F-keys

See that line of keys ranging from F1 to F12 at the top of your keyboard?

Do you wonder what they do?

Function keys have many uses, some of which are specific to the program that's running at the time.

Here are the Basics of Function keys F1 – F5.

F1- Typically pressing this brings up the help file for the program you're currently in. To test this, go ahead and left click on a blank area of your desktop, then press F1. The help file should spring to life.

F2 – This F-key is used to rename. Click on a file or folder and strike the F2 key; you'll be able to rename it with ease!

F3 – Used to bring up the search function in Windows, but varies for other programs. Great for Internet Explorer and Firefox users who want to find a specific word or phrase on a web page.

F4 – In Internet Explorer the F4 key opens the address bar. Pressing ALT + F4 will close any active program.

F5 – Refresh key. Use this key to reload a web page or refresh your desktop. This is a good one for both the Internet (good for Ebay bid battles) and apparent computer freezes.

Make Your Blinking Cursor Bigger!

Is your cursor a little too slender to see? Do you find youself looking everywhere for where that cursor disappeared to? Here is a simple way to change it.

For Windows Vista:

Go: Start>Control Panel>Ease of Access Center>Make the Computer Easier to See

Towards the bottom you'll see an option to set the thickness of the blinking cursor. Just set it to the desired width and away you go!

If you're using Windows 7:

Start>Control Panel>Ease of Access>Ease of Access Center>Make the Computer Easier to See

For Windows XP:

Go: Start>Control Panel>Accessibility Options. Choose the Display Tab and then under Cursor Options you can set your width.

Good Luck! I have changed mine a bit and I love it.

Change the Blinking Cursor on a Mac

For For Mac users, here is a You Tube tutorial to show you how to change the cursor to the size you want.

Just click on the link below.
http://www.videojug.com/webvideo/mac-tutorial-the-cursor-size-on-mac

Virtual Keyboard Site

This is a website where you can play music on many different instruments to your heart's content. It is so cool!

Click the keyboard to begin. Notice, along the top of the keyboard, there are buttons that let you choose what instrument you hear on the keyboard.

The instruments are: Piano, Organ, Saxophone, Flute, Pan Pipes, Strings, Guitar, Steel Drums and Double Bass.

Below that you have Drum Beats 1 through 6 that you can choose from and below that are the keys of the keyboard.

On the left hand side, you will find three buttons: Chord Mode, Play Chord and Instructions.

The Instructions page will pop up and explain how this works and how you can use your keyboard to play the keys on the piano. You can also get a great description on how the Chord Mode works.

Either way, it was a lot of fun. Click this link below and play around with it.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/index.htm