Welcome to First Bytes. I’d like to take a moment to introduce you to our editors, Michelle (that’s me!) and Nik. Combined, we have either 40 or 55 years of experience with computers (depending on how you define “experience”). Either way, we’ve each spent most of our lives behind a keyboard in one form or another and have a lot of knowledge and experience to share. We are both, quite frankly, geeks, but we have somewhat different specialties and experience.

We are both Macintosh users by choice, but have a wealth of knowledge of Windows and even–in Nik’s case–Linux. As an IT manager and web developer, Nik has in-depth technical skills in a wide variety of applications and programming languages. He has a strong interest in “big picture” computing topics, such as computer security, and helping people understand those topics. Michelle has similar abilities, but usually concentrates more on consumer applications, social media, and internet trends. She loves learning about the latest and greatest, and poking at them until she understands what they are and why someone might want to use them.

Computers are now as much a part of our everyday lives as televisions, but are seldom understood as well as the other common household appliances.  A computer is the most complex device most people will ever own, a device that can do nearly anything, so long as its programmer or operator is clever enough to imagine the task and program the computer to do it.

Before the invention of the computer as we know it, the word computer referred to a person.  Someone who computes, who performs mathematical calculations.  These computers might produce logarithm tables, or use those tables in the process of performing other calculations.  The electronic computer was invented to relieve human computers of this tedious and repetitive task, and to perform that task more accurately and quickly than any human could.

The purpose of the modern personal computer in your home or office is no different: it should make the things that you want to do easier.  Yet, for many people we talk to, computers remain a frustration.  They make easy tasks complicated, and they frustrate with their obtuse behaviors and mysterious errors.  Computers deliver email, but they also deliver spam, computer viruses, and headaches.

Our goal is to help you take better advantage of your PC by teaching you the basic skills you’ll need to make the best use of any application you encounter, providing useful and practical advice for keeping your computer in good working order, and illustrating new and exciting things you can do with your PC.  Many computer enthusiasts are interested in the computer for its own sake, but we know that the majority of people that own computers have other interests: your family, your friends, your job, your hobbies–all these things that make up your life can potentially be enhanced by the computer.  We’re here to help you do that.