shopping is an activity that most of us have to do every day. while it's sometimes exciting — if you want some new clothes or a new gadget, for example — it's often tiresome. you have to trudge around a store, wait in line to pay for your purchases, and then perhaps carry a heavy load home only to find you've forgotten something. using the computer for shopping is yet one more way in which the computer will make life easier in the future. it will save you time that you spend in a more useful or a more pleasant way. however, many people enjoy shopping, especially looking for unusual items. so, while the computer will do your everyday shopping, you may still go shopping yourself for something special. however, the computer will be able to help you greatly if you want to buy something really exciting — a special present for a friend, for example. with your home computer, you can purchase virtually anything in the world.