Computer knowledge

[Madeline]

Ok, I was wondering how some of you computer savvy folks know so much about computers? I was reading some of the posts here in the computer forum and have no idea what you guys are talking about. lol Did some of you take computer courses, or did it come naturally to you?

Love,
Madeline

[dwayner79]

I consider myself reasonably savvy. In high school I was a typical user. I built my first PC in High school after a computer show. After high school I worked at a plant that assembled PCs. I was able to convince them I knew enough (even though I didn't really) to hire me. I learned the basics quick. Then, its basically been from heavy use all through the Windows era. There are not really that many parts of a PC, and they all perform a fairly simple task. I worked in various computer jobs, got an associates degree in computer science, and have had computer related jobs ever sense (though at this point I am more of a user then anything else).

I know many people who never went to a class or school or training for computers who know more then I do. Its a matter of getting your hands into it, and building knowledge. Each computer you fix gives a new set of tools for the next one. Each time you format your computer to reload windows, you learn more. It just takes time and effort, if that is really want you want to do. There's not a ton of money in computers anymore (programmers are still good, but hardware people are a dime a dozen) so you kind of have to love it to do it.

I should also say there are plenty of people who know a niche in the computer field who know nothing else. Some network people do not touch PCs. Some Programmers wouldn't know a motherboard from a hard drive. Long and short is if you want to learn, just start tinkering. You pick it up. And as long as there is a machine with an internet connection, you can find help for just about any problem.

[kevinmiller]

I wouldn't consider myself a genius, but I do know my way around a computer. Mostly, it's because I've used computers since I was little and just figured out how to do something if I was unsure about it. I also learned a lot from my dad and while working at a computer company in Baltimore in 2006.

[Danny Carlton]

I was bored in college and some engineering major friends were doing assignments in the computer lab, and decided to write a letter to a girl back home on the fancy computer paper (back then in had light blue-green sections). In order to do so I used a guest account on the Unix mini-computer (a Computer generally fills an entire room. A mini-computer is about the size of a closet. A micro-computer is what we are familiar with). It had a nice help finction that displayed the shell commands and explained what they do. I found it fascinating, and spent some time playing with it, until I reached the limits of the guest account. It was suggested then that I buy a floppy disk and use the apple computers also in the lab. A 5 1/4 inch floppy (that held 128k of data) cost $5 on the college book store, so I got one, borrowed the apple basic manual, and started learning it.

Twenty Six years later we have 7 computers all networked together and I just landed a nice freelance job that should take 2 weeks to complete but will make more than I jusually make in a month.

[brosmith]

When I was a senior in high school (1976/77) I read a book on computer programming. In 1983 I bought a new Timex/Sinclair 1000 with a 16K memory upgrade for about $120 and learned the BASIC programming language. I wrote a program to teach multiplication tables (I was a Christian school teacher at the time). It used a black and white tv as a monitor and used a cassette recorder for data storage. The program was divided into 4 parts and each part took me about 8 hours to type (I am a rather slow typer). Once stored on a cassette tape each part took 7 minutes to load into the computer. This was my first introduction to home computing. After that I had an Atari 5200, Commodore 64/128/128D, Adam, and an Osborne (bought used for $15 in 1990). I used the Osborne for about 5 years.

In 1996 we bought our first PC for $1600. It was a Packard Bell and had Windows 95 on it. I learned (the hard way) that Packard Bell computers were junk but I also learned how to do my own trouble shooting instead of spending 3 hours on the phone with tech support and them telling me just reformat my hard drive and re-install Windows. In 1998 I bought my first CD burner for $300. It was an HP model that turned out to be junk (only lasted a year).

In 2000 I started buying PCs off of ebay. We started using Switched-on Schoolhouse for our home schooling and needed more hardware. I soon learned (the hard way) that I needed to know how to repair my own machines if I wanted to save money. I also learned (the hard way) that Dell computers are junk as well. The brands I have stuck with the most are Gateway and Compaq. I now trust Emachine (they are now owned by Gateway) and Acer. I learned (through trial and error) how to refurbish computers and I have used that knowledge to make a little money on the side.

You might say that over the last 12 years my computer knowledge was acquired out of necessity to keep from going broke. Over the phone tech support is absolutely worthless and computer repair shops are for suckers. It is too bad that I didn't learn auto mechanics as well.

[matie-k]

Have you all ever heard of geek squad? There used to be two guys at my husband's home church that were part of the geek squad and drove those geek squad black and white VW beetles. I don't know how widespread that company is though.

[kevinmiller]

Have you all ever heard of geek squad? There used to be two guys at my husband's home church that were part of the geek squad and drove those geek squad black and white VW beetles. I don't know how widespread that company is though.

Yeah, I've seen them downtown before, in Baltimore. :smile

[dwayner79]

Anywhere there is a best buy, there is a geek squad.

[matie-k]

Well, my home in Minnesota, and Best Buy's home is there. I used to work for them actually.

