The two most striking things about Computer Manuals For Duffers are its slimness and the words "Foreword by John Cleese" on the cover. The latter name comes several type sizes larger than those of the authors!

The booklet sets out to take 'duffers' from their state of total ignorance to the point where they will have the ability and confidence to learn about their computer from the manual.

Alongside this modest aim, the authors give some equally modest - but highly effective - advice on how to buy your first computer. This boils down to advising you to shop around for your computer sales person first, and then once you've found the right one, ask. The duffer could certainly do a lot worse.

Once you've got your machine, the authors teach you to 'use the computer a little'. This is where the problems start.

The machines dealt with are the Osborne and the Apple. The 'Using the computer' section covers only the Osborne, so the cataclysmic duffer might have difficulty transposing the commands.

Learning how to use the computer involves learning how to perform simple tasks with Wordstar and Supercalc, and once you've completed this 'you can approach the manuals with confidence. They have become your servant.'

Now it's certainly to get people using software that can help in their business, and it's also important to build up the beginner's confidence - it's quite clear the Computer Manuals For Duffers does this - but I'm afraid I can see the join.

All the poor old duffer has to do is blunder into a marginally user-hostile manual, and all that lovely confidence is going to drain away.