Our clubroom is fully equipped with up to date computers (including a really nice Apple Mac) plus printers, scanners, card readers (for digital photography) and CD and DVD burners. We have a Digital Camera for club use, as well as a laptop and projector for all presentations.

We are constantly revising and extending the list of applications and special interests we teach. Our original purpose was to teach enough of the "basics" to enable people to start using their computers effectively. The world doesn't stand still and technology moves at an incredible pace. Computer Pals Northern Beaches doesn't stand still either and new things are happening on a weekly basis. The following is not a complete list of all our activities so, if you don't find what you're after, please contact us and ask.

The club keeps up to date with the latest equipment and software but we can't cover everything and our lessons are generally limited to the equipment and software we have installed. Some people bring their laptops to the lesson and you are welcome to do that. We have an Apple Mac and instructors who teach on Macs.

Our activities fall into three main groups:

1. How it works and how to look after it

General principles, operation, file management, maintenance and the computer's operating system (Windows XP and Vista).

2. Use of the more common software applications

How to use the applications that are included with the operating systems - Outlook Express for email and Internet Explorer for the internet and those that are included in the Microsoft Office suite - Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint.

3. Special interests - some instructors teach more advanced applications. Some of these are delivered individually, others in courses and some on particular days. Some examples are:

Digital photography and image manipulation including photo restoration
Genealogy
Graphic design and creation
Video editing
Converting vinyl records to CDs
Using the internet to make telephone calls (VOIP)
Webpage design and creation

The software used includes, Picasa, Pinnacle, Printmaster, Ezitree, Skype, Dreamweaver and Photoshop.

The Printmaster Group meets on the third Saturday of the month co-ordinated by Pat Kingham. If any 5^th Wednesday is available we sometimes have a social BBQ for members, or a workshop for the instructors.