basic steps involved in capturing, adjusting, and saving images for various applications. Learn to use a scanner and edit images with commonly used Photoshop tools. This tutorial offers information for Mac and PC users.
Apples GarageBand - This overview of one of the most impressive applications of Apple's iLife suit offers information on the basic features of the software. Use links to more detailed tutorials to learn how to make your own music in GarageBand.
Apple's IDVD - This tutorial will show you how to take a finished iMovie project and create a DVD with menus and graphics of a professionally made commercial disc to play on your home DVD player. This tutorial offers information for Mac users only.
Apple's iMovie - This in-depth tutorial will take you through the entire video-making process. From borrowing a digital video camera at ARC, to editing the video with iMovie, you will learn to make high-quality video presentations from scratch. This tutorial offers information for Mac users only.
Apple's IWeb - This tutorial covers the basics of web page development using iWeb. This tutorial offers information for Mac users only.
Microsoft Word - This tutorial covers the essential skills you need to work in this word processing software. Learn to produce professional-looking reports, essays, and resumes. This tutorial offers information for Mac and PC users.
Microsoft Word 2010 PC Version Download
Microsoft Word 2011 Mac Version Download
Microsoft Word 2011 Mac Basic Download
Microsoft PowerPoint - These tutorials lead you through the most important components of developing a PowerPoint presentation. Learn to use the program's auto-assistance features and how to create custom presentations. These tutorials are platform specific.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 PC Version Download
Microsoft PowerPoint 2011 Mac Download
Microsoft PowerPoint 2011 Mac Basic Download
Microsoft Excel - These tutorials discuss the fundamental features and functions of Excel, a spreadsheet program. Learn to develop efficient, attractive spreadsheets for organizing various types of data. These tutorials are platform specific.
Microsoft Excel 2010 PC Version Download
Microsoft Excel 2011 Mac Download
Microsoft Excel 2011 Mac Basics Download
Microsoft Outlook Outlook is a powerful tool for managing your e-mail, contacts, calendars, and tasks. To use it most effectively, you first have to understand the basics. This tutorial introduces some of the tasks and features that you will use most often.
Outlook 2011 Mac Version Download
Downloadable Tutorials 2008 +
Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh
Microsoft Excel for Mac 2008 (pdf)
Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac 2008 (pdf)
Microsoft Word for Mac 2008 (pdf)
Online Tutorial and Digital Instruction
OpenOffice.org (download the free software package that is similar to Microsoft Office)
Tutorials for Open Office (Free software package similar to Microsoft Office)
Microsoft Word 2007 Starters Guide
Technology Tutorials found on the Web (internet 4 Classrooms)
Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts Without Using a Mouse
Jefferson County Schools Tech Tutorials- free tutorials on a wide range of topics
Other Technology Sites
http://pdftowordconverter.org/ - Convert PDF to Word
Technology 411
PC or Mac What Should you decide?
*For extensive up to date knowledge of Mac products etc., I recommend Mac Life http://www.maclife.com, the magazine is wonderful and well worth the subscription if you have a new Mac and other hardware that is associated with the Mac.
*For extensive up to date knowledge of PC products etc., I recommend PC World http://www.pcworld.com, the magazine is wonderful and well worth the subscription if you have a PC and other hardware that is associated with the PC. Computer Shopper used to have a magazine, but since this has been eliminated, but their website is a wonderful resource for new hardware and software information http://www.computershopper.com. Again their are many websites that offer advice on new computer hardware and software, but these are the top websites that I personally recommend.
Custom built Desktop PC's or Brand Name PC's What to purchase?
I like the idea of buying a computer that is custom built. Why?
When it comes time to purchase a computer, a consumer's first thought is often to start looking around for those Super Store Sales -- but is this the best system for your money? There are actually several advantages to buying or building your own custom computers over another pre-built computer:
This is the key to making a really affordable computer. The major brand names design their computers such that when technology advances you either must live with the old, or buy a new computer. When buying custom computers, you have the ability to change out only old and outmoded components while maintaining serviceable parts.
