Page 26 - Windows 10 May 2019 Update The Missing Manual: The Book That Should Have Been in the Box

do work or to kill time. When you get right down to it, programs

are the real reason you bought a PC.

Windows is a well-stocked software pantry unto itself; for
example, it comes with such basic programs as a web browser, a
simple word processor, and a calculator.

If you were stranded on a desert island, the built-in Windows
programs could suffice for everyday operations. But if you’re like
most people, sooner or later, you’ll buy and install more software.

That’s one of the luxuries of using Windows: You can choose from
a staggering number of add-on programs. Whether you’re a left-
handed beekeeper or a German-speaking nun, some company

somewhere is selling Windows software designed just for you.

It’s a file cabinet. Every application on your machine, as well as

every document you create, is represented on the screen by an icon,
a little picture that symbolizes the underlying file or container. You
can organize these icons into onscreen file folders. You can make

backups (safety copies) by dragging file icons onto a flash drive or
a blank CD, or you can send files to people by email. You can also
trash icons you no longer need by dragging them onto the Recycle

Bin icon.

It’s your equipment headquarters. What you can actually see of

Windows is only the tip of the iceberg. An enormous chunk of
Windows is behind-the-scenes plumbing that controls the various
functions of your computer—its modem, screen, keyboard, printer,

and so on.

The Right Mouse Button Is King

One of the most important features of Windows isn’t on the screen—it’s in

your hand. The standard mouse or trackpad has two buttons. You use the
left one to click buttons, highlight text, and drag things around the screen.