Reassuring re:insurance, however I prefer to deal with as few parties as possible, so while insurance is a good measure, I'd rather not deal with a claim. Plus, I don't want anyone to have my keys except myself, and possibly family, etc.,. So an exchange that stores my security info sounds like it may be good for some people, I'd rather avoid that.

So, it sounds like I should only use coinbase as an exchange only at this point, and store offline...  I'll look into that.

Got it. That's excellent information. So Coinbase isn't what I want. I'll research alternatives. Anyone using Darkwallet? I realize it too is quite risky at it's present stage, but just curious if anyone has experience with it.

OK, I'm going to back up a little. As suggested by kpitti, I'll stick with one question/topic at a time. Seems like a reasonable approach.

I have been using Coinbase since it seemed to be the easiest to use for people like myself, but I really don't feel secure with it - or any other exchange bc I don't understand the technology. I thought I was correct in trusting that my bitcoins were totally secure on a paper wallet, barring my losing it or letting someone get ahold of it or my key. But I'm not sure about that. For example, if Coinbase goes the way of Mt. Gox (some people lost everything gox was holding for them, right?), are my bitcoins lost to me for good? Or is the paper wallet (or equivalent, i.e. usb storage etc.) proof of my btc on the blockchain itself and therefore title to those bitcoins? I apologize if my understanding of all this is totally erroneous!

ps - I'm in the middle of Digital Gold right now, trying to get some sense of the evolution and terminology... 

Thank you!

OK, I'm going to mess around with things a little, maybe I'll try setting up a second wallet and practice sending small amounts between them to see what troubles I encounter, then I'll post back here for help - probably tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Hi folks.

All I really want to do at this point is start using BTC. I've managed to make some payments on my desktop to some subscriptions I have, donations etc., but things just seem inconsistent somehow.

Anyway, I have about 1 BTC, and want to start accepting BTC as payment for my piano tuning and repair business (not that I have any clients currently using BTC, but hey). Man, I just don't have the technical aptitude to even understand some of what seems to be common, basic know-how in the BTC ...community (couldn't think of a better word). It could also just be brain atrophy. I'm getting older, you know?

For example: do I really have to enter my address and key manually to make a transaction? On my desktop, a QR pops up if I'm making a payment, and viola! Easy! But sometimes it looks like I have to enter my address manually - I think? Hell. I don't get it.  And what the heck do I do what that long string of random words? Is that QR on my paper wallet what I use to receive BTC as payment? I printed out a few paper wallets - all of which I thought were for the same address / account / wallet (is there a difference?), but if I remember correctly, they were all different. Extra confused.

I've scoured youtube for tutorials for beginners, but even they were pretty esoteric it seems.

Any positive feedback at this point would be great. I've been struggling with this for months now...

Thank you!