If you are running Windows, you can also Click on "Start", choose "all programs", "accessories", "accessibility", "magnifier".
That will split the screen, with the upper part showing a magnified version of where ever your pointer is on. You can change the size of the split, and the level of magnification (2x is the default).
The Cntl+ is sometime easier to use, but it depends on what you are looking at . . . it magnifies the screen, but makes it harder to navigate. The other way lets you see the whole screen, and the magnified portion above it.
Hope that helps.