Video Entrepreneur: Data's All, Folks

These days, you either own a computer or you don't. And within the group of people who own computers, there are more subgroups. One group could tie ropes to their computers and use them as expensive boat anchors for all the good they do. Another group might use the contraption to play a mean game of solitaire.

But one group actually uses their computers to the full potential of the machine. I want to encourage the rest of you to join this group.

With the right software you can do all sorts of things with computers. You can edit videotapes (see the desktop video column), create 3D animation, or if you own the appropriate hardware (such as a Saturn V rocket), you could control a manned expedition to the moon. But this column is about business, so that's where we'll concentrate. Those of you wanting to go to the moon will have to figure it out for yourselves.

Open the Pod Bay Doors, HAL
Computers are tools. You can use them as word processors, spreadsheets, schedulers, presentation programs, and expensive calculators. These programs can improve your life by checking your spelling or your math, and they can speed processes up by eliminating duplicated effort. In the old days, if you had to make some changes to a document, you had to retype the whole thing. But with a computer, you can just call it up onscreen, make the changes, and have the printer do the work for you.=

Unfortunately, a computer is not a magic wand. It can't write a letter for you (although it can give you a fill-in-the-blank template) and it won't balance your books, but it can make many tasks easier. Just don't expect miracles.