After completing fifteen columns we find ourselves having analysed the main components of a standard personal computer, so it's worth a quick recap.

We've looked at the motherboard of a computer, at the processor and the memory, we took a couple of columns to look at hard-drives and their different types, and we followed that up by taking a look at sound and video cards.

Next we focused on the all important USB, then modem cards, spent a few detailed weeks looking at CDs and DVDs, and finished off in the last few weeks with monitors, keyboards and mice.

The astute 21st century half-geeks amongst you will notice that there are a few hardware components that I have deliberately missed out: What about network cards ? we have not touched on them and they are a major part of the conventional use of computers?

Similarly, I left out anything to do with digital cameras, firewire, video cameras, joysticks and other gaming items.

Why? Well because I want to talk about them in context ? not separate them out into individual components.

When I talk about network cards, I want it to be included with details of their use at home and in the office, with details of DSL broadband etc etc.

So I chose to deal with the very basic hardware items, and will deal with the more sophisticated items as we go forward.

But, I would like next for us to focus on the basic Windows and software elements of a standard Personal Computer.

Over the next few weeks and months I intend to cover Windows basics, MS Office basics, Printing basics, Internet basics and Music and Photo basics, before I feel we can move onto more sophisticated goodstuff.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and comments: This column was borne out of my own frustration that the Industry of which I have been a part for nearly two decades was (and still is) doing very little to close the knowledge gap between those on Planet Geek and those on Planet Earth, and it is comforting to know that I am reaching the very audience I intended, even if sometimes I am still a little too technical for some.

In business and at home, time and again I find myself confronted with technical people who cannot plant their feet firmly on the ground when trying to explain something to an earthling. It needs to change, and anything I can do, however small, to close the gap, will hopefully help.

To the residents of Planet Geek who have chosen to write to me correcting technical information and asserting certain analogous information I say this: Precise voltages and the exact nature of recording algorithms are not what ordinary earthlings need ? or indeed want ? to know. Where I am vague with peripheral and surrounding information, I am deliberately vague in order to keep the reader focused on the message I wish to deliver: Most ordinary earthlings are really not bothered whether a PC's components run on 3 volts, 6 volts or 12.

So what's next? Well next time I'll cover the windows boot process, probably over a couple of articles ? I'll explain what actually happens from the point you turn on your computer, to the point you can actually start using it, and I'll give you some tips to improve the speed of this process.

The final item I want to mention here is that some time in April I will be publishing a couple of questions and answers columns, where I will answer your earthling questions in the column. So, if you have a technical question you want answering in plain English, drop me a line at my email address below ? be sure to indicate that you are okay to have it published and I will answer you right here. It'll be called "Ask an earthling question?" ? watch out for it.