You know your business and what you need and don't need to run it. When ordering a custom computer, you choose the components that fit your needs. You decide how much RAM and hard drive space are necessary for your system. You get the savings you deserve by not buying things you don't need, and the performance you want because you designed it yourself.
Companies that build each system to order will generally test each individual computer more thoroughly. The individual attention applied during the building of a custom computer can assure first rate quality and reliability not available from typical mass- produced computers.
Repair parts are readily available from hundreds of different companies. The warranty of some pre-built systems requires repairs to be performed at particular places and with specific parts, which may mean repairs take much longer.
Most people automatically assume that a Custom PC will cost them a lot more money. This is truly, a large misconception. A custom PC is built to suit your needs. This doesn't necessarily mean it is more expensive than a name brand machine.
For some manufacturers, they build proprietary NON Standard computers. What does that mean? Well it means that if you decide you want to increase your Ram, or put in a bigger hard drive, you have to buy the EXTREME premium priced components ordered special from the manufacturer. And in some cases they didn't build your computer to be upgradeable, thus you are forced to purchase a new one. You will learn real quick that going to a store to get your parts is impossible.
Yes, custom built means you have more options. The most important part of a custom built system is it is more upgradeable than most name brands. Many customers end up frustrated because they bought a computer at a store, and when they wanted to upgrade found out the board was maxed out. The cost of putting in a new board is as much a purchasing a new system.
My suggestion:
Or if you decide on a brand name PC, I suggest purchasing from Dell.com. Dell will charge you sales tax along with extended warranties that cost several hundred dollars, but they do offer a solid system that can last for years. In addition, I have noticed Hp.com, Lenovo.com, to offer some nice computers that you can purchase as well comparable to Dell. When looking at pricing, warehouses such as Costco.com and Samsclub.com offer many brand name computers and other electronics at a reasonable cost.
Recommended Web Browsers for PC and Mac?
My
number one selection is Firefox, this remains the top-ranked web browser for
Windows, Mac OSX+ and Linux users. It's by far the most-customizable web
browser, with thousands of add-ins available.
http://www.firefox.com
Reviews
and tests recommend Opera as fast and lean, especially for older or underpowered
computers apt to bog down on the resource-hungry Firefox, Chrome or IE7 and IE8
browsers. Despite its small size, Opera beats the other browsers in compliance
with web standards, and it builds in loads of convenient features. Opera runs on
more operating systems than most browsers, and it excels in synchronization.
Reviews also praise its mobile version. If you have a fairly new, powerful
computer, however, Firefox 3+ is faster and gets top ranking in nearly all
comparison reviews. You can use Opera for PC, Mac, Linux operating systems
phones and other devices. http://www.opera.com
The Google Chrome browser
takes a minimalist approach, stripping down to basic browsing with an
ultra-simple, intuitive interface. Reviewers find it very fast, with superb
search features, private browsing and the best crash protection available. It
also makes it possible to use Google desktop applications offline, and users can
search the text of pages in the browser's history. The main drawbacks are fairly
primitive bookmarking plus the lack of customization. For those who want RSS
feeds and many other options within the browser, reviews recommend Firefox 3
(free), saying it's just as fast but much more customizable.
http://www.google.com/chrome
Tests find that IE8 is
slower than Firefox, Chrome and Opera, and that it uses more system resources.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx
Camino
is an open-source web browser developed with a focus on providing the best
possible experience for Mac OS X users.The Camino Project has worked to create a
browser that is as functional and elegant as the computers it runs on. The
Camino web browser is powerful, secure, and ready to meet the needs of all users
while remaining simple and elegant in its design.
http://caminobrowser.org/
It renders web pages at lightning speed. It works on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. It shows you your favorite sites at a glance. It’s so smart, it even checks your spelling and grammar. http://www.apple.com/safari
iCab is an alternative web browser for
the Mac. It will run under MacOS 7, 8, 9 and also under MacOSX+. iCab has
several unique features, like filters for images, cookies, JavaScript, Plug-ins,
Java etc. and a build-in HTML checker which can be a real help for web
designers. You'll find more information about iCab at the
iCab homepage. I cab isn't free, but it does
offer a free version with limited options.
