Apple IIe - Manual (Page 46)

Page 46 of 74 IIe
Printed: Tuesday, March 4, 2003 10:40:15 AM
way, so mouse-driven programs tend to be quicker to master and easier to use.
Here are some terms, techniques, and characteristics of mouse-driven programs:
Clicking: Pressing the button on top of the mouse is called clicking. Many programs let you
select from a list of options by moving the pointer to an option and clicking on it.
Dragging: You can move paragraphs or drawings by pointing to what you want to move and holding
the mouse button down while you move the pointer to the new location. This is called dragging.
Pull-down Menus: Programs that use the mouse generally have a menu bar that stretches across
the top of the display. Hidden inside that bar are menu items (lists of options). To see what
your options are, you point to one of the menu titles on the menu bar and hold down the mouse
button. This reveals a pull-down menu.
Point to the option you want and release the button.
Anything else you need to know about using the mouse will be explained in the manual supplied
with the application program.
Keep in mind that not all programs use the mouse.
Modem
A modem, short for MODulator/DEModulator, links your computer by telephone to other computers
and information services.
If you plan to tap into your company's mainframe computer, access a
large computer library for stock quotes, medical, or legal research, or use your computer for
electronic banking, you'll need a modem and a communications program like Apple Access II.
Different modems send and receive information at different speeds. The speed is measured in
bits per second (bps), often referred to as baud. One common baud rate is 300. You can also
get modems for your Apple IIe that send and receive data at 1200 baud. 1200 baud modems cost
more, but they're four times faster than 300 baud modems a valid consideration because you're
often paying long distance phone rates.
Keypad
If you're used to working with an adding machine or calculator and will be spending a lot of
time entering numeric data, you might want to add a numeric keypad to your computer system.
The number keys on the numeric keypad generate the same characters as their counterparts on the
top row of the Apple IIe keyboard, but most adding-machine touch-typists prefer using the keys
on the keypad to using the spread-out keys on the keyboard.
Joystick or Hand Controls
If you plan to use your computer for games and who doesn't occasionally you'll want to invest
in a joystick or hand controls.
Not all games require a joystick or hand controls, but the
majority do.
Hand controls and joysticks control the movement of creatures or objects in game programs.
With hand controls, you control movement by turning a pair of knobs one in each hand.
With a
joystick, you maneuver an airplane-style joystick. Both hand controls and joysticks have
buttons you press to fire torpedos, throw forward passes, or anything else the programmer can
dream up.
Adding Memory