Q. I want a magazine that will help me learn a little bit more about computers from scratch, but PCN isn't quite like this. Could you please recommend such a magazine?

Joanne Eskdale
Northumberland

A. Trying to learn about computers from magazines is a bit like going to the cinema without checking what time the film starts. You'll always find yourself in the middle of something with no clear idea of the plot.

You can learn about computers from magazines if you read them for long enough, but you'll gain the knowledge in small, fairly random, doses, and if it's a question of learning about computers in general rather than about one particular computer, it'll be that much more difficult.

The main exceptions to this will, of course, be the various computer partworks, but if you tot up the total amount of money it would work out as an expensive way to learn. One way to find out about computers is to buy a cheap one, because that's the easiest way to pick things up. The disadvantage here is that having got that far you could well decide you hate the beast, leaving you considerably out of pocket.

So what we'd suggest is that you attack the problem on two fronts. Buy a general book on computers and read that - it won't teach you how to use one, but it should give you a basic grounding in what they're all about. If you then feel you'd like to learn how to use one, try one of the Basic programming books available. 30 Hour Basic is good, but errs on the textbook side, so you might have to work quite hard at it.

At the same time you should be taking steps to get as much time on a computer as possible. Use the school one if you can, badget clubs, twist friends' arms, etc.

Really get to know them well enough to know whether you want one, and then buy one, because when all's said and done that's the best way to learn.