Recommended Free Antispyware Progams?
Malewarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ This antispyware program is similar to SuperAntispyware and is a worthy addition as extra ammunition in fighting spyware. Use it as a scanner, then close it. Does not include continuous protection. Updates are manual.
SuperAntispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/ This product is from the developers of SuperAdware and the original Pop-up Stopper. SuperAntispyware is very effective at finding and terminating memory-resident trojans that tend to be difficult to control because they change file names at each reboot. Tip: Run SuperAntispyware in safe mode for difficult trojans. SA is free for personal use on your home computer. If you install any antispyware, this is the best free program we know of. Updates are manual in the free version.
Spybot Search and Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/ A good scanner that is very thorough. It lacks a smart scan, so it is always slow. The immunization is simple, so use it. There is no option for automatic updates. A scheduled scan can be set in Windows Scheduler. This can be set to run on your next Windows boot, but the option is buried in the settings.
Check this site for other free virus antivirus software http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/tc/security/security.html
Recommended Free PC ANTIVIRUS PRODUCTS (PC WORLD)?
1. Avast Free Antivirus 5 This software takes the top spot in the 2010 roundup of free antivirus software. It provides good, all-around malware detection in a speedy, well-designed package. It's easy installation process, smooth interface design, and minimal impact in system performance.
2. http://www.avira.com/en/for-home AntiVir has strength where it counts most: It does a great job at detecting and blocking malware. From the outside, AntiVir Personal is nearly identical to its paid counterpart, AntiVir Premium 2010: The two products have nearly identical interfaces and installation processes, so the real difference between them is the feature set.
3. Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 Microsoft Security Essentials is well designed and easy to use. Installation is simple and straightforward, although it will verify whether your copy of Windows is legit along the way. Once you install it and open it, you'll be greeted by a thoughtfully designed main screen. This screen has four tabs: Home (which shows status information, scan controls, and an update button if your virus definitions are out of date); Update; History (which logs all of the malware cleaned from your system); and Settings.
5. Comodo Internet Security Premium Comodo Internet Security is reasonably well designed and easy to use. Its installer takes several more steps than is becoming the norm for antivirus software, but it was perfectly usable otherwise. Once it's installed, you'll be greeted by a well laid out Summary screen that uses the familiar green/yellow/red status indicators for your PC's protection status, although some of the wording could have been better. The scan window, however, doesn’t give any indication as to its status--no progress bar, nothing--so you'll be somewhat in the dark as to how long you'll have to wait for scans to complete.
Check this site for other free virus antivirus software http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/tc/security/security.html
Recommended Paid ANTIVIRUS PRODUCTS?
1. http://home.mcafee.com/Default.aspx McAfee from my personal experiences of using the software on a daily basis on my personal computers.
2. http://us.norton.com/ Norton by Symantec
3. If you are looking for other paid antivirus products PC World and others recommend BitDefender, Avast Pro, G-Data, and Kaspersky, Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus, Panda Antivirus, Avira AntiVir Premium, Eset NOD32 Antivirus, and GFI Vipre Antivirus.
The Best Macintosh Security Software (Recommendations from Ryan Faas)
So every Mac should have some form of anti-virus software. Here are the major options:
ClamXav – ClamXav is a simple open source anti-virus tool that is available for free. It is based on the open source Unix clamav, but sports a Mac-like graphical interface.
ClamXav works pretty well, though its interface is a little clunky and it is generally slow at performing scans. Its big downside is that it offers less automation options than other tools, meaning users must be more pro-active about updating virus definitions (the files anti-virus tools use to detect malware) as well as performing scans. It also doesn’t allow you to scan your entire startup drive, meaning you’ll manually need to select folders to scan.
