Where'd you learn the most about computers?

Discuss anything not covered in another forum (life, the universe etc.)... Please keep it PG-13 and avoid spam.
Post Reply
User avatar
Humboldt
Posts: 28214
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Northern CA

Where'd you learn the most about computers?

Post by Humboldt »

Did you learn most of your computer knowledge at school?

Self-taught through books?

Through online sources like SG?

As job training?

Just wondering. Unfortunately, I think I've learned the LEAST from the classes I've taken. :D
Banshee
Posts: 8885
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2000 12:00 pm

Post by Banshee »

trial & error :D

Mostly self taught.

Never read books or took classes...

I learned a TON of stuff here at SG! :)
striderf1

Post by striderf1 »

trial and error, but the majority of it through Magazines such as PC Gamer and others
User avatar
crazyman
SG Elite
Posts: 5181
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Southern California

Post by crazyman »

1)self taught(much trial and error)
2)good friend (mcse)
3)A+ course at college
[CHORUS]
Cause I'm a problem child
User avatar
TonyT
SG VIP
Posts: 10356
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Fairfax, VA

Post by TonyT »

self-taught
MS dictionary
forums
friends online
User avatar
aagiants
Posts: 5941
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2001 12:00 am

Post by aagiants »

Trial and Error,
Asking people on SG
Readin online Articles
.....
User avatar
Mehmet
Posts: 4764
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Berkeley CA, The home of the hippies

Post by Mehmet »

self taught, but i didnt know ANYTHING about hardware or anything like that until i came here. I Learned most of the stuff i know here.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin

"Weapons of Ass Destruction"
BMED
SG Elite
Posts: 5848
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2000 3:16 pm

Post by BMED »

Self taught, then my job required much training (that was free too!).
Chris
Posts: 13515
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Northern AB, CA, turn left Alaska, Turn right, Yukon Territoies

Re: Where'd you learn the most about computers?

Post by Chris »

Originally posted by Humboldt
Did you learn most of your computer knowledge at school?

Self-taught through books?



Just wondering. Unfortunately, I think I've learned the LEAST from the classes I've taken. :D
Sounds familiar, College was just a piece of paper at the end and two years listening to those who can't
You know the old saying, Those who can do, and those who can't teach

There were too great teachers at our college but the system stifeled them into teaching nothing
User avatar
el bob
Senior Member
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2001 12:00 am
Location: NY

Post by el bob »

self taught, hardware knowledge from SG, but so much more from BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS!!!
What's the most expensive purchase you've made on your miles/reward credit card? Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card Application
User avatar
minir
Posts: 27941
Joined: Sat Aug 19, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Canada

Post by minir »

Hi Humboldt

My teck Buddy Terry was a big help to me, still is for that matter.

I read a lot of books as well PC World, Maximum PC, bought a few magazines by Smart Computing (good source)

Then one night i stumbled in here a complete ignoramus in all things computer

I read the posts, watched for answers, asked a few OK a lot of questions.

Now i'm completely computer edumakated :D

A Grateful (Thanks to All here for your ongoing Help) :)

minir
User avatar
m4a2t0t
Posts: 3962
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Phoenix AZ

Post by m4a2t0t »

i owned a GATEWAY :mad: it was a real piece of sh!t so i was usually just fixing it all the time but i am learning so much here and i thank you all
Will Work For FSB
User avatar
Brent
SG VIP
Posts: 42153
Joined: Fri Oct 01, 1999 12:00 pm

Post by Brent »

Self Taught via trial and error as my primary source

I started really gettin into PC's back in the 386 days and 2400 baud modems, so I had no Internet to use back then....

Mostly I bought magazines, lots of pc magazines, read em ALL the time i lived in them.....

Then when we finally got the Internet, albiet Prodigy at the time, and on a slow 2400 baud modem my world was opened up to me and i found out so many much stuffs....

From there i just read boooks that interested me, and learned crap myself...

Before my MCSE stuff here recently i had NEVER had any kind of formal PC training!!!!!!!!! Actually I did have 2 In High School I took Keyboarding 1 and Keyboarding 2 :D so i can type fast now, and i did have a neat communications class in HS where i got to use the computer a lot which at the time were Blazing top of the Line Pentium 120Mhz with 16MB of ram :D
"Would you mind not standing on my chest, my hats on fire." - The Doctor
User avatar
LukeMan
Advanced Member
Posts: 693
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2001 12:00 am
Location: California

Post by LukeMan »

I see Brent had a blazing 2400 baud.......try 300.

Self taught.......my first "computer" was a Timex that had membrane keys and a whopping 16k mem add-on think I still have that bad boy on the self someplace.....

Worked my way up thru Vic 20 and Comodore 64...took some classes on line (way back when the net was pretty much all command line driven) then thru the UCLA extentsion.......but basically just a lot of trial and error..........which included a lot of reformat oops I did it again....Damn!
They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake".

Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991
User avatar
Biketec
Posts: 954
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2000 12:00 am
Location: So Cali

Post by Biketec »

Originally posted by Banshee
trial & error :D

Mostly self taught.

