This book is written for the Sinclair SPECTRUM user who is a beginner or has used other machines, particularly the ZX 81. It covers the setting up and operation of the machine in detail but from the viewpoint of the beginner, highlighting the difficulties and illustrating how the machine responds to incorrect commands. The beginner is guided through the difficult early stages until he or she feels confident enough to start designing and entering BASIC programs. The book has also been designed to be used as a reference guide for the more experienced user.