In my minds eye, computers are usually silver. And they look like those chinese balls that are carved from a single piece of ivory but contain several free-moving and intricately carved balls all inside each other. Like the images I'm using to decorate this section. This section is about computers. Using programs, making new programs, and random babbling. :)
I sometimes get asked for instructions on how to make a computer do a specific thing. If it gets to the point that I have to write something down, I'm going to try to post it up here. So far, I've only got how to make a simple balance sheet in excel.
Why learn to use the command prompt? Well, if learning for fun isn't reason enough, maybe the idea of getting a good grip on the sensitive parts of your computer and being able to twist when needed is appealing. (The twisting is done via batch files in DOS, and shell scripts on unixes, btw) Actually, the more you learn to do at the command prompt, the more you will know about your computer. And it won't take long for you to find those sensitive parts, even if you don't ever need to grab and twist. :)
The following tutorial was written for fellow students in an intro to java class taught on windows.
When your ready to graduate from DOS prompts and get some real power, I've started working on an intro to unix tutorial. It'll be hosted at linux-skills.info probably sometime in september 08, but a preview is up here now with some basic stuff.