h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Have a couple of children (if it's too late, borrow a couple) As soon as they are 8 years old they will know more than you do about computers. Encourage this for all you are worth, to the extent of chipping in towards further education in the subject if necessary.
Refer every query to this custom built IT support. Even when they are the other side of the world they will answer badly worded email queries.
Yesterday I gave a preentation to 120 secondary school teachers on how to integrate the web into English lessons. This was a huge success and my personal IT support will tell you that a couple of months ago I'd forgotten how to wrap text round photos.
Working for a technically based university also helps as the equipment gets upgraded automatically.

Here's a tip for anyone on a tight budget. Do what I did yesterday. I'd recently bought (not upgraded to) a new computer but moved the 17" monitor over from the old one. I was left with a perfectly usable old computer with no monitor.

As it happens, I went down our municipal recycling centre to dispose of all the crap I had in my garage. I noticed that someone had casually dumped a computer - couldn't have been more than 3 years old and in pretty good nick. So I asked the man at the dump how much he wanted for the monitor. 'A fiver, sold as seen'. So I risked my fiver and took the monitor back. I now have two fully working computers, both with monitors.

Save cash and help the environment by buying your local tipman a pint or two. Get smart, get stingy.

FM