Windows 95: Features
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Windows Windows 95: Features Introduction Windows 95 is the much-anticipated update to Microsoft’s popular Windows graphic user interface, or GUI. A GUI is designed to make computer tasks (such as file management) intuitive and easy for novices as well as experts, replacing clunky line-driven commands with pictures called icons. Unlike previous versions of Windows, the interface for Windows 95 is much more seamless, and does not require continual switching between program manager and file manager. Users familiar with the Macintosh operating system will recognize many elements of this interface, and cross-platform work will be easier than ever before. Windows 95 is also a more complete 32 bit operating system. The good side of this is that 32 bit applications are potentially faster than older ones, and more memory (RAM) will considerably improve overall system performance. The bad side is that users will be forced to upgrade both their applications and system RAM to take advantage of these performance benefits. Older applications will slow down performance when they are executing, and will not conform to new standards established in Windows 95—for example, longer file names. Minimum System Requirements The following should be considered the minimum acceptable hardware requirements for running Windows 95: • a 486/33 based PC or better • 8 MB of RAM • 500 MB of hard drive space • a double speed CD-ROM drive (though quad speeds are better for little increase in price) Users who customarily run multiple applications at the same time, or who run very large single applications (e.g., Photoshop), would want to add more RAM and a larger hard drive. In general, it is case that adding more RAM memory will aid performance more than going up one level of processor; e.g., a 486/33 with 16 MB of RAM is faster than a 486/66 with only 8 MB of RAM. The Desktop The desktop is the first thing that appears when Windows 95 starts. On the desktop you may arrange different icons to suit your work habits. Unlike previous versions of Windows, the desktop has several interesting features other than simply serving as a place to drop icons. A desktop, for example, can can be arranged with the hard drives and network connections on the right hand side of the screen and various documents and frequently-used programs on the left side. The recycle bin, or trash can, a safe way to erase files, can be conveniently placed in the lower right corner of the desktop. Keep in mind that you are in complete control over what objects appear on the desktop, and this example is one of many different layouts. Where to Start When you first start Windows 95, you’ll notice there are very few objects on your desktop. The first place to look is in the “My Computer” folder, by default, located in the upper left hand corner of your screen (though you can move it anywhere after you first start up Windows 95). When you open the My Computer icon (by double-clicking on it), you’ll find a set of icons that correspond to the various parts of you PC. Most likely, you will see a 3 1/2 inch floppy drive, a hard drive, a CD-ROM drive, control panels, and printer settings. Windows 95: Features Page 2 Since each PC is different, what appears in the My Computer folder will depend upon your unique configuration. What you will probably want to do is drag icons from this folder to your desktop, and make it look like our desktop above (i.e., drive icons on one part of the screen). When you attempt to drop an icon on the desktop, Windows 95 will ask if you want to create a “shortcut”, answer “yes.” This simply means you wish to make an alias that allows you to access an object from more than one place (in this case, from both the My Computer folder and a new icon on the desktop). Shortcuts have slightly different icons than the original: a small arrow is in their lower left hand corner. Managing Files Once you have explored the My Computer folder (and placed a few objects on the desktop), double click on your hard drive icon. You will see a new window much like the picture below: Minimize Maximize Close Close Title bar Menu bar Folder name Toolbar & menu Scroll bar Windows 95 allows you to manage files, folders and applications by simply manipulating the icons that appear in this window. Unlike previous versions of Windows, everything on your hard drive appears here, and a much richer set of icons are used to display your files. One particularly useful option is to double-click on an icon to open it. Double-clicking on an application’s icon will launch the application. Double-clicking on a document will open the document and launch the application that created it. Double-clicking on other things, such as the My Computer icon, the Recycle Bin, or a folder, opens a window that displays the contents of the selected object (hence the name, Windows). Dragging and Dropping By picking up a file and dropping it in another location, you can accomplish many system functions: a few of the most important are listed below. • You can add shortcuts to items in this window to your desktop; for example, you might want to put WordPerfect on the desktop. Find the icon for the WordPerfect program, and drag it to your desktop to make the new shortcut. This process will also allow you to place folders and data files on the desktop. • Try picking up a file you don’t need and dropping it on the recycle bin. This erases a file. You’ll notice, however, that when you do this the bin fills up with paper. If you want the file back, double-click on the recycle bin and find the file you erased; to retrieve it, drag it out of the recycle bin and place it where it Windows 95: Features Page 3 belongs. To kill files permanently, choose from the file menu “empty recycle bin” to erase everything left in the bin. • To copy a file from one location to another, pick it up and drop it in the new place. You can also move groups of files by dragging an invisible box around them (i.e., click and drag), and then dragging the entire highlighted group to the new location. The Parts of a Window Once you’ve mastered the art of dragging and dropping files around your system, it is time to look more closely at other, useful parts of your file window. Listed below are the main features. If you don’t know what one of these corresponds to, find its label in the screen shot above. • Title Bar: Besides displaying the name of a window, clicking on the title bar allows you to drag the window to a new location. Clicking on the computer icon next to the title pulls down a menu of ways you can change your view of the window. These functions are duplicated in the various buttons mentioned below. • Minimize Button: Clicking on this button shrinks the window down, as it did in Windows 3.1, but now instead of an icon on the desktop, the window is reduced to a button on the task bar. The window may be restored to its previous size by clicking on its task bar button. • Maximize Button: Clicking on this button enlarges the window so that it fills the entire screen. • Close Button: Clicking on this button closes the window. The keyboard shortcut for this command is Alt+F4, the same as it was in Windows 3.1. • Resizing: Any window may be resized by clicking on its borders and dragging. The Toolbar Buttons If you don’t see the toolbar on your windows, go to the View menu and choose the toolbar option. This makes file management much easier, especially if you wish too move among different directories. If you forget what a button does, place your mouse over it without clicking, and the button’s name will appear. Go To a Different Folder Menu To the right of the name of your open folder is a button with a down-pointing arrow on it. Clicking on this button pulls down a menu of other folders on the desktop. You can go to any of these immediately simply by clicking on your choice. • Up One Level: Takes you to the current folder’s parent folder. This is essential for navigating between your folders! • Map Network Drive: Allows you to connect to a remote drive. • Disconnect Net Drive: Disconnects you from a remote drive. • Cut: Removes the file(s) from the folder and puts a copy in the Clipboard. • Copy: Puts a copy of the selected file(s) into the Clipboard. • Paste: Pastes a selected file or group of files from the Clipboard into the current folder (or desktop, or recycle bin, or printer, or...). • Undo Delete: Reverses the last system action you performed (e.g., deleting a file or renaming a folder). Very cool. • Delete: First, click on a file (or draw a box around a group of files) and then choose this button. Deletes the selected file or folder. • Properties: Lists detailed information about the selected file and allows you to designate the file as read- only or hidden. This also allows you to access information on how the file should be executed, which is particularly important for older DOS programs you are using in Windows 95.