Parents Handout

• Your computer is an electronic device. Make sure that all power cords are completely plugged in (not loose or wobbly). Consider getting a surge protector, to protect your computer and monitor.
• Never unplug your computer while it is running; shut it down properly first.
• Never use your computer during a thunderstorm; power it down, and unplug it.
• Never eat or drink around your computer.

Just like in Windows, there is a taskbar at the bottom of your screen. It should look something like this: fixme:need taskbar image

The icons are used as shortcuts to start various applications. For example:

If you point your mouse at an icon and don't click, and wait a few seconds, a little window should pop up telling you what the application is.

To shut down your computer, first log out by clicking on the KDE menu access button and selecting “Logout…”. This brings you to the GNOME Desktop Manager. Click on “Actions”, then “Shut Down” (or “Reboot” to restart your computer). When you start your computer, it is configured to log you in automatically. If something happens and you log out but do not shut down, though, you will need to log back in. To do this, enter your Debian login user name, which is student and your password which is also student (note that these are all lower-case).

fixme:KDE login screen image

Remember: your Debian login user name (student) is used to access your computer. Your dial-up networking user name and password are printed out and taped to the top of your computer; they are used in KPPP, to log on to the Internet. Finally, your email user name and password are what you set up in class with the instructor. They are used to access your gmail account whenever you are online.

To send and receive email or to browse the Internet, you first need to be online. This is done using a modem and a phone line. A phone cable needs to be run from a working wall jack in your home to the back of the computer, where it plugs into the modem. Your modem will probably have two outlets, and should look something like this.

Although we have tried to label all the computers, with an arrow pointing to the side you should use, and an X on the side not to use, it is possible we missed labeling your modem. If that is the case, look at the modem on the back of the computer. One socket is labeled “Phone” and the other side is labeled “Line”. To make the modem work, you need the phone cable plugged into the “Line” outlet. (The reason for the “Phone” outlet is if a computer modem and a telephone have to share a single wall jack. In those instances, you can plug the phone cable from the wall jack into the “Line” socket of the modem, and then plug in a second phone cable from the “Phone” socket of the modem to the socket in the phone.)

Your computer has a network card in addition to a modem. Although the sockets look similar, they are not the same. Be sure to plug the phone cable into the modem and not the network card. A phone cable plug (RJ-11, shown on the left in the picture)is smaller than a network cable plug (RJ-45, shown on the right).

To start dial-up networking, click the “KPPP” icon on the taskbar. This opens up the KPPP dialog window.

Click “Connect”. The Login ID and Password are already entered. If this information is ever deleted, it is taped to the top of your computer, so you can re-enter it. When you are online, this window is minimized, and shows up as an icon on your taskbar. When you are finished, be sure that you click on the minimized icon on your taskbar to restore it, then click “Disconnect”. Otherwise, your computer will stay online, and no one else will be able to call you! If you have call waiting at home, select the 'CIN with call waiting' connection, not CIN.

To access your email account, you first need to be online. See “Dial-Up Networking Basics” for instructions on accessing the Internet. Once you are connected, open your web browser (IceWeasel).

This is the URL of Google's gmail home page:

http://mail.google.com/

If your web browser is not at that page, then enter the URL into the address window of the web browser and press “Enter” or click the “Search” button. The first time you access your gmail account, you will have to enter your email user name and password.

If you click on the checkbox that says “Remember me on this computer” before clicking on the “Sign In” button, the application will “remember” your user name and password. In the future, when you log on, it will take you straight to your inbox. On occasion, you will again be asked for your email user name and password; this is for security purposes. Simply enter the information, and continue using email.

If you are having problems, or don't know how to do something in gmail, click on the “Help” hyperlink. The Gmail help center covers many topics – Getting Started, Common Mail Tasks and Features, Gmail Essentials, Troubleshooting General Issues, and Account Information.

If you need to ask a BWorks volunteer a question, send an email to:

help@bworks.org

Q: What is an operating system?
A: An operating system is the set of basic programs and utilities that make your computer run. Linux is an operating system; so is Microsoft Windows XP; so is Mac OS X.

