There can hardly be a parent in the country who hasn't been asked for a computer by their offspring at some point. Whether it's the very first, or just a bigger, better, faster version of what they already have.

Trouble is that a computer isn't like any other toy, you don't just plug it in, or insert a battery and you're off. For parents even setting up a computer can seem at best daunting, at worst downright embarrassing as their progeny pushes them aside and gets the thing going in 5 minutes flat. Can I make a suggestion? If you don't know about computers, don't panic, buy one of the excellent guides such as PC's for Dummies and do a little reading beforehand, it could save a lot of embarrassment!

Much as a battery driven toy without batteries is a big letdown on that special day, a computer with no programs soon loses it's excitement. Make sure you have a game or multi-media title to run when the computer is connected, it'll make the gift so much more exciting.