In my last column, I laid out the
specs for Macintosh hardware.
Software is next. I come from the
training-wheels school of learning.
I think you should crawl before you
walk and walk before you run.
With that in mind, I suggest that
first-time computer users buy
Microsoft Works or Claris Works.
Both have a word processor,
spreadsheet, database, telecommunications
program, and rudimentary
drawing program all in one
application for less than $200.
These programs are a sort of Shopsmith
in software. Like the famous
all-in-one woodworking tool, they
attempt, successfully in most cases,
to provide all the major software
tasks in one program. Not only is
this cheap, but it is the perfect set
of training wheels for the newcomer.
Here's