These articles by Microsoft will show you some of the basics of web browsing, if you are using the program Microsoft Internet Explorer (the most common web browser).

The principles in the articles are largely the same for other browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari etc), so it’s worth having a look!

Click on the underlined title below to open the article you wish to read…

Web Browsing Basics

•	Find and Return to Web Pages You’ve Recently Visited With the Internet Explorer 6 History list, you can find Web sites and pages that you’ve visited in the past so you can go back for more.

•	Preview a Web Page Before You Print It The Print Preview feature lets you see the Web page before you print it so you can avoid printing mistakes. Find out more about using Print Preview.

•	Use Favorites to Get Around the Web The Favorites list puts Web sites you visit often within easy reach. Learn about all the ways you can use the Favorites feature to browse like a pro.

•	Find Stuff Fast with Search Internet Explorer 6′s built-in search feature, Search Companion, can help you track down what you’re looking for online. Start searching now.

There’s no need to be conned by a slick salesman into buying a computer for more than $500 these days.

Today I bought a fast, reliable, authentic computer for only $399! It’s second hand, but it’s totally refurbished and you wouldn’t know the difference.

Companies that sell ex-government computers and ex-corporate computers are all over Australia, and you can find them by typing in ‘ex-government computers’ or ‘computer recyclers’ into a Google search. The most popular stores will be at the top of the search results.

The shop I visited today was Brisbane Computer Recyclers.

Computers can be very affordable!

But of course I already had a monitor (the screen), mouse, speakers & keyboard etc.

You should be able to pick these items up very cheaply also from the same store!

If you live in the Brisbane area, Brisbane Seniors Online (BSOL) may be for you!

This is from BSOL’s home page:

Brisbane Seniors Online is a voluntary organisation set up to help the over 50′s in the Brisbane Area learn the basics of computers and the internet. Please browse around and discover how we can help you or a family member through our Mentor Program.

BSOL is a network of volunteer mentors willing to aid you in your use of computers. We arrange a time and place, a computer for you to learn on and a mentor to teach you on a one to one basis or within a group. Depending upon mentor availability group teaching might be the only option in some areas. All our mentors are volunteers and our costs are purely to cover administration and the all important public liability insurance. If you want to get started, the procedure is:

For Individuals

• You sign up as a BSOL member – $40 for 12 months
• We advise you of your mentor’s contact details
• The mentor will contact you and then reserve a computer on behalf of BSOL and yourself at a learning location
• After the first lesson the mentor will arrange a mutually convenient time for the next session
• Your mentor will periodically provide feedback to the Hub Coordinator on your progress.

Learning how to use a computer or the Internet can be extremely challenging, so having a mentor and/or a friends to help you through and learn with you is very useful.

You can visit BSOL’s website by clicking on their logo below!

Click here to visit BSOL

If you live in the Ipswich area, get in touch with SeniorNet Association Inc!

SeniorNet helps seniors in the Ipswich area

Take a look at this great Australian service… maybe you or someone you know could use it!

This is from GreenPC’s home page:

Green Peripherals and Components, otherwise known as GreenPC, has now developed as a successful social enterprise initiative of Infoxchange Australia that operates to service low income people on a national basis.

Green PCs are recycled personal computers that are refurbished and repackaged into usable, Internet-ready computers, and then made available to low-income communities, individuals and community organisations. The only qualification for an individual or family to have access to a Green PC computer is that they be holders of current Health Care Cards or are able to verify their low income status in some other way.

The objectives of GreenPC is to upgrade and Internet-enable outdated computers. Once a donated computer has been refurbished, it becomes available for distribution.

Click here to visit GreenPC!