With a small investment, you can get a good start. I used Family Tree Maker 2008 but I have moved to Family Tree Maker 2009 which is much better. I started with my father and his father and I knew nothing more. Once I got my great grandfather many things opened up on the Internet with symbolic leaves appearing that suggested a hint. I eventually invested in a subscription to ancestry.com but with that I have now been able to trace my line back to two Scot families so, for me, my investment in this has been well worth it as I now get hints from the international community and connections to other families searching for the same ancestors. If you are serious, as I was, and am still, I suggest beginning with one of those tools. I would not be here if not for my discoveries as I did not know about my Scottish connections. I am well pleased and proud now to have learned them. No, I not yet speak Gaelic; I may learn it as I am a linguistic. I hope this is of some help.

Stephen