There may still be a few of you out there who are apprehensive of purchasing a laptop computer either because of cost or lack of knowledge. But with today's laptop computer being more affordable and the technology making them easier to use, you need not be. In just a minimal amount of time, with the all the new user-friendly prompts, one could become another computer geek. There is even a computer laptop rental option for those who don't want to spend the money until they have tried to navigate around a computer on their own. Being a grandmother, with my children and grandchildren living and traveling to various parts of the world, I found it necessary to overcome my fear.

The hardest part of my introduction to the laptop computer was to learn how to hook up and manipulate an external mouse, punch a few buttons on the keyboard, and basically, to just turn the machine on. It's hard for some folks to believe, but the computers of this generation almost run themselves! Read on to discover for yourself just how little computer knowledge most of these machines actually require.

Even being completely new to the computer I was able to use it without even knowing what the mouse was for or how to use it. I went the computer laptop rental route prior to the purchase a computer. I found one that was set up to operate on voice command. Voice command software allows users to tell a computer what to do and the computer responds by fulfilling the user's commands. Although it's pretty new and still under development, voice directed technology has already infiltrated consumer service related systems.

Have you ever paid a bill by phone? Instead of speaking to a human being, chances are that you spoke to a computer that not only responded to what you said and followed the commands that you gave it, it also asked you for more information such as your full name or credit card number. In this case, a person (such as myself) operated a computer without even knowing it!

Does the computer novice still need more incentive to sit down with a laptop computer without knowing how to use one? Imagine a computer that is set up to operate on touch command. Actually, one does not have to imagine, it is already available and has been for several years. Touch command software allows users to literally touch objects on a monitor with their finger to tell the computer what to do. Known as "kiosks," these programs are already in use world wide at ATM machines, employment centers, and in health monitoring systems. Most people have used the ones at department stores when checking out wedding or baby gift registries. Neither a mouse or a keyboard is required. A computer user only needs to touch various boxes on a screen to input information onto the computer. The programming behind such technology is extensive and advanced, but to the end user, it makes the use of a laptop computer less intimidating and just plain easy. With a little research you may find a computer laptop rental available with this technology.

These illustrations are just a couple of example of how far computer technology has grown, and how far we have pushed "user-friendliness" to its limit. So much of today's software is designed to accommodate the new laptop computer user. Anyone can get connected to the Internet wirelessly, send an email message, and download an MP3 file within the first few hours of purchasing a personal PC or possibly using a computer laptop rental. Don't be afraid to take the plunge, even a grandmother like me is able to go online, access her e-mail and print photos!