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Learning the Basics
How to Use the Keyboard
How to Use the Keyboard
If you've never used a computer before, you're probably asking
yourself, "is this keyboard just like a typewriter? And if it is, what
are all the extra keys for?" This section describes the keys on the
keyboard and the differences between typing on a computer and
that typewriter you may be used to using.
The Character Keys
For these keys, typing on a computer keyboard is very much like
typing on a typewriter. However, there are some exceptions:
When you press the spacebar, a computer does not simply pass
over an area of the page like a typewriter does. Although you
may not see anything on the screen, each time you press the
spacebar, the computer creates a space character just as it cre-
ates characters representing letters or symbols.
The lowercase l (el) and the number 1 are not interchangeable.
The uppercase O and the number 0 are not interchangeable.
On a typewriter, the shift lock key locks all the keys into their
uppercase positions. On a computer keyboard, pressing the
Caps Lock
the number and symbol keys aren't affected.
Part I: Getting To Know Your Computer
key changes only the alphabet keys to uppercase—
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