THE FOUR STAGES OF LEARNING

UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

You don't know what you don't know.

CONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

Discomfort from knowing that you don't know.

CONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

Being able to do something... if you really think about it.

UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

Knowing and being able to do something ... instinctively.

Which stage are you in? Even if you think that you are in Stage 4 ... that's probably only true in certain areas. With technology rapidly changing every week, it's easy to slip back to Stage 3 (or even Stage 2) if you don't keep up. Computer technology is just like medicine and the law. It changes every day. What used to be true yesterday ... will be obsolete tomorrow (or maybe even today!). It can be fun. Or it can0 be frustrating.

For those of you who are relative newcomers to the world of PCs, you probably fit into Stage 1. You think that all PCs with the same megahertz rating are created equal. So you fall into the "trap" and look for the "weekly bargain". You will soon realize about the tradeoffs the manufacturer did in order to get his price down to the point where you are willing to buy it. (In other words, you usually get what you pay for!)

If you've already had a computer for a while and are looking to buy a newer one, you know that not all computers are created equal. (You're in stage 2). But you're not sure how to tell the difference. What should you look for? And what does all of those crazy terms mean?

Even if you have been around computers for a long time, you're still not safe. That's because computer technology is changing faster than most people can keep up with it. And don't rely on the salesman in your local retail store for expertise. Many (but not all of them) have learned just enough "buzz words" to sound like experts so that you'll believe anything they say.

I want you to be both a "knowledgeable consumer" and a "knowledgeable computer user". Even if you don't know all of the answers ... you should know what questions to ask.