packet data, 684-686
paid telephone support, 21-22
parallel (printer) port
alternatives to, 277
connecting printers to, 555-558
disuse of, 327
standards, 276
partitioning hard drives, 144-146
parts of computer
overview, 79-80
whether available, 27
passwords, assigning to Windows users, 783-785
Pause/Break key, 201
PC card (PCMCIA) sockets, 326
PC cards
adding card reader to desktop computer, 382
Expresscards, 326, 378-379
installing and removing, 379-381
standard for, 376-377
cardbus cards and slots, 377
voltages, 377
uses for, 377-378
PC games, 530
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) interface, 158-159
PCI Express, 161-163
PCMCIA (pc card) sockets, 326
PDAs (personal data assistants), synchronizing data files with, 636-638
PDF files, 517-518
pen tablets, 222-223
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface, 158-159
personal data assistants (PDAs), synchronizing data files with, 636-638
personal support team, 20
photo printers, 554
physical layer, 81-82
physical security
preventing damage, 777
protecting against theft, 775-776
protecting computer from power surges, 777
pictures
editing
adjusting brightness and contrast, 606-607
cropping images, 604-606
removing objects, 608-609
removing red eye, 608
rotating images, 603-604
storing
backing up images to DVD, 610-611
printing images, 609-610
viewing
as screen saver, 601-602
as slide show, 600-601
pixels, dead, 190
podcasts, 662
pointing devices, 49-50. See also mice
pointing stick, 321-322, 334-335
pop-up blocker, 516-517
port replicators, 363
portability of laptops, 10-11
portable desks, 388
portable drives, 154. See also CDs; DVDs; flash drives
positioning screens, 448-450
POST (power-on self test)
beep codes, 122
overview, 115
post diagnostic codes, 122-123
post diagnostic codes, Power-On Self Test, 122-123
posture, 464-466
power
external, required by desktop computers, 10
managing on desktop computer
DC power supply, 300-301
reducing power consumption, 295
setting Windows power options, 289-291
uninterruptible power supply (UPS), 295-300
managing on laptop computers
AC adapter, 351-352
batteries, 343-351
external DC power, 352
reducing power consumption, 352-355
power button, 331-332
power distribution, USB, 246
power supply
for desktops, 57-59
for laptops, 339-340
power surges, 777
Power-On Self Test. See POST
PowerPoint, 572-576
presentations
choosing projectors, 577-578
connecting to projectors, 578-580
software for, 571-577
OpenOffice Impress, 576-577
overview, 523-524
PowerPoint, 572-576
Print Screen/SysRq key, 200-201
printers
connecting to computer
accessing printer properties, 560-562
parallel port, 555-558
through network, 558-560
USB port, 558
memory, 564-565
types of
all-in-ones (printer/scanner/copier/fax), 554-555
impact printers, 553
inkjet printers, 553
laser printers, 551-553
photo printers, 554
printing
choosing and handling paper, 565-566
to a file, 568
using fonts, 562-564
using page setup, 568-569
using print preview, 569
when traveling, 399-401
privacy settings, of browsers, 741-743
privacy shield, 388-389
processors
Intel versus AMD, 38
managing, 84-85
performance, 40, 320
speed of, 38-39, 168-169
professional recording, sound cards for, 230-231
projectors
choosing, 577-578
connecting to desktop computers, 579-580
connecting to laptops, 578-579
proprietary parts, for laptops, 13-14
PS/2 keyboards, 196, 275
PS/2 mice, 218, 275
publishing images to Web sites, 599-600
purchasing a computer. See buying a computer