One of the greatest inventions of the past century, the internet is a direct result of computers. Allowing people around the world to communicate instantly, share pictures, and even share videos, the internet has, in Thomas Friedman’s words, made the world flat. A woman in the rainforests of Brazil can weave a basket and sell it to a business man in Russia. Children in the United States can talk to their friends in Jerusalem and Ramallah at the same time in a chat room. For many the internet is a formidable foe and incredibly intimidating; however, the internet can be a tool of unfathomable power. In fact, the internet is one of the best ways to learn about computers.

Many websites offer online tutorials for computer software, as well as anything else you can imagine. (For a list of websites that offer free or pay tutorials and their links, view links section. This option is very appealing to many people for a few reasons. First of all, you can learn at your own pace. Because people learn at different speeds classes or DVDs can be too fast or too slow for each individual, but online lessons can go at your own speed. They can also be done at any time. If you work a full time job, you can take learn at night after works. However, if you are a stay at home parent, you can do your learning during the day while your children are at school.

Online tutorials cover every topic you can imagine. There are tutorials on advanced topics such as C++ programming, and there are also tutorials about digital photography. No matter what topic you would like to learn about, online tutorials can be a cheap and easy option.