Tech Support Pits:

From Sue===

Dear Webby,
I need a good calculator. What do you recommend?
Sue

Dear Sue
Search for calc.exe
Most likely Search will find it in c:\windows\system32, 
along with PowerCalc.exe. Calc does most routine calcualtor
work, but has no "tape". 
PowerCalc has a "tape", but it is not editable. It has a 
command line that lets you scroll back through previous
commands and lets you repeat those, but it's a bit klutzy.
PowerCalc lets you graph equations just like the kids do
in school now instead of learning math. What IS handy 
though are the conversions of weights and measures that 
PowerCalc will do for you.

Once you have found them, make shortcuts for them and 
drag them onto left corner of the grey taskbar, right next 
to the START button. After that, a single click will open them.

Personally, I use Quattro, the spreadsheet. Excel is almost 
as good. With a spreadsheet you can put comments beside
any entry, sort stuff, go back and edit typos, etc. You can 
also select a batch of entries, for example the VISA expenses
of last year, and with a single click make a graph of them. 
That lets you quickly spot uncharacteristic entries, and also
lets you sit back and muse about trends. 

Spreadsheets look intimidating to novices, but are actually
as easy as falling into bed. Just start playing with them and
kicking yourself that you have not started with that much 
earlier.

An often overlooked feature is that you can save a Quattro 
spreadsheet as HTML and upload it to the web, for a friend
or co-worker to view and comment, or to continue a 
collaborative effort.

Have FUN!
DearWebby