Never read books or took classes...

I learned a TON of stuff here at SG! :)
that makes 2 of us. but i must said i also learned some from my neighbor... hes like brent recreated... but like 40 years old. he used to work for micro$oft and knows practiaclly everything about comptuers. THANKS NICK!

jason
Originally posted by Brent
i'm not prejeduce to height

just as long as she aint a midget :D
In response to my "Sex before marriage?" thread..
Originally posted by minir
Hell Yes, cause you sure ain't going to get much after marriage, as i recall
Joe
SG Elite
Posts: 8585
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2001 7:36 pm
Location: USA

Post by Joe »

Mostly PCP ( Point, click, and pray )

Also alot of chatting... If I started talking to someone anywhere that was knowledgeable I would talk to them until they were dry for info.

I also read as much info as I can that interests me... I havent read any actual books because most that i have found are either aimed and total noobs or total pros.
▼▼▼
www.facebook.com/joe.wanner
twitter.com/TheRealBazooka
mrawesome.tk
▼▼▼
User avatar
EvilAngel
Posts: 18950
Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Garden Grove

Post by EvilAngel »

Speedguide is my source for computer information, well I learned quite a bit from Axcel216's Website.. that guy rules


Speedcorp is one of the straight out, no nonsence, solid source for computer problem solutions. TonyT and Qthush <---(Norm?) are some of the most knowledgable people I have come across while my one year interest in tweaking,fixing computers.

I got interested in fixing,/tweaking computers because I hated my computer having control over what I did on my computer..lol I have come along way and I thank every person that gives a little bit of their time to help others. :)
The Devil wrote:Tolerance is a virtue, not a requirement.
SG Theme Song
User avatar
RoundEye
Posts: 18219
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2000 12:00 am
Location: In a dry but moldy New Orleans, Louisiana

Post by RoundEye »

Networking and Win2K: Saturday class at Tulane University and Practically Networked
Hardware: Self-taught, Maximum PC, SpeedGuide.
Software(Win98SE, Win95, ect.): self taught, SpeedGuide.

And lots of books. :nod:
Sliding down the banister of life ..........................
User avatar
mikemean
Posts: 8706
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2000 12:00 am
Location: 406

Post by mikemean »

I taught myself by watching others
User avatar
Immortal
Posts: 22674
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2000 12:00 pm
Location: Mississauga, Ontario , Canada. Behaviour : Good

Post by Immortal »

self learning.. classes... speedguide... net...
User avatar
golfnintendoboy
Senior Member
Posts: 1861
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2001 12:00 am
Location: IA

Post by golfnintendoboy »

learned a bunch about microsoft from classes at school. but almost everything else was "whats this do?" and "i wonder what this is?" or "i wonder how i do this?"
User avatar
RoscoPColtrane
Posts: 6153
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2000 12:00 pm
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Post by RoscoPColtrane »

IM mostly self taught...only way to learn is trial and error!! Ive wasted many of time doing nothing but sitting around learning DOS commands....when that will come in handy....we shall never know!
****************************************************************************************
Abit NF7-S 2.0, Barton 2500+ @ 2.2 Ghz, 2 Gig ddr3200, 80gig Seagate HDD, ATI x850 PRO @ 550/600, WinXP Pro

J B K M

Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XL Champions!!!!!
User avatar
Gaming-Module
Posts: 7987
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Gaming-Module »

First some very basic stuff in HS. Comp studies 1 and 2. Typing 1.

Then I got my first Compaq and became an average user.

Then my brother introduced me to hothardware and tomshardware and I bought my Dell three years after my Compaq, and took a basic computer college course.

Soon I discovered Anandtech and a bunch of other sites and trained myself to become an amateur tweaker, trouble shooter, and a very informed technology shopper.

Now I spend time here.

My learning has unfortunatly stopped as of late. All I do is BS online now here and lurking at SA.

I have been learning software such as Homesite and Photoshop through work.

And I can build a computer now, but it takes me forever and I get paranoid when handling the parts. :eek: :(
User avatar
brembo
Posts: 18725
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2001 12:00 am
Location: crawlspaces

Post by brembo »

Lurking at SA can lead to dementia. That place is nuts.
Tao_Jones Cult Member since 2004
I gave Miss Manners a Dirty Sanchez, and she LIKED it.
User avatar
fanta
Posts: 3160
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii aka Paradise

Post by fanta »

Self Taught mainly.

A lot of reading online, and chatting.

I'm learning a lot about computers from school now, from a technical standpoint.
User avatar
Gaming-Module
Posts: 7987
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Gaming-Module »

Lurking at SA can lead to dementia. That place is nuts.
Yeah. I actually feel as if my intelligence level has decreased as a direct result of reading that site.
User avatar
Biketec
Posts: 954
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2000 12:00 am
Location: So Cali

Post by Biketec »

Originally posted by brembo
Lurking at SA can lead to dementia. That place is nuts.
SA? im sorry.. im not fimiliar with these other sites

jason
Originally posted by Brent
i'm not prejeduce to height

just as long as she aint a midget :D
In response to my "Sex before marriage?" thread..
Originally posted by minir
Hell Yes, cause you sure ain't going to get much after marriage, as i recall
User avatar
brembo
Posts: 18725
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2001 12:00 am
Location: crawlspaces

Post by brembo »

Something Awful, perfect name for that place.

lesse....http://www.somethingawful.com I belive.

