As a computer consultant and instructor, I am often asked by beginner and novice computer users, “Which computer classes should I take?” or “Which software do I buy?” I reply, “What do you want to be able to do?”
Their responses to my question range from turning on the computer (boot up) and accessing a program, to being a whiz at operating the newest financial software. Some wish only to word process and wonder which software package to buy. Yet others realize they are missing something—they currently use only one aspect of an application—but they realize there may not be using the application to its full potential or that other applications exist that may do a better job than the one they are currently using. There are many applications in existence.
There are many ways to find out which software does what and how well. But before we talk about how to find the right software and computer classes, let’s first talk about what it is that you want to do.
Do you want to word process? Do you own a software package that enables you to write correspondence, create manuscripts and resumes, print up invoices, a dozen business cards or draw up simple flyers? If so, you probably will focus on Microsoft (MS)Word or Corel’s Word Perfect. Many store bought systems come with a stripped down version of a word processing package such as the all-in-one package, MS Works.
If you are considering the current operating system rave, Windows 95, and you are operating in Windows 3.1 with MS Word, beware of surprises when you upgrade. MS Word looks a little different in each operating system. The latest release of Microsoft Office 97 includes Word 7.0. Most word processing packages offer the same basic functionality, thus check out the specifics based on your need.
Perhaps you wish to do more than word processing. Maybe you want to design your own brochure or dabble in desktop publishing. The new versions of MS Word and Corel Word Perfect can handle the basics, but serious desktop publishing is limited. You might want to consider a paint program or about a dozen other desktop publishing packages such as Corel Draw and Adobe Pagemaker.
Everyone needs an accounting system for financial records. Microsoft Excel has fallen by the wayside on this one, leaving Intuit’s Quicken to leap forward in financial softwaredom. Many smaller businesses use QuickBooks for this purpose. You can access your bank account and investments through several software packages including Quicken.
Try a common database package such as Access, dBase or FoxPro for your marketing and mass mailing needs. Report Smith and Crystal Reporter are good reporting tools (reporting tools take information from a database and produce a report). For the advanced users, Visual Basic and Delphi are great programming tools (software that enables you to write your own programs).
Then there’s the web page design software for
interested in developing and publishing Web Pages online. Hyper Text
Markup Language (HTML) is the requirement here. Try Web text editors—which
don’t require HTML knowledge—like HoTMetaL, Hotdog, MS Front Page, Adobe’s
PageMill or Netscape 3.0. The new MS Word 7.0 offers a HTML editor. The
brave hearts can try a Web page programming software—which does require
a knowledge of
HTML—such as Java and Perl.
I merely scratched the surface of all the software that business owners and computer users are likely to yearn for. Next month’s column will focus on software research and classes to take. A little research can go a long way.
(December)