michaelsteeber, 
Please enjoy this small batch 1980s guide to DOS computing I recently scanned:
HARDWARE CHECKLIST ("Hardware" means run computer programs or the machines you use "Software") You'll need the tollowing hardware sucessiully run vour soitware to to IBM P.C. : (P.C. means "personal computer"). This is the computer itseli: where the computer's internal workings are stored and information (data) is processed. The onloff switch is located on the right side of the machine, towards the back. VIDEO MONITOR : (That's the thing that 10oks like a T.V. screen.) It is not the comouter: it simply works with the computer. The monitor aliows the user (that's you to see what information is going into the computer. When you use the keyboard (we'll get to that later, your typing shows up on the monitor as you tupe. So you can see what's happening 35 YoU give or receive information from the computer. You can adiust the brightness end the contrast of the mon- itor using these knobs: 2
KEYBOARD Without the keyboard, it would beimpossible to give the computer instructions. The user couldn't run a program without providing information the computer needs to begin work. The computer keyboard is very similar to a typewriter's keyboard, with a few exceptions. To the far left on the keyboard are special function keys. They will 7 HOME PGUP be used for certain pro- grams you will run, 50 don't woriy about them right now. 1 END PROTES 2 3 PEDN To the far right the keyboard FI F2 is a numeric key pad. This can also be F3 used as a cursor F5 F6 directional pad; /a FT F8 cursor is the flashing hyphen on the screen F9 FIO that tells you where FUNCTION KEY PAD your typing will appear on the screen.) This pad has arrows on it so you can move the little cursor to where ever you'd like to begin typing You'll see the cursor later. NUMERIC / CURSOR KEY PAD
IMPORTANT KEYS: There are also a few other keys which may be rather important, although unfamiliar to you. • NUM LOCK This key can change the far right key pad. Press it, and you can type numbers on the screen. Press it again, and the cursor arrows can be used. Capitalizes Certain Letters when pressed along with the letter you want capitalized. It's like the "shift" key on a typewriter. It can also give you the top row's characters (@,#,%,*) etc. caps Lock CAPITALIZES ALL 9234455130 LETTERS. This is like "shift lock" on the regular typewriters. Press again to return to lower cas Helps to correct аПу typing RASPIESTS errors you make. It will move the cursor back, so you can correct right on top of the errors "ENTER" Or "RETURN" key. Very important key, you use it when you want information to be entered into the computer. Just because you see it on the screen doesn't mean it's in the computer! 4