Windows before "Windows"

"Windows on the computer are not for looking out but for looking in!"

Monitor Resolution

Increase the "size of the desktop" for more room to work!!!

• The size and quality of your monitor may allow you to set the monitor resolution to gain more "Desktop" and "Window" space. The size of text and other objects will appear smaller as the monitor resolution is increased but there will be corresponding more space for more windows, objects, and text (a larger desk has been achieved)! This is the major advantage of a larger Monitor!
  
  
• Monitor resolution setting are accomplished in the "System Folder" / "Control Panels" / "Monitors" or "Monitors and Sound". Adjust setting to personal taste within the range that is allowed. You can't make mistakes here! Make your own choices and you can change setting for different tasks. I personally like more space on the "Desktop" and recommend the following:
  
  

  640 x 480 as standard for a standard monitor

  800 x 600 is recommended for a 15" monitor

  1024 x 800 is recommended for a 17" monitor

  
  
  
• Monitors need enough VideoRAM and the MultiScan properties to be set to the higher resolutions.
  
  
• Pictures and colors are improved as the Monitor Color Depth is increased also. (System Folder / Control Panels / Monitors)
  
  

  256 colors should be the lowest setting for any web work,

  Thousands of colors is recommended for excellent pictures, or

  Millions of colors if you have a monitor and memory that can do it!

Icons and Views

The views for each window can be changed. These changes are made in the View menu in the Menu Bar at the top of the Desktop.

NOTE: Views can be changed and changed back at any time, should the user desire to do so!

-Click on a window to bring it to the top of the Desktop

-Select ....by..... in the View Menu in the Menu Bar

1. View by Small Icon is recommended to save space
   Your computer screen is only so large and to view every folder with Large Icons wastes desktop space. Small Icons are not graphically as pretty but certainly a more practical use of the desktop.
   • Hint: These icons can be arranged alphabetically very easily to make them easy to find. (Hold down the Option key and choose Clean Up By Name in the Special Menu.)
   • Try this to arrange Small (or Large) Icons

     -Click on a window to bring it to the top of the Desktop

     -Hold down the Option Key

     -Select "Clean Up by ......" in the Special Menu in the Menu Bar

   
   
   
2. View by Name can be "cool" to keep things in order.
   View by Name provides an alphabetical listing of everything in the folder and is a nice way to view many folders because the computer organizes the folder without the user involved. Drop an item into the folder and it will be placed in it's proper place.
   • What a waste of space though to have the window open to full desktop size when the user probably only needs to view the name.
   • Recommended: Resize your window to view only the names of the files. (Remember: Dragging the lower right corner of the window accomplishes this!)
   
   
   
3. View by Kind is mostly a "drag" but works to identify applications easily!
   View by Kind provides a listing that places the Applications (and aliases) at the top of the window. It is very convenient in the folders containing applications so that the Application Icon is always near the top and the user does not have to search for it.
   
   
4. View by Date is sometimes "neat" and saves searching time!
   View by Date in downloads and sometimes files folders makes the most recent download, attachments or file appear at the top of the list. This is very convenient at times.
   
   
5. View by Size or Version or Label are strictly specialized and may have some specific uses for you.
   
   
6. Things change slightly here for Mac OS 8 +. Each window can be set to it's own view and will always come back to that view.

The Desktop Itself

Desktop: "Your Macintosh Screen with all wondows closed"

HINT: Try this to close all open windows at once

- Hold down the Option key

- Click the Close box in the upper left corner of any open window

Mom says,
"Put away your files and applications so you can find them easily and that your desktop does not become a mess".

• It is true that YOUR Macintosh is YOUR workplace but many people may share the same Desktop (especially in the Lab - in fact, come and try out the Lab computers to experience a recommended system of organization). If we all learn to use some system, anyone can use any Mac and feel comfortable.
  
  
• The following are some suggested organizational processes for the Desktop.

Classifications, categories, or types of items on the Desktop

"All items on your computer are not equal!"

Statement: There are different classifications, categories, or types of items that can be on your computer and on your desktop.