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The Most Commonly Asked Questions
Having been working in the East Sussex area for over 5 years and in IT generally for around 15 years, I have noticed certain questions crop up with great regularity. So I hereby offer my list of the most common computer-related questions I have been asked.
How long does it take to learn everything about the computer?
I think it was the board game Othello (aka Reversi) that used the slogan a minute to learn, a lifetime to master. The same could apply to computers, except the rules for Othello have remained the same since it was first created while computers have changed the rules on a seemingly daily basis. So the simple answer is “forever and a day”. In which case, why not concentrate on learning what is useful to you rather then trying to learn things that will be of little use to you.
Do I need to upgrade my computer?
In many ways, a computer is like a car. If you have an old car that is reliable and gets you where you want to go then there is no need to change it; if the car is unreliable or lacks features you now want (eg MP3 player, air conditioning) then you can choose to upgrade the car or buy a newer one. I apply exactly the same rule as far as computers are concerned: if your computer is reliable and does what you want then keep it; if it is unreliable or cannot do things you might want to do, such as making video phone calls, then you will either need to upgrade it or get a new computer.
Is a computer bundle a good idea?
A lot of people are impressed by computer packages that seem to include everything you might need (printer, scanner, camera, etc), but are they worthwhile? In the vast majority of cases I have seen the equipment in the package is of a very basic level (e.g. a slow printer, a low quality camera), so it is usually better to get the computer cheaper and buy good equipment to go with it.
What equipment and software do I use?
I have a custom built PC, with a 19” Sony Flat Screen, a HP Laserjet 1020 printer, a Brother MFC-215C printer/scanner/copier/fax, a Logitech Fusion webcam and a set of cheap Creative speakers. The PC runs Windows XP protected by Norton Internet Security 2007, and I use software including Microsoft Office 97, Adobe Photoshop Elements and NetObject Fusion.
If I wouldn’t use it myself, I won’t recommend it to anyone else.
- Danni Segal,
Director,
DANASEG Ltd
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