Computers have come a very long way since the days when you had to treat them like children - knowing every nuance of their behavior, issuing every command for them by hand, cleaning up their messes, and understanding strange tongues.

Our hats off to Mom: if she wasn't already a genius, she had to become one.

"Whoa!", you say.  "Computers are now more complex than ever before, so the knowledge requirement must be astronomical!"  To build them - yes - but not to use them, and use them well.

First, there is quite a profit incentive to build something that will sell because it's easy to use.  Second, the people who make computers also have to use them.  When the computers are hard to use, those guys won't put up with it!

The result is a machine which compensates for many problems, is generally compatible with most of the devices you add on to it, has built in help libraries for a vast array of subjects, offers options according to the context in which you need them, and can run many of your tasks automatically.

It also presents its features so they can be used intuitively, and it converses in your language.  You'll even see people taking their computers out for drinks at the local coffee shop.

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Four main issues in learning are confidence, communication, practice, and perserverance.  There is no substitute for hands-on practice.  Communication must be clear to you.  If your confidence falters, perserverance may see you through; but the biggest obstacle to learning is confidence.

Most people are supremely confident of their appearance, intelligence, competence, and worth, regardless of how favorably these are defined.

Too many people are utterly confident that they cannot learn.  One of our goals is to replace that confidence with something better!

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If you are concerned about wrecking your computer, we'll tell you a few things you should avoid doing, a few thousand things you can play with to your heart's content, and how to avoid getting lost in the process.

Did we mention cheap?  Split a workshop group rate with your friends!

Next:  Automation 

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