Is This Thing On?: A Late Bloomer's Computer Handbook [Paperback]

Abby Stokes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2008

"Stokes gives the feeling that a friend is explaining it all to you."
— The New York Daily News

Is This Thing On? is a reassuring, jargon-free, and totally straightforward nuts-and-bolts guide that introduces late bloomers, grandparents, technophobes, and the digitally challenged to all the wonders of using a computer, and will even have them using digital cameras and PDAs with ease.

Written for the reader who did not grow up with personal computers, this book updates and expands on Stokes's previous title, It's Never Too Late to Love a Computer. It covers everything you need to get wired: how to select, buy, and set up a computer; how to sign up for e-mail and internet access, and how to use the world wide web. There's information on peripherals—printers, scanners, wireless routers—and basic software, such as word processing programs. Plus, this new edition delves further into the online world to cover search engines and web navigation, information on online banking, shopping, travel planning, and dating. It covers security issues, "netiquette," instant messaging, and blogs, and there's an entire chapter devoted to digital photos—transferring them from camera to computer and sending them as attachments. Abby Stokes—who has a gift for taking the terrified by the hand and teaching old dogs new tricks—branches out into other essential digital accoutrements: cell phones, iPods, and Blackberries. A companion website, www.abbyandme.com, offers a safe place to practice and keep learning. Appendices include recommended websites, a resource list, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Plug in, boot up, and get online!

•    Email and receive pictures of the kids and grandkids
•    Enjoy the convenience and bargains of online shopping
•    Search for recipes, health and travel information
•    Look up old friends and make new friends
•    Read the latest news, sports, weather reports, stock quotes, and          commentary
•    You can even start a blog

It’s your turn now, and you won’t believe how much you can do and how easy it is to do it. Written for the reader who didn’t grow up with a personal computer or use one in the office, this book is everything you need to get wired.

You’ll learn how to shop for a computer that’s just right for you, and how to set it up for maximum comfort and safety. How to sign up for email and Internet access. How to use the mouse, a printer, a scanner, and how to get started with essential skills like word processing and using search engines. Plus: the A to Z’s of digital photos, a guide to online shopping, over 200 recommended websites, and much more. Before you know it, you’ll be clicking away to a whole new world.

About the Author

Abby Stokes teaches courses in basic computing at both Cooper Union and New York University's School of Lifelong Learning, as well as computer skills to private and corporate clients. She has lectured on the topic across the country. Ms. Stokes splits her time between New York City and Niantic, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (August 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761146199
• ISBN-13: 978-0761146193
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could be used as lesson plans by a teacher of computer basics and the Internet. Simple for some, but for others it's not simple!, October 4, 2008

By 

Jeff Lippincott "JLIPPIN" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Is This Thing On?: A Late Bloomer's Computer Handbook (Paperback)

I loved this book! It's not exactly one that I picked up because I needed to learn about computer basics, going digital, and playing/working on the Internet. But I thought it was well written, well outlined, and definitely on target for people over age 50 who are hands-off when it comes to personal computers. The book claims to have 25 chapters in 378 pages. However, I view it more like nine chapters with 25 sub-chapters interspersed therein as follows:

1. There is nothing to fear but technology itself (1-3)

2. Where will it sleep and how often do I neeed to water it? (4-5)

3. Go for a test drive (6-8)

4. Let the shopping begin (9)

5. Baby's first day home (10-12)

6. The newlywed game (13-15

7. Welcome to the neighborhood (16-20)

8. Exploration and discovery (21-23)

9. Make new friends and keep old (24-25)

About 10 years ago I took it upon myself to teach my mother how to use a PC. She was a high school librarian at the time, and it was a natural thing for her to learn in order to help her with her work. The lessons taught in this wonderful book are the same ones I went through with my mom ten years ago. And then two years later I was the lead instructor in teaching my grandmother (my mom's mom) how to use a PC to surf the Net, and most importantly get/send emails to/from my mom and my cousins. My mom was the teaching assistant who helped my grandmother pick up on computers. And the two of us used the same lessons taught in this book to teach my grandmother.

In this book you will learn (if you want to) how to: (1) shop for a PC, (2) set up your PC when you get it home, (3) sign up for Internet access, (4) use your PC and the Internet, (5) use a printer with your PC, (6) use email, (7) surf the Internet like a Pro, and much more.

The author has been teaching what she has included in this book for the past 10 years. And it is the same approach she used to teach her mother how to become computer literate. As far as I know, the system described in this book has been successful when applied to at least three seniors. And I know of no failures. If you are a senior and you have a desire to learn about computers and the Internet, then I highly recommend you get a copy of this book. 5 stars!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Over A Thousand Students and Counting ..., March 2, 2009

By 

Eve T. Stokes "Tea Cher" (CT Shoreline) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Is This Thing On?: A Late Bloomer's Computer Handbook (Paperback)

Full disclosure: Abby is my sister and I have been using her books in my computer classes since 2001 - I teach at a regional senior center and adult education through the local high school. Over a thousand students have been taught using her books as a teaching guide and the feedback has been fantastic - no kicking and screaming when they are done and many continue on to e-mail, internet, word processing, spreadsheets, digital photography, and more! The students' only request after using the "It's Never Too Late To Love A Computer" book was, "when is she going to expand it?" Well, Abby has made a really good book even better! "Is This Thing On?" has more detail, more topics, newer screen shots, and, as always, is written in "Abby's language" - no geek speak. It has been a winner for even the toughest of my students and many students request one as a gift for their friends. Kudos, Abby - thanks for making the cyber leap easier for seniors and other newbies on the CT shoreline!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books of this type, January 22, 2009

By 

AGD "tondar3" (Reisterstown, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Is This Thing On?: A Late Bloomer's Computer Handbook (Paperback)

This book hits the nail on the head for people who are new to computers, or would just like to have a reference book that explains it all in plain English without any geek-speak. I'm over 50, work in software support and have built & rebuilt computers for years. I also enjoy helping people with their computers and software. For years I've look at these self-help books, but until now, have never found one that has the best combination of plain English explanations and references, clear illustrations and a layout that is very easy on the eyes. Whether you are scared to death of computers, or love them way too much (as I do), I would highly recommend this book.