Q: What is Linux?
A: Linux is a Unix-like operating system that was designed to provide personal computer users a free or very low-cost operating system comparable to traditional and usually more expensive Unix systems. Linux has a reputation as a very efficient and fast-performing system. Linux's kernel (the central part of the operating system) was developed by Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki in Finland. To complete the operating system, Torvalds and other team members made use of system components developed by members of the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project.

Q: What is Debian?
A: Debian is a free operating system (OS) for your computer. Debian uses the Linux kernel (the core of an operating system), but most of the basic OS tools come from the GNU project; hence the name GNU/Linux. Debian GNU/Linux provides more than a pure OS: it comes with over 15,490 packages, precompiled software bundled up in a nice format for easy installation on your machine.

Q: How much does it cost, and where can I get it?
A: Debian can be downloaded for free, or you can purchase a pre-compiled set of CDs. http://www.debian.org/distrib/ explains your options, for downloading or for purchasing CD sets. Many books on Linux come with a CD. Check your local library if they have CDs of Debian.

Q: Does it work the same way as Windows?
A: Well, it works in a similar way to Windows. Both use a graphical user interface (or GUI), and both look, act, and feel in a similar way. You will click on an icon in the same place (lower leftmost position on the taskbar) to bring up a menu to choose from, whether running Windows (Winn95 to XP), Macintosh, or Linux. All allow user input from keyboard or mouse. Where you will notice a big difference is in performance. Linux does a much better job with older hardware. It is faster, more secure, and more reliable.

Q: Can I play music CDs in my computer's CD player?
A: Absolutely! The basic Debian install provides seven media players to choose from.

Q: Can I go online and surf the Internet?
A: Yes. Installed web browsers include Konquerer, Mozilla, and Firefox. With any of those, you can go online and surf the Internet.

Q: Can I send and receive email?
A: Yes. We create a gmail account for each student. Using that account and Google Mail, students can send/receive email from any computer.

Q: Can I use my Microsoft Windows games on it?
A: Maybe. If a game is specific to an operating system, then it is not designed to work with other operating systems. You can't run a game designed for Windows XP on a Windows 98 machine, for example, nor run a Windows game on a Macintosh. However, there are tools that allow some games designed on one operating system to run on another. Wine and WineX are examples of such tools that allow some Windows games to run under Linux. Your best bet is to see if a Linux version of the game exists and get that.

Q: Why Linux instead of Microsoft Windows?
A: There are many reasons why Linux is a better solution than Windows. To list a few: cost, stability, performance. Cost: A license to use Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition costs at a minimum $149. A license to use Microsoft Office for educational use costs at a minimum $99. Running Open Office on Debian costs $0. Stability: Linux is a more stable operating system than Windows, especially as compared to Windows 98, which is what most donated machines are running, which means that's all we have available. Performance: Linux will get better performance from the old hardware we have donated to us than Windows can.

Q: What about computer viruses?
A: According to Dr. Nic Peeling and Dr Julian Satchell's Analysis of the Impact of Open Source Software: “There are about 60,000 viruses known for Windows, 40 or so for the Macintosh, about 5 for commercial Unix versions, and perhaps 40 for Linux. Most of the Windows viruses are not important, but many hundreds have caused widespread damage. Two or three of the Macintosh viruses were widespread enough to be of importance. None of the Unix or Linux viruses became widespread - most were confined to the laboratory.”

Q: What about spyware?
A: According to John Leydon from The Register: “Spyware, those annoying programs that snoop on a user's actions, remain a Windows-only phenomenon. Prominent anti-spyware developer Webroot says it has yet to detect a single Apple or Linux spyware app. In comparison, Webroot's Spy Sweeper software protects against 15,000 Windows threats. Although Apple and Linux server worms (such as Lion) have been detected, their population is dwarfed by the proliferation of Windows-specific worms, viruses and Trojans.”

Q: What if I want to hook up a printer to it?
A: Linux computers can support printers, scanners, digital cameras, all sorts of peripheral devices. Please contact one of the BWorks staff to discuss peripheral configuration and support.

Q: What if I want to replace the CD with a CD burner, or a DVD?
A: If you modify the hardware given to you by BWorks, the machine is no longer considered supported. You will be charged for any work or maintenance done because of the changes in hardware or software.