To the majority of Computer users, the word Windows comes up once they think about 'Microsoft'. To some, it encompasses the key Office applications used, either in the home or at the office, to accomplish certain every-day functions. 'Microsoft' 'Word' is the most widely used application for word-processing internationally. Excel is also an incredibly well known program for spread-sheets, followed by 'Access' that allows us to create databases. For delivering presentations, 'Office' has the software application PowerPoint, which rounds off the principle programs within the suite. However 'Microsoft' have taken their Office solution a lot further - for example with 'Outlook' for messaging, calendar formatting and emailing.

We can guess that you've always enjoyed practical work - the 'hands-on' individual. If you're anything like us, the unfortunate chore of reading reference guides is something you'll force on yourself if you absolutely have to, but you really wouldn't enjoy it. Consider interactive, multimedia study if book-based learning really isn't your style. Research over recent years has constantly verified that becoming involved with our studies, to utilise all our senses, is far more likely to produce long-lasting memories.

Courses are now available via DVD-ROM discs, so everything is learned directly from your own PC. Utilising the latest video technology, you can sit back and watch the teachers showing you precisely how it's all done, followed by your chance to practice - with interactive lab sessions. Don't take any chances and look at a small selection of training examples before you sign on the dotted line. The minimum you should expect would be video tutorials, instructor demo's and audio-visual elements backed up by interactive lab's.

Often, companies will only use just online versions of their training packages; and while this is acceptable much of the time, consider how you'll deal with it if your access to the internet is broken or you get a slow connection speed. It is usually safer to have CD and DVD ROM materials that don't suffer from these broadband issues.

Ask a practiced advisor and we'd be amazed if they couldn't provide you with many awful tales of students who've been sold completely the wrong course for them. Only deal with an industry professional who asks some in-depth questions to find out what's appropriate to you - not for their paycheque! It's very important to locate the right starting point of study for you. Where you have a strong background, or maybe some real-world experience (some industry qualifications maybe?) then it's more than likely the level you'll need to start at will be different from someone who is just starting out. Starting with a foundation course first will sometimes be the most effective way to commence your computer programme, but really depends on your level of familiarity with computers.

The principal 'Windows' software program development environment is known as Microsoft Visual Studio. C#.Net & Visual Basic.Net tend to be the most popular languages to master. These are featured on the Programming pages on this website. MCAD & 'MCSD' qualifications have now undergone an update to the 'Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist' ('MCTS') & the 'Microsoft Certified Professional Developer' (MCPD).

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