7 Ways to Have Fun on the Computer

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

If you want to have fun without too many complications, try doing it using your computer. No matter what you like to do for entertainment, the options a simple computer offers are almost endless. You can choose to play a new video game, chat with friends, broaden your knowledge in your favorite area, deepen your knowledge of computers and turn it into a hobby, watch funny videos or create new content to share with other people. As long as your computer is working properly, you won't have a chance to get bored.

Steps

Method 1 of 7: Playing Video Games

Step 1. Search for an online game

When you get bored, one of the best ways to cheer yourself up is to play one of the many fun video games out there. it will turn out amazing and keep you busy for hours. Some of the free games on the web must be installed on your computer, while others can be run directly from within the browser.

• If you love to play role-playing games (called RPG in jargon), try some of these titles:

  • Fortnite;
  • Minecraft;
  • World of Warcraft.

• Check out the online databases that offer the list of all popular free games such as:

  • Steam;
  • Addicting Games;
  • Miniclip;
  • Roblox;
  • Andkon;
  • 8bit.

  

  Step 2. Try the games on the Facebook platform

  If you have an account of this social network, you will also have access to a huge range of singleplayer and multiplayer games of all kinds. Many of the games that Facebook offers are completely free thanks to the support offered by advertising, however some subsidize themselves with the so-called "microtransactions", ie the possibility of buying special items or more performing equipment directly within the game than the standard ones. Try starting your search by visiting after logging in with your account.

  Some of the most popular and popular Facebook games are Words with Friends, Candy Crush, and Farmville

  

  Step 3. Use the Steam platform to download and install video games on your computer easily and securely

  If you are interested in playing more complete and structured video games that require the installation of software on your computer, then rely on the free Steam client downloadable from this URL: steampowered.com. See this article for more information on how to install the Steam client on your computer. Below is a list of the most popular and popular games that you can download and install for free with Steam:

  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive;
  • Team Fortress 2;
  • Grand Theft Auto V;
  • Playerunknown's Battlegrounds;
  • Dota 2.

  

  Step 4. Create your own video game

  If you are a creative and ambitious person, you can try to create a simple video game using the tools provided by the MIT Scratch site which you can access through this URL. The site in question allows you to design your own game that can then be used by you and other users. You also have the ability to communicate with other people who use the platform and play the games that other users have created. Fun is guaranteed, especially if you are a lover of this type of entertainment.

  Method 2 of 7: Watching Videos and Listening to Music

  

  Step 1. Search for original content on YouTube

  It is a web platform that offers an almost infinite range of videos created and published by users. Within YouTube you can find videos on any topic, starting from those relating to cats capable of making strange sounds, up to the official video of the Apollo mission. Search based on your personal tastes, then find a reputable and well-known channel to subscribe to.

  • YouTube is also a great way to be able to watch official song videos. Search based on the song, artist or album of your choice to be able to watch related videos.
  • If you love video games, subscribe to this YouTube channel: https://gaming.youtube.com. You will be able to locate game-specific content, including live broadcasts of users playing your favorite video game.

  

  Step 2. Create and publish your video on YouTube

  Want to be the creator of the next most viewed YouTube video ever? A great way to have fun using your computer is to create a video and post it online. Below is a list of some ideas you can start from to develop the subject of your movie:

  • Start a vlog (definition of video blog);
  • Review the recipes or cocktails you like most;
  • Sing, dance or play a musical instrument;
  • Record funny sketches with your friends;
  • Read a poem;
  • Completely empty your wallet or purse and describe the content you found;
  • Create a "haul" style video describing the experience you had to buy a certain item (for example, describe what you bought in your favorite grocery store, bookstore or mall);
  • Post videos where you provide tips on how to best cope with everyday life.

  

  Step 3. Watch movies and TV series in streaming

  The best streaming platforms usually offer a wide selection of HD content that you can watch by signing up for a paid subscription. However, it is possible to find streaming video content that is completely free.

  • Popular and well-known paid streaming platforms include:

    • Netflix;
    • Hulu;
    • Amazon Prime;
    • Disney +;
    • HBO Now.

  • Below is the list of some sites that offer free streaming content:

    • Folkstreams;
    • UbuWeb;
    • MetaCafe;
    • Vimeo.