[woolysheep]

To some of us it comes naturally :lol
To others much study.....
Wow I can build a computer and set up from scratch(self taught) but have no idea how to use Excel (I have never had the need - yet).
Ive learnt how to access around the internet,recover lost data (retrieval), rid viruses and trouble shoot (to a degree)...etc
Some are born geeks I suppose
Although I still feel out of my depth with fully fledged geeks!(I have only been computer mad for the last 3 years.)

My advise is don't worry if you have little idea(of computers) as this is the affliction of the common man...And I am sure that any forum that has computer topics easily attracts us(geeks) as we are always willing to help the lost.

PS More advise...if you don't know just ask and we will come running but just be prepared to feel lost and accept it :coffee

Be thankful to Our Lord that He has created geeks... :amen:

[JerryNumbers]

So your one of them?

geek
> Synonym: eccentric, eccentric person, flake, oddball.
> Hypernym: anomaly, performer, performing artist, unusual person.
> Hyponym: crackpot, crank, fruitcake, nut, nut case, nutcase, nutter, screwball, wacko, whacko.

Noun
> Synonym: eccentric, eccentric person, flake, oddball.
> Hypernym: anomaly, performer, performing artist, unusual person.
> Hyponym: crackpot, crank, fruitcake, nut, nut case, nutcase, nutter, screwball, wacko, whacko.

A person with an unusual or odd personality.
> Synonym: eccentric, eccentric person, flake, oddball.
> Hypernym: anomaly, unusual person.
> Hyponym: crackpot, crank, fruitcake, nut, nut case, nutcase, nutter, screwball, wacko, whacko.

A carnival performer who does disgusting acts.
> Hypernym: performer, performing artist.

I've had friends who carried their troubled computer to the computer shop to get it working again. Seems they're without their computer for a good while and usually out $100.00.

3 or 4 times since I've had a computer I've had major trouble, I just reformatted it and it seem to work better than it was. Of course I have to tweak everything back to the way I like it.

I did learn one thing, have an extra hard drive to store stuff on, them you want lose those things you want to keep when you have to reformat.

Thankfully with the 2 Compaq's I have never had any break down. Of course sooner or later that will probably happen.

[woolysheep]

Well a computer geek is a pleasantry/affectionate term used for people who are highly able and literate within the computer world.
So I suppose by some the above dictionary meaning is accurate to describe we highly intelligent computer geniuses. :Bleh
I am a baby computer geek I suppose
:loll:

[Evan57]

Welcome to the world of Geek!!! Yahoo!!!

By the way, I am not a geek. Whew! (just kidding) In the past, my brother in Christ showed me the computer of how it works. I sometimes tended to laugh to see something news. I was fascinated it and started using the computer. When my parents found out about I used the email, they bought computer to email to me. It is alot easier to use email then snail mail. Vroom! I am still learning a little deeper in computer but still not enough. I know there is a lot more than just basic of using a computer.
Young generation already know how to use computer deeper than old generation because they learn at school.

Evan57

[UrbanChristian]

Geeks are simply Nerds with Marketable Skills!

Most of the computer geeks I talk to are all self taught through trial and error and believe that is the best way to learn, but you do have to have an initial interest in computers to even want to go through the trial and error process. I started out on a TRS-80 from radio shack, and have been hooked ever since.

Computers are really a lot like cars. Some owners will take it to the garage (computer store) whenever something goes wrong, and it's always an expensive proposition. Some owners will learn enough about it to change the spark plugs (install software), change the oil (clean out viruses), and the other more basic tasks, but if the alternator goes, they take it to the garage. The the most hardcore ones will learn how to change the motor (umm... this is where we get into acronyms like CPU and other technobabble), and will never need to take it to the garage.

You just have to decide how interested in cars....errm, I mean computers you are, and of course how much you want to spend on labour.

[Evan57]

Geeks are simply Nerds with Marketable Skills!

Most of the computer geeks I talk to are all self taught through trial and error and believe that is the best way to learn, but you do have to have an initial interest in computers to even want to go through the trial and error process. I started out on a TRS-80 from radio shack, and have been hooked ever since.

Computers are really a lot like cars. Some owners will take it to the garage (computer store) whenever something goes wrong, and it's always an expensive proposition. Some owners will learn enough about it to change the spark plugs (install software), change the oil (clean out viruses), and the other more basic tasks, but if the alternator goes, they take it to the garage. The the most hardcore ones will learn how to change the motor (umm... this is where we get into acronyms like CPU and other technobabble), and will never need to take it to the garage.

You just have to decide how interested in cars....errm, I mean computers you are, and of course how much you want to spend on labour.

That is so cool. The computer compares with the car. By the way, I looked up the TRS-80 computer. I saw that TRS-80 is very old computer. Right?

It takes years to figure out how the computer works. Duh! I am not in the young generation. :sobstory: But it is worth to use it to contact other people and get the information, news, so on but be careful with the hackers and scammers out there.

Evan57 :cool