Third, get to know your undo and help keys. "Undo" simply reverses last action completed on computer. If you hit something that makes your document go all kerflooey, chances are you can just click "undo" (under edit menu usually) a time or two and you’ll be fine. The "help" menu is another great asset in both word processors and email programs. Rather than sitting there wondering how many times you’ve already asked your boss to explain something, just go to "help" and then type in a question like "how do I set up columns, or "how do I attach a file," and help feature will walk you right through steps. It can take you a little time, but it’s better than constantly running to your boss and looking helpless.

Fourth, make a computer savvy friend. This is so important. If there’s someone in office who seems to be really good at computer, bring them some cookies or take them to lunch and ask them if you can have a little of their time. Have them sit with you for a few minutes while you work on a document or email. Do this on a few different occasions. Chances are they’ll not only be able to answer your questions, but they’ll be able to point out some great shortcuts for you, too.

Computers don’t have to be unconquerable beasts they sometimes appear to be. Just face your fear and approach machine calmly and logically, and chances are you’ll be doing fine. The better you are at using your computer, better you’ll be at your job, and happier people will be with you!

I think only help-desk personnel, who would rather be hacking Pentagon and technical writers are upset that they aren't writing best selling novels. They don't get paid as well for hacking and nobody reads work of technical tomes of unfulfilled writers. At least they are both being paid to do something.

In early days of photography only scientists could be photographers because they needed to know how to obtain and mix chemistry, apply emulsion to glass plates, develop those plates and do that entire process again when transferring negative image to paper. Are we any less well-off now that cameras are disposable and we can see our film in an hour without going into a dark room even once to do it?

My wife is ready to throw away her new $1000 computer because it won't accept password when logging on to ISP. There is a real disconnect between problems and source here. That is usually case when things get so complex. Reading manuals won't help.

I look forward to day when software designers realize that users don't care how they created that amazing software and that as long as it will do what they bought it for without fuss, it will be popular and well- liked by buying public. If it takes a day of reading, I'll go buy something that works without study instead.

Is your VCR clock still blinking? If not, I bet you still end up seeing "blue screen of death" as often as I do.