McAfee VirusScan – McAfee has a long history of developing anti-virus tools and this was at one time bundled with Apple’s .Mac service (the precursor of Mobile Me). McAfee is a decent if not stellar product. It tends to be slower than some of its competition and does show itself to be a product produced from a largely PC-oriented company.
Norton AntiVirus – Like McAfee, Norton develops security and utility tools for both the Windows and the Mac. A while back, Norton’s Mac offerings in both anti-virus and disk utilities were among the best products on the market.
But times change. Norton still produces a compelling product and I’d probably pick it over VirusScan. However, it too suffers from being very obviously a Mac product designed by a predominantly PC-focused company. For businesses that are already invested in other Norton products for managing their PCs, however, it can be an easy addition to an already complete suite (most likely with volume licensing discounts).
Sophos Anti-Virus SBE – Sophos also suffers a bit from being a PC-oriented company, but less than McAfee or Norton do. They produce a simple and lightweight solution for Mac OS X that can be centrally managed very easily.
The downside to Sophos, in my opinion, is less their PC-centric nature than their business-oriented nature and licensing. If you’re a business that has multiple Macs and PCs to protect, Sophos is a great choice (particularly if you’ve got a Windows server – even one in virtualization) to use for central management of both scanning and updating. In fact, for small businesses and/or cross platform businesses that need a simple and effective centralized management option, Sophos is a very good choice.
Intego VirusBarrier – Hands down, the best choice for consumers and for fully Mac-based businesses has to be Intego’s VirusBarrier. The company is entirely Mac focused, provides a solution that is simple, lightweight, and has a very Mac-like feel to it that make it a natural choice for many Mac users.
It also offers centralized management (and integration with Intego’s other security tools) for businesses and schools – though if you have a mix of both Macs and PCs to centrally manage, you might want to opt for Norton or Sophos because of their cross-platform management capabilities (and potentially better pricing due to larger volume purchases).
MacScan – MacScan is an anti-spyware rather than an anti-virus tool. The software is designed for detecting spyware processes and applications (keylogging, remote access, and DNS poisoning tools) that may not fall into the typical categories of viruses.
It also focuses on Internet cookies and similar data gathering tools that are not directly classified as malware. The software compares cookies (small bits of data stored by web browsers to keep track of user data when moving from one web page to another) against a blacklist of known malicious web services.
MacScan is a great complement to other anti-virus and security tools and is especially helpful for Macs commonly used by large numbers of individuals (who might place keyloggers and other malicious tools directly on a Mac rather than remotely).
One final tip, regardless of your anti-virus choice: if you’re running Windows on a Mac (either using boot camp or virtualization tools like Parallels, VMWare Fusion, or Virtual Box) don’t forget that you’ll need anti-virus software on that front too. Norton and Intego both offer Mac/PC protection suites to fill this need in a single product (though in Intego’s case the Windows software is provided by partnering with BitDefender AntiVirus for Windows).
Interested in learning how to save Youtube videos and how to convert other files? (if saving Youtube videos with Any Video Converter, please make sure to update the software because youtube does change it's video data rules)
Any Video Converter Freeware- the Free Video Converter - is the most renowned free video converter for converting video files between various formats, with fast converting speed and excellent video quality. This powerful free video converter application makes video conversion quick and easy.
This FREE video converter software can clip any segments and optionally merge and sort them to make a creative movie. And even more, Any Video Converter Freeware can crop frame size to remove any unwanted area in the frame just like a pair of smart scissors.
Click here http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/ to download the software and enjoy! *To find the file on your computer after it has been downloaded, please click Start, Documents, and the Any Video File Converter File. The file will be located in one of the folders. I also recommend converting to MP4 because this works in DivX, QuickTime, and other more-common players. Also, MP4 files usually play nicely on smartphones, so you can take saved videos with you on the go.
PC World March 2011 also recommends http://www.freemake.com/
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