I agree, it's not essential at all.
There's nothing on the computer which isn't in the notes, except for a few animations, and the answers to the progress test questions (which are all in the notes anyway - you just have to hunt around for them).
I find the computer a very useful tool - particularly for testing myself before sending progress tests off to Noush. But you can certainly do the course without a PC, without any real penalty.
FFF
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