Mention Hewlett-Packard (HP) and we think of printers. Yes, HP sells office equipment. To increase their sales, and brand awareness, they now offer free computer classes online through the "HP Learning Center."

The HP classes are open to anyone interested in signing up. You can choose from a variety of subjects and software programs. Here's a sample list of the classes offered:

Software & Technology

• Macromedia® Flash MX: beginning web animation
• Microsoft® PowerPoint® 2003: introduction
• Adobe® Illustrator CS: introduction
• Building your first web page
• CorelDRAW® 12: introduction
• Microsoft® Access, Excel, Publisher, and Windows XP
• Project management made simple, etc.

IT Professionals

• Microsoft® Exchange Server 2003: building your solution
• Managing your data center
• Network attached storage basics
• Firewall basics
• Linux® 101, etc.

Business Skills

• Search engines 101: using search engines to market your business
• Digital photography and your business
• Run your own direct mail campaign
• Data disaster recovery: a practical guide, etc.

In-house Marketing

• Adobe® Acrobat®: creating PDFs  CLASS FULL!
• CorelDRAW® 12: introduction
• Microsoft® Publisher 2003: advanced
• Adobe® Illustrator CS: introduction
• Design your own business documents
• Digital photography and your business, etc.

Real Estate

• Real estate marketing made easy
• Connecting to the world with your Pocket PC
• Microsoft® Excel® 2003, advanced part 2: charts and graphics
• Digital photography and your business- Run your own direct mail campaign

The price is right and we can always benefit by enhancing our skills. Additional details are available by visiting HP's Free Online Computer Classes. If you have experience taking a computer class through the HP Learning Center, please let us know by leaving your comments. Thanks!