What's Up

     Guru or just the average user? How would you like to classify
yourself as to your knowledge of computers? If you're like me,
you'll want to know all there is to know about computer science.
This is, of course, impossible, because, as soon as you think you've
got it all figured out, there's something entirely new to learn about.
That fact, I guess, is the most important thing to remember when it
comes to understanding computers. Nobody knows everything!
Don't get discouraged if you can't find all the answers right away.

     If you're looking to become a good general computer user, then
developing an overall understanding of Windows95 is a must. Why?
Because, it's the most popular operating system currently in use.
You will find that there are far more programs written for it than any
other operating system. It is specifically designed to offer a common
"graphical user interface" for just about any type of application you
run in it. Once you learn your way around Windows95, you've
already learned about half or more of the functionality of any program
you'll use within it. It's also what makes it possible to transfer data
from one application to another. One of the more confusing things
to grasp is the file system and disc storage. What is a file? Where is
it stored? What are all the different types of files? How do I keep my
files sorted and not scattered all over the place? Another very powerful
tool in Windows95 is the "clipboard". Efficient use of the clipboard can
save you so much time and effort, it's unbelievable. My best advice is
go to a bookstore and browse the books on Windows95 to find one
that is just your speed. You can spend a fortune on books, so take
time to find the right one for you. Reading the book is not enough.
None of it will make sense until you apply what's there in actual
practice. Also, it's a good idea to have a friend you can call on for
the tough questions.

     If you're looking to become a guru, then you will need to have an
understanding of the binary and hexadecimal number systems. You'll
need to be able to juggle at least two dimensional coordinate space in
your mind. It's a ton of math man, there's no way around that. If you've
never written a computer program before, well then, you've got a lot
of catching up to do. First, start with a language called BASIC. Once
you've got a good grasp of how to construct a logical sequence of
instructions, then you're ready to start writing your code in functions
and procedures. Having mastered that, you've about exhausted the
limits of even the very best BASIC languages. It's time to move on to
C. C is a language that gives you complete control of your data objects
by making their positions in the memory accessible and relevant to you
within your programs. C is much more innately related