New York Personal Computer User Group

Classes Previously Offered by NYPC

Michael Horowitz has taught the classes below a number of times for NYPC. If you are interested in taking one of them, let us know by email classes@nypceducation.org or phone (212) 643-7005.

Buying and Owning a Laptop Computer* Laptop computers differ from full size machines in many important ways, not the least of which is expense. Spend your money wisely, learn both what to look for when purchasing a laptop computer and ownership tips and guidelines.
So you bought a new computer. Now what?* Many people experience problems with their Personal Computers sooner or later. Properly setting up and configuring a new Windows XP computer gets you off on the right foot and goes a long way towards insuring a trouble-free experience with it. Despite the title, 95% of the class applies to any Windows computer, not just new ones.
Backing Up Your Computer* It goes without saying that if you have important files on your computer, then it is imperative to make copies of them. Do you have important files? The more you use a personal computer, the more files you accumulate. Some of them, you probably would not want to lose. If you don't know where to begin when it comes to backing up your computer, this class is for you.
WiFi Wireless Networks* WiFi is the popular wireless networking standard. This class covers everything you need to know to setup, secure and access wireless computer networks.
Get Your Own Domain* This web site is www.nypc.org. The name "nypc.org" is referred to, on the Internet, as a domain. The domain name does not include the "www". There are many reasons why you might want your own domain and the process is neither difficult nor expensive.

Building a Computer from Found Parts
May 2006

As a follow-up to the March 6th meeting of the TechTips SIG, we'll build a Pentium IV Computer from found and donated parts. After building it, we'll auction it off. Taught by Mike Ostrowe, Co-chair of the TechTips SIG and instructor of NYPC's A+ class.

Beyond Google: Advanced Internet Searching
May 2006

Google is great, but sometimes it’s overwhelming to get 100,000 hits! This course will look at alternatives to Google, meta search engines, clustering search engines, topic-specific searchers, and alternative ways to visualize results. We’ll also look at directories (and when to use them), RSS feeds, and other ways to supplement search engines when you’re seeking specific information on the web. Please bring some topics on which you'd like to search.

Linux Shell Scripting
April 2006

It is getting easier to use Linux via a Graphical User Interface (GUI), but fully using the power of Linux requires familiarity with a command line interface such as Shell. Shell executes commands from the keyboard (or from a file) to the operating system.
To avoid memorizing the thousands of commands available, it is useful to learn Shell Script programming. In this course, you'll learn how to use Shell script programming. You'll learn its main features and syntax, shell variables, and flow control. The course will include how to combine basic commands, I/O redirection, and filters. You'll also learn about power tools like grep and awk, fancy printing with enscript, and finding Help. If you thought writing batch files in DOS was fun, you'll love this course! Taught by Jacob Brickman, whom our Excel students commended for his clarity. Two partially hands-on sessions.

Excel: Beyond the Basics
April 2006

NYPC's method of teaching "Excel for Beginners" and "Excel Part II" is to give you practice with real-life examples. In this course, students encounter more real-life examples, this time manipulating large amounts of data, which they may have received from a "boss," a mainframe, or the Internet. Using Excel, students practice summarizing and presenting data efficiently, in the way that is most comprehensible. Building on the skills learned in the Beginner Excel class, this course will teach you to use Excel tricks to sift through lots of data -- even data in another format, such as Word. In addition, students get tips on eliminating tedious typing. Use these tricks to get a handle on trends and make better bottom-line decisions. Impress your boss! You will be encouraged to do the homework exercise after Session 1 to prepare for Session 2. Prerequisite: attendance at one of NYPC's classes in Excel for Beginners, or equivalent. Two sessions, each three hours. Hands-on.

Photoshop Elements: Intermediate and Advanced Techniques
April 2006

How to go beyond the basics of Elements to enhance color, improve composition, make composite images, and use masking techniques, blend modes, and more. Prerequisite: familiarity with layers and levels. Students are encouraged to bring their own photos to class; we will work on them when appropriate in terms of the class focus. Hands-on, six hours.

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