The basic purpose of the computer is to create a “virtual” workspace, for ideas, planning, communication, and records keeping. It comes with the essentials, but can be like an empty room. It is left to you to use your imagination, and decide on the room’s purpose and furnishing.  The best part of computers is that it stores all your thoughts from while in its “proposed idea” to its “completed form”. Many ideas have been expressed as starting on a napkin, etched in the snow or sand, and even structured in a mold of clay. All this starts an idea or thought that later becomes a project or task, to be shared with the world. With the computer, it can be in the form of that napkin, using the type of WordPad program that typically comes with any new computer. But to depend or expect an unlimited resource from such a basic program is more work than purchasing and understanding all the tools hidden in the background of programs designed specifically for the type of work you are focused on. After all, it would be an unlimited amount of napkins to draw up a skyscraper from start to finish, and storing it would be impractical if not a delicate project in itself.

                    When working with the WordPad program, I went to design a professional outline, and found working with the outline tools limited me to a simple version of building an outline (I could not indent from an alphabetical “A.” to a numerical “1.”, or even keep indenting my outline to “a.”, and was restricted to using one type of style, but I can choose from the styles). With many “perks” that come with a new computer, there is other documenting software available, few are free, and while others more called “Professional” gives you a 60 day trial period before needing to purchase the program for unlimited use and ownership. With Microsoft, that upscale version of WordPad is the Microsoft Works program. It is a combination of Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database, and Organizer program, which is a simplified version of Microsoft’s Office Program. And still, it is upscale from the WordPad, giving me Templates of designs based on the type of project I wish to create.  But again, I am still limited to using the tool of formatting an outline, where indenting would automatically change alpha paragraphing to numeric subparagraphs. Maybe I am being fickle. After all, I can simply type in the outlined letters and numbers without giving it another thought.

                    Using the Word Processor from this Works Program is very much similar to a basic WordPad, but it offers those templates to start my out with a designed letter style already built in, which may either be considered a convenience or a model if I was to boldly make up the style myself.  Quite simply put, you can do everything you can with the WordPad, but when it comes to appearance, it is totally up to the user to work in all the details. On the other hand, using a program that designs and formats a style seems to make some feel they a re restricted to what is visible, without knowing that they can improvise, adjust, and alter the template, and then save it as their own styled template for future uses. I also suggest that anytime you get a chance, and while the program is open, be curious to what you can find be clicking through the menu bar, and see what is offered through each menu .  Then be curious and experiment with the icon tools bar to see what each tool does, and do this with a new page or file to experiment on, which you can save or discard when closing out the program. Just learn to be curious. In the Works Program, there is a Thesaurus, and offers the ability to insert other programs into the design of the program. The truth is, you could possibly figure a way to do all this with a WordPad, but that is you finding the ways and steps, and through this upscale program, it actually has a process built in, to let me click and take me through the steps to what I am trying to accomplish.

                    Never under-estimate other programs for sale by other businesses, since much of what is offered by the big named “Microsoft, Apple, Sunsystems, and IBM, are typically programs offered like a workshop for any projects that arise. There are specialized programs that offer forms and media types for the purpose you desire to strive for. I started this topic by comparing the computer like a big empty room; the programs become what will design and furnish that room. The concept here was to relate how you look at an empty room, and its potentials. Truly, the only resource not included on the computer is the potential and possibilities you possess. With that in mind, keep what you planned to do the biggest navigation tool you can own, and remember that until you find and own the right furnishings, to use what you have and “make do”. A bedroom might start out with occupying a cot to sleep on, while you imagine what it will someday be. In short, use what you have, to start, and get you ideas started, as if drawing the initial thought on that napkin. Much specialized software is like specializing in the field of carpentry. A general carpenter owns all types of tools for all possible tasks and projects that may arise, to build a structure from the ground up (and that might be the best concept for the big named companies).  Other carpenters “specialize” in cabinet making and restorations meaning their tools are specific toward focusing on designing cabinets at a smaller scale. The end result is what matters the most. The challenge is what you plan and can afford, after all, general carpenters have cabinet building experience as well.

                    There are online companies offering products that can be downloaded, and for a trial period, can be free for a time. Like swatches of fabric, you get to use these programs and explore their potential uses that may serve your purpose. For writers, there are specialized programs for playwrights and movie scriptwriting. For basic legal forms, there is a whole host of businesses offering forms for businesses and personal legal purposes to purchase (rarely are these found in trial period form, but are cheap enough to buy and explore).

                    The Office software, like general carpenters, are ready for what ever projects may arise, starting from a foundation to its final built structure. They all have programs for writing, spreadsheet, and data building; while others design publishing and website media. Once you own these tools, its becoming familiar with what they can do that takes time to experiment and be curious. In between projects, tasks, and personal themes, this is where you can start with a blank page, and just see what you can do (honestly, the gaming programs were designed to get you to practice hand and eye coordination, and to understand how to explore the menu bar, but there is more to explore and master). The Office programs all will get you through what you are striving for, and the designing of these various Office programs were to offer different approaches that attract many consumers to one type of software, while others go for the other manufacturer. Their biggest competition is user friendly software that also covers the ability for multipurpose activities, communication, and security.

                    Like each and every individual room, starting small is what we do to start getting use out of what we have. The biggest individual objective is to start getting your thoughts down, and to stay focused on those thoughts, so they don’t get away from you. To do this, forget all the noise available, and start typing. Then, like any real structure, go back, and specialize on the designing details. With that in mind, WordPad may be that “napkin” readily available, until you are able to get it down on the right paper (and there are many forms of papers out there, from simple to blueprint, graphics and design, and for arts of all fashions). It all starts with an idea, and the computer becomes your virtual and compact “workshop”. It still needs to be defined as simply “To Create”.

                    The biggest hurdle is not what you can get out of a computer and what it will allow you to do, instead, what you envision your project will finally appear, and then, find the tools (software) for the computer to get that project done. In short, even before turning on the machine, it’s up to you to have the idea to accomplish, from a simple email to express a celebration or occurrence, to architecting ideas to any and all that come across your page or final project.