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Just thought I'd share this with you all

Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Since I just got appointed as