Message Board : how to work with hand ranges and hand reading

This is actually a question for Ed. I hope the topic doesn't come accross as mundane, but here goes.

I'm always in awe when good players run down hand ranges in their analysis of hand histories. I haven't played online very much or used the software for that matter.

Am i right in assuming that dealing with hand ranges is more or less a product of poker stove and poker tracker?

I find it really difficult to think of hand ranges while in play, that is i can't visualize a range of hands. What i can do however is visualize the range of hands of an opponent who plays much the same as i do. I always felt that's why studious begginners always seem to think that they do better against better competition. Because with better players they magicaly have hand reading abilities.

So little is written on the subject except for the obvious. I was just hoping you might blog about it ay some point