    

    Step 4. Listen to music online

    The advent of computers has forever changed the way people make and sell music. Starting from the way music is recorded to the way it is listened to, computers and new digital technologies are the basis of business linked to the modern world of music. Below you will find the list of some websites or web services that allow you to listen to music for free or by spending limited amounts of money:

    • Pandora Radio;
    • Spotify;
    • Apple Music;
    • SoundCloud;
    • Bandcamp;
    • DatPiff.

    

    Step 5. Listen to a podcast

    Podcasts are comparable to free recordings of radio shows covering virtually any type of topic. You can find the podcast section on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, but also on sites like Check out PodcastOne or PodBay that publish a wide range of totally free content. Today podcasts are a very popular tool that is normally used by many sources to distribute their content, starting from the most famous radio stations up to individual public figures, such as writers or important figures in the world of sport. Some of the most popular websites for listening to podcasts include:

    • RadioLab;
    • Radio Deejay;
    • This American Life;
    • The Moth;
    • Bodega Boys;
    • The Nerdist;
    • Hardcore History;
    • Stuff You Should Know;
    • Savage Lovecast.

    Method 3 of 7: Look for Funny Stuff

    

    Step 1. Take advantage of online stores

    Do you have some free time, but not even a penny? Consult the catalogs of large online stores, but without buying any products. Nowadays, you can buy anything through the web, so it is a lot of fun to visit the largest and most famous e-commerce websites to compare products and prices of clothing, shoes, tech gadgets up to houses or land.. Create a wish list in which to put all the things you would like to buy, but without running out of credit card limit.

    

    Step 2. Plan the vacation you've always dreamed of

    Use Google Maps to explore places or cities you've never been to and use Wikipedia to understand which are the most interesting points of your tourist destinations. At this point, rely on websites like Expedia to calculate the cost of your vacation and plan your itinerary. Alternatively, you can use the services of AirBnB or CouchSurfer if you like to travel with an eye on your wallet and maybe meet other people. Once you find out where you want to go on vacation, the next step is to start saving the money needed to pay for your travel and accommodation, so that your dream becomes a reality.

    

    Step 3. Discover the world of magic

    Would you like to impress your friends with magic the next time you meet them? Learn how to make a coin disappear or one of the many card tricks. There are countless websites that show step by step the process behind many magic tricks to be able to learn them without haste and without stress. One of the best known and most visited sites is GoodTricks, but also on YouTube there are many educational videos related to the subject.

    

    Step 4. Have fun with art

    If you're looking for inspiration to start with, try visiting specialized websites like DeviantArt (publishes alternative art forms), Behance (dedicated to graphic design), Flickr (photo gallery) and Juxtapoz (contemporary art blog).

    

    Step 5. Create your artwork

    Are you feeling creative? There are many websites that offer tools for drawing or painting, both amateur and professional, using a computer. This is a very effective solution, since you don't have to install any sophisticated programs on your computer to give free rein to your creative streak. Here is a small list of the best known and used options:

    • On the web you will find Sketchpad, a free tool that allows you to create any type of drawing. Sketchup on the other hand is focused on 3D graphics.
    • Among the programs to be installed, Gimp is a free and complete software, suitable both for photo editing and as a graphic editor, which has nothing to envy to professional products such as Adobe Photoshop. Krita is a more drawing or painting oriented program.

    Method 4 of 7: Learning New Things

    

    Step 1. Have fun with Google Earth

    Google Earth is a program that gives you the ability to visit virtually any place on Earth. Take advantage of the "Street View" feature to be able to visit the streets of Tokyo, New York or any other city comfortably seated in front of your computer. If you know the address of the residences of your sports, cinema or entertainment idols, you can walk in front of their house; if you are lucky, they may have been immortalized in some image.

    If you want to test your knowledge of geography, try using GeoGuessr, a browser game that uses Google Earth images to present you with random locations on the globe whose names you will have to guess. The more precise you are in your answer, the greater the number of points you will get

    

    Step 2. Read some "listicles"

    This is a modern English term for a newspaper article describing a ranking or list of items. For example, you might have fun discovering which are the 25 best sandwiches in the world or the 20 most famous and loved children's games of the 90's. Sites like Buzzfeed, Upworthy, Bored Panda, Bustle and many others offer a wide selection of fun "listicles" and very interesting, covering a lot of topics that you might like. Listicles are a great way to spend some time without having to use your brain too much.