The folks there revel in flaming one another
Tao_Jones Cult Member since 2004
I gave Miss Manners a Dirty Sanchez, and she LIKED it.
User avatar
Gaming-Module
Posts: 7987
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Michigan

Post by Gaming-Module »

I actually just go there for the thriving GBA community.

The GBA threads and rumors are great to read. :D
User avatar
The Devil
Posts: 610
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2001 9:47 pm
Location: Hello! In Hell!

Post by The Devil »

Self-taught.

TD
I'm everywhere you want to be.
Battleship
Senior Member
Posts: 1127
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Post by Battleship »

1. Trial and error
2. College
3. Work
Image
User avatar
YARDofSTUF
Posts: 70006
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2000 12:00 am
Location: USA

Post by YARDofSTUF »

were i learned the most, HERE!!! also trial and error, a curious mind can cause alot of trouble!
User avatar
zombiebeat
Regular Member
Posts: 125
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Scotland

Post by zombiebeat »

I used computers at Uni', started in DOS, wordperfect, basic, moved onto C++ but i never learned about computers until I got my own and figured things out through trial and error and asking the guys on here about things I couldn't figure out.

SG has ben a great help to me and my learning curve has accelerated since I started reading/posting on here.

So i guess I'm self taught with a little help from my friends :)

Z.B.
Ignored by the many realized by the few,
Do not fear for they will never know.
CableDude
SG VIP
Posts: 26801
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2001 12:00 pm

Post by CableDude »

Let's see:

Four years of schooling.
Continuing on my own.
Different Forums on the internet (as of last year).

I perfer the hands on stuff. I really don't care to sit in a class anymore.

I'd rather teach myself at this point. :)
User avatar
Indy
SG VIP
Posts: 25529
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Amarillo, TX

Post by Indy »

Originally posted by LukeMan
I see Brent had a blazing 2400 baud.......try 300.

Self taught.......my first "computer" was a Timex that had membrane keys and a whopping 16k mem add-on think I still have that bad boy on the self someplace.....

Worked my way up thru Vic 20 and Comodore 64...
Had the same upgrade path ;) back in the 80's...between my timex/commodore computers I had at home and the apple II's at school, I learned quite a bit about the programming side of things. I didn't really get interested in the hardware side of things until about '94, after I bought a 486SX 33 and started playing with it to get more and more performance out of it (more ram, overdrive processor, bigger hard drive, etc)

After I got my current job a couple of years ago, I have been exposed to more computers than a sane man should see ;) I average working on about 8 computers a day, and I always run into something I haven't seen before.

Oh, and my first foray online? (Other than dial up bulletin boards)...Compuserve back in '84 on my 300 baud modem/Commodore 64 :)
------
“The most beautiful thing we can experience in life is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: for his eyes are closed.” - Albert Einstein
CiscoKid
Posts: 10031
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Stockton, CA

Post by CiscoKid »

My thirts for knoledge of computers and programming stared BEFORE I even bought my first 486 DX for 400.00 used...It took burning my motherboard after two weeks to find sites and freinds that have helped me learn how to fix different problems with Windows and hardware issiues. I also have learned form the mistakes of others when calling Micro$oft for product support...after two hours on the phone at 10.00 for five minutes. "Sir, this is a known issue with Windows98. Please reset your computer and it should work correctly" 90% of the answers Tech Support gives...
Three Rivers Designs wrote:America! Love it or give it back!
User avatar
TheAntipop
Posts: 2436
Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2001 12:00 am
Location: On stage in front of an arena full of people

Post by TheAntipop »

unfortunatly i dont know jack about computers and im just learning now. what little i do know i taught myself and i learnd from my uncle. he showed me how to put a puter together and told me what all the ports are and etc etc.. my first computer was a compaq with a 200mghz processor 64mb ram and a 33.6 modem this was way back in 96 or 97. unfortunatly i didnt try to learn i just cruzed around the net and acted like i knew what i was talking about. it wasnt untill 8th grade when i was in keyboarding 2 and i was on an appleIIe that i learnd a little basic that ive forgotten most of. right now id say im a little above the average user seeing as how i can install ram and such things and i can overclock a processor by moving the pins and such. i know enough about software to know what not to do and how to teach myself to do things and all. the big thing about learning though is you cant be afraid to ask a stupid question because the guy thats answering the question at some point had to ask the same question otherwise he wouldnt know the answer. ppl forget that and dont want to be laughed at and so they dont ask wich is stupid IMO.
I am the Antipop the man you cannot stop
Post Reply