I hope everyone is enjoying 2009. I decided to focus this issue on the internet. My website is still a work in progress so check it regularly for new tutorials. Since the last e-zine I have added new tutorials on Excel 2007. If you have any suggestions for the website please email me at jennifer@free-computer-tutorials.net and let me know what you think or what you would like me to add.

In this issue:

• Saving a picture from the web
• Create a shortcut to a website
• Instant messaging
• New Technology – Google G-drive

Saving a picture from the web

The web is full of great pictures. You can even search for images on the search engines by clicking the image link. Well how do you get some of those pictures incorporated into a document or save them on your computer? I am going to take you through a mini tutorial to show you how to do it.

1. Open you web browser and find an image. The image you find will not be able to change size without changing the quality.
2. Now right click the image in the menu you will see several options for working with a picture: Save Picture As, Email Picture, or Print Picture.
3. If you want to save the picture in a file on your computer click the Save Picture As option and your explorer window will open for you to select the location.
4. If you want to email a picture to someone click the Email Picture option. This will also open your explorer window for you to save the picture but it will make it a smaller more compressed file so it can easily be emailed.
5. If you only want to print the picture from the web site click Print Picture. This will only print the picture you have selected and leave all of the other text and pictures off.

I hope you find this information useful.

Create a shortcut to a website

When you have a file or a website that you visit extremely often, sometimes it is easier to create a shortcut on your desktop rather than always looking for it.

1. Place you cursor on an empty part of your desktop.
2. Right click and select: New Shortcut
3. A shortcut wizard will open up.
4. Enter the destination to the shortcut you want to create. If the destination is a website, simply enter the URL of the website or page. Click Next
5. Type in a name for the shortcut that will help you remember what it is for.
6. Once you have entered the new name, click finish.

You are already done! That's all there is to it! Now when you want to bring up the site you visit frequently you can simply double click on the new shortcut on your desktop!

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Instant messaging

Instant messaging or IM is a fun way to chat with people over the computer. You are able to talk to some one any where win the world without the long distance fees. While a phone call is best IM can be fun.

There are several IM services you can have. Some of the IM clients are AIM, Yahoo, Windows Live, and Google Talk. Choose the service that will work best for you and you can sign up for free.

Once you have signed up you can add friends and family to your contacts. Then when both of you are on the computer and signed onto IM at the same time you will be able to see that the other person is online and can send messages back and forth.

If you already use IM and maybe you have more than one IM client you use I just found a great addition that you can sign on to all of your instant messaging clients at the same time. You can even incorporate Face book, MySpace and others. The addition is called Digsby. Go to http://www.digsby.com/ to download the program.

This is just a brief explanation of IM if you want a more detailed tutorial about instant messaging or have specific questions about a certain IM client email me with your questions.

New Technology – Google G-drive

It has been proven not that Google is creating an online file backup and storage. GDrive provides reliable storage for all of your files, including photos, music and documents. GDrive will allow you to access your files from anywhere, anytime, and from any device - be it from your desktop, Web browser or cellular phone.

This feature from Google is not live yet but it is rumored to be coming in the near future. This will be a great asset to users. With all of the large multi media files users need a convenient storage solution.

I hope this issue of Understanding the Basics of Computers was helpful. If you have any suggestions for next months issue or comments on this issue please let me know.

Keep learning about your computer,
Jennifer Anderson
www.free-computer-tutorials.net

P.S. If you would like to purchase ad space in my e-zine please mail me with Ad in the subject line.