Resources - main resources page


A small number of resources pages should be starting to make their way onto the website soon(ish). As time goes by the range of what is available will increase and should become more comprehensive.
For the time being however most topic areas remain uncovered.

Thank you for your patience and I hope you think it is worth it.



I often find myself having to explain the same sort of things to people as a prelude to actually answering a computer related question which they have asked. For example an intial question might be "can I do X, Y or Z with my computer?", which after an answer is given of "no" will then followed by a question like "why not?". At this point there is often no option except to explain something fundamental about computers and computing.
On other occasions I find myself being asked to carryout work for people because, although they might have an instruction manual, a certain level of basic knowledge about what computers do, how they do it, why they do it and what things are called or mean is required in order to actually read (and understand) the instruction manual.

There are numerous websites and web pages available (to people who know where to look for them) which offer detailed descriptions of topics related to computers and their use. A good example of a general website which does this quite comprehensively is Wikipedia.
What it is less easy to find however is a website which provides relatively easily understood information about computers and their use.

The resources section of the Mostly4Macs website is my attempt to answer at least a few of the most common computer related questions I get asked.
While I hope that you find these pages useful and that they help you to understand computers better, I also hope that (if people read and understand what I have written) I will have to explain these things face to face far less.



the formats for resource pages

Each of the resources pages on the Mostly4Macs website have been designed to fall within one of several formats.
Sometimes one topic area (examples include things like 'the internet' or 'MP3s and digital music') will be covered in several - or even all - of the different formats within the Mostly4Macs resource pages. When this is the case it is generally because that one topic area is being covered in different levels of complexity and/or from different perspectives. Each of the different formats is best suited to cover a topic area in a different way and with a different level of complexity.


Just The Basics

As the name might suggest, the Just The Basics section is aimed to provide a basic overview of computers and computer related topics. Each topic is covered on a single webpage and is intended to be as simple as possible, while still providing as much detail as is required to gain a basic understanding about the general topic area that is being covered.

Each of the webpages within Just The Basics are ideally suited to be read by someone who wants to know a small amount, but doesnŐt want or need more detail than is absolutely necessary.


Computer Principles Explored

Computer Principles Explored aims to offer more detail about a topic than the Just The Basics section. In some cases the topics which are covered (for example numbering systems and counting) can prove a bit complicated, and might need to be read over several times, but underpin many other computer related issues. In many cases, the topics covered here have also been covered within the Just The Basics section. When this is the case there is likely to be a noticeable difference in the length and complexity of the information which is contained. Because of the amount of detail in which each topic is covered this will tend to be done with a series of linked webpages rather than all on one page.

Each series of webpages within Computer Principles Explored which relates to the topic being covered would be best suited for someone wanting to gain a reasonable level of understanding about computers (or someone wanting a quick reminder of knowledge). This information could also prove useful as a background to understanding software and hardware manuals or to reading more indepth descriptions of computer topics.


Hints, Tips, Tricks And Time Savers

Each entry in the Hints, Tips, Tricks and Time Savers section aims to contain a small and compact, but reasonably detailed, description of a very specific computer related issue.

The details contained in this section are most suitable for someone who wishes to use their computer more effectively.


Tabs, Buttons, Tool Bars, Menus And Short Cuts

The Tabs, Buttons, Tool Bars, Menus and Short Cuts section will focus on descriptions of how to get things done within specific software applications or operating systems.

One potential use for the information contained within these webpages would be as quick reference guides to, and reminders about, some of the commonly used features and keyboard based shortcuts for specific applications or operating system functions.


Basic Definitions of Confusing Computer Terms

A variety of websites offer their own lists of words, abbreviations and/or acronyms which relate in one way or another to computers. The Basic descriptions of Confusing Computer Terms (abbreviated to BDoCCT) is yet another set of lists and focuses upon some of the most commonly used computer terms. Each definition within the BDoCCT will be a maximum of 45 words in length and where relevant will contain links to any webpages within the Hints, Tips, Tricks and Time Savers, Just The Basics, or Computer Principles Explored sections which offer greater detail.

The different lists within BDoCCT are most likely to be of use as a quick reference point as and when required (for example to look up the meaning of a term contained within text on another website or in a computer manual).


Yet Another List of Stuff on the Internet

In addition to being able to used as a stand-alone links directory, individual pages or sections of the links pages on the Mostly4Macs website will often provide additional sources of information relating to a topic being covered on a resources page.



(some of) the topics (likely to be) covered by resource pages

Another way to search through the resource pages on the Mostly4Macs website will be by topic area.

  • computer parts and peripheral devices

  • computer cables

  • accessible computing

  • numbers

  • colours

  • printing

  • the internet

  • shopping online

  • viruses, spyware, adware and computer security issues

  • mp3s and digital music

  • iPods and iTunes

  • software licences

  • peer-to-peer file sharing

  • operating systems - Mac OS (classic)

  • operating systems - Mac OSX

  • operating systems - Unix, Linux and BSD

  • operating systems - Microsoft Windows

  • operating systems - Palm OS

  • operating systems - EPOC and Symbian OS

  • ESD (electrostatic discharge)

  • HTML, XHTML, CSS tags

  • making websites more accessible