    

    Step 3. Read the online newsletter for the area you live in

    If you want to know what's happening where you live, do a web search for local news stories. Nowadays, more and more people refer to local news sources to find out what is happening in the areas where they live. This means that normal users who consult the web want to deepen their knowledge about everything that surrounds them and touches them closely. Harness the power of the web to learn more about all the most important aspects of the place where you live.

    

    Step 4. Take a free online course

    Develop a new skill or talent and improve yourself while having fun. There are many free university courses that can be used directly online and open to anyone who wants to participate and they are also very easy to find. Participating in this type of course, known by the acronym MOOC (from the English "Massive Open Online Courses"), is like being in the classroom of a prestigious university while remaining comfortably seated at home. There are online databases, like this one, which contain the list of courses currently available. Alternatively, check the website of the university of your choice to find out which MOOC courses you can take.

    

    Step 5. Read cultural or specific blogs on topics of interest to you

    Regardless of your personal interests, there will certainly be a large community of users on the web who share the same passions as you. Do you love video games? Visit websites like PC Gamer or IGN to find out all the latest in computer or console games. Are you a music lover? Rely on websites like Complex, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Bandcamp or Brooklyn Vegan. Alternatively, search the web to find the forum or community that shares your interests and meet new people to chat and compare with.

    

    Step 6. Use the web as if it were a time machine

    If you're curious about what the internet looked like 10 or 15 years ago, know that you can travel back in time using websites like The Internet Archive. It is a large digital archive where previous versions of a huge number of websites are stored.

    

    Step 7. Read content from sites like wikiHow or wikipedia

    Participate in their development and maintenance. Since you are reading this article, you will already know how these types of sites work, so you can join the large community of people who use them and start making your contribution. Websites such as wikiHow and Wikipedia can only survive thanks to the contribution and content created by users, who also take care of all the activities necessary for these sites to be active and visible to the world. From monitoring changes to existing articles to creating new content from scratch, actively contributing to the management of this type of website can be a very fun activity.

    Method 5 of 7: Using Social Networks

    

    Step 1. Chat with friends

    Surely you are already aware of this possibility offered by social networks and you will already be taking advantage of it, but perhaps there could be other ways of communicating with your friends that you have not yet tried. Try visiting the UberFacts site to find out who among the site users is able to report the strangest news to discuss. Use it to share links, images and videos that your friends can enjoy.

    • Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp and Kik are some of the most used and known social networks to communicate with friends and other people.
    • If you are feeling lonely, try to contact a friend via video chat. This way, you will feel like you are talking to him as if you are facing each other. However, be careful to use this tool only with people you know well and trust. Contact an old friend and reconnect using Facebook or Skype video chat.

    

    Step 2. Use Facebook or create a new account if you don't already have one

    Facebook is one of the best pastimes. It offers many options, for example being able to publish your own content, consult updates and information entered by other people and communicate instantly with your friends via chat. Facebook is a great tool that allows you to stay in touch with the people you love and have fun on the computer at the same time.

    • If browsing your Facebook digital diary is boring you, try reading what someone you don't know posted. The Facebook profile of your cousin's girlfriend's best friend will most likely have plenty of ideas for you to spend time having fun and learning things you may not have known.
    • Create and publish new content. Studies have shown that people who spend more time viewing Facebook content posted by others rather than sharing their own are more depressed and bored. Update your status, post pictures of what you've done, and post to other people's journals.

    

    Step 3. Use Twitter

    Create a Twitter account and start following the profiles of your favorite celebrities, your friends or other people, to join the community of this social network, provided you are not already an active member. If you are a witty, engaging person with the gift of synthesis, you may be able to create a large following of followers in a short time that you can entertain daily with nice and funny tweets.

    

    Step 4. Write a review about a service or product that you have been able to try

    Have you been to a particular restaurant and have an opinion on the experience you had? Of course yes, so why not post it online so that it can be of help or inspiration to someone else? Posting your own criticism (positive or negative) about a restaurant, service, or product you've tried online is a great way to spend some time having fun.

    

    Step 5. Create a Pinterest account

    Pinterest is a great tool that allows you to share and deepen your knowledge on an unlimited number of topics, such as cooking recipes, interior design, fashion, tips to improve your lifestyle and much more. It is very simple to consult and browse and is an excellent resource if you are looking for an idea or a starting point for having fun on the computer. Get started by creating your page and start publishing your content.

    

    Step 6. Find a forum related to one of your hobbies or interests

    Without forums the web would not be what it is today and "memes", "lulz" or "GIFs" would not exist. The forums are transversal to all user communities on the web and touch on any type of topic, culture or movement, from punk rock to classical music, from comics to video games. Look for a safe and reliable forum regarding one of your hobbies or interests to participate in, then create an account and start chatting with other users of the community always respecting the forum rules.

    Method 6 of 7: Having Fun Without the Internet

    

    Step 1. Change the look and feel of your computer desktop

    Are you getting bored? Have fun renovating the look of your computer. In jargon, this computer feature is called a desktop "theme". To change the graphical appearance of your computer select an empty spot on the Windows desktop with the right mouse button, then select the item Customize from the context menu that will appear. If you are using a Mac, do the same and choose the option System Preferences. You can also customize other aspects of a computer, such as the color of the window borders, sound effects, mouse pointer, and desktop icons.

    See the "Images" section of Google or one of the many websites that publish computer themes, so you can choose which one to use on your computer. Do you like sports cars? Are you an avid fan of a particular video game? Do you have a favorite actor or actress? Perfect, you will surely find a complete image or theme related to the one you like best

    

    Step 2. Edit the screensaver

    Scroll through the list of available ones or browse the images you have available and choose the one you want to use as your computer screensaver. Again you can download a new one directly from the web. Alternatively, you can use a series of images to be displayed in rotation as a screensaver or you can choose one that reproduces the cascade of green characters seen in the Matrix movie.

    

    Step 3. Change the screen orientation

    Press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + ↓ in Windows or Mac to flip the image displayed on the screen. It could be the subject of a good prank for someone you know to have fun together. To get things right, simply press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + ↑.

    

    Step 4. Listen to your favorite music

    If you have stored a series of songs on your computer, you can use them to create a playlist, without having to use an online streaming service, which you can then use as a background to relax, dance, meditate or work out. Launch the app you normally use to play your music, turn on "Shuffle" mode and start listening to your playlist. In this way, the songs will be played randomly adding a hint of suspense to the listening. Turn on the graphical view of iTunes or Windows Media Player so you have something to watch while you go about your business listening to your favorite music. Alternatively, you can just relax and enjoy your chosen tunes.

    

    Step 5. Take photos

    If your computer is equipped with a webcam, you can have fun taking selfies, take snapshots of yourself while working on your computer, or experiment with the graphic effects and filters you have available. You can try tweaking one of your selfies to look like an alien from another planet or a person suffering from seasickness.

    

    Step 6. Go for photo editing

    If you have a copy of Photoshop or Gimp installed on your computer, you can spend some time having fun retouching your photos by turning them into funny "memes". You can try starting by gluing your grandmother's face to the body of a famous actor.

    

    Step 7. Create a digital diary

    In the 1970s, people loved to collect their ideas and keep track of their experiences in a personal diary that they jealously kept in a secret place. Sounds like a bizarre idea, right? It's actually a great way to spend a couple of hours on your computer, especially if you don't have the ability to access the web. Start a simple text editor, such as Word or Notepad, and start writing down what happened or you thought during the past day. Do it every day without a break, maybe one day you can turn your diary into a blog.

    

    Step 8. Record a song

    Most modern computers have a built-in microphone and audio capture-ready software that you can use to record a song or sound effects. At the end of the registration you can use the same program to modify and optimize your creation in a few minutes. To record a song or sounds, you don't necessarily have to have an innate talent or know how to play a musical instrument perfectly. Start by simply recording your voice while singing a song you like, then experiment with the audio effects provided by the program to find out what wild sounds can be digitally recreated. Try superimposing the audio track of yourself reading a passage from a book on top of your dog's snoring. It could turn out to be an avant-garde masterpiece. If you have a Mac, you can use Garage Band to record and edit audio tracks. If you have a Windows computer, you can rely on Audacity.

    • Record a podcast while arguing over individual tracks in a playlist, just like old radio DJs did. Select a series of songs to create a playlist with, then record the various vocal tracks to insert between songs. If you want the fun to be even greater, get a friend involved.
    • Edit famous songs or mix them together. For example, change the timbre and voice speed of a Rihanna song to sound like a death metal song, or change it to sound like ambient music. Have fun changing the playback speed of a song by slowing it down by 700% to see the effect you get, it might be amazing.

    Method 7 of 7: Turn the Computer into a Hobby

    

    Step 1. Learn to code

    Is the way you can use a computer normally boring you? So why don't you try to turn it into a real passion? Learn how to design and create your own programs from scratch. It is about learning a new language and facing new challenges, but it could also be extremely rewarding as well as a skill to be included in the curriculum.

    • There are a number of programming languages that you can learn. While there is no "perfect" language, the following five are recommended for beginners looking to enter the world of programming:

      • Python;
      • C / C ++;
      • Java;
      • Javascript;
      • Ruby;
    • Visit sites like CodeAcademy.com for free interactive tutorials on a variety of programming languages.

    

    Step 2. Learn how to create websites and web pages

    Do you enjoy spending a lot of time online? If so, consider learning the basics of becoming a web designer so that you can create websites and web pages from scratch. Some of the skills required for this job coincide with those to become a programmer, for example many sites make extensive use of Javascript. However, knowing how to fully master HTML will allow you to become a programmer specializing in the creation of specific content for the web.

    

    Step 3. Learn more about new operating systems

    Did you know that you are not forced to use the operating system that you found pre-installed on your computer forever? For example, on modern Macs it is possible to install Windows, while on normal PCs it is possible to install macOS and on both it is possible to use Linux. Performing this step and configuring individual systems can be difficult, so before you begin consult the online support of the program you have chosen to use or rely on specialized forums if you have any problems.

    • To install Windows on Mac use:

      • Boot Camp (it is an integrated program on Mac that can also be downloaded for free);
      • Parallels Desktop for Mac.

    • To run the macOS operating system on a PC use:

      • A bootable USB stick;
      • A program for managing virtual machines such as VMWare;
    • Consider trying other operating systems as well, such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Haiku.

    

    Step 4. Update your computer hardware

    If you have noticed that your system performance is no longer up to date, but you don't want to buy a new computer, you can replace individual hardware peripherals. Depending on the purpose you want to achieve, performing this step could be extremely simple (as long as you have a normal PC, since to make the same changes on a Mac you need to rely directly on Apple's expert staff). However, given the extremely delicate nature of a computer's internal components, making these changes is only good if you know exactly how to proceed.

    • Below is a short list of the hardware peripherals of a PC that can be modified or replaced to increase the performance of the entire system:

      • Video Card;
      • Audio card;
      • Cooling system;
      • RAM memory;
      • Processor.
    • If you are ambitious, you can try to turn the simple maintenance of a normal computer into a real hobby. Some users like to completely disassemble their computer and simply rebuild it for fun, just like many car enthusiasts do. As if that weren't enough, acquiring this kind of practical knowledge of the components inside a computer allows you to stand out from most of the users who use computers on a daily basis.

    Advice

    • If you are a creative person who likes to dress in a personal way, visit the Polyvore site to be able to experiment with the fashions and trends of the moment.
    • If all the proposals in the article did not satisfy you, try to search for a fun program with Google and test it to see if you like it.
    • If you have children who use computers regularly, check their browsing history. Sometimes you may discover very funny things.

    Warnings

    • Always be very careful when browsing the web looking for free games or when choosing to visit new sites. Some video games that are distributed for free are actually used to spread viruses and malware. When in doubt about a topic, always carry out your research using safe and reliable public websites (Wikipedia often publishes articles related to dangerous websites and programs) or limit yourself to using only games derived from "open source" projects.
    • Remember that not all the information you can find on the web is reliable. Sometimes, books can be a safer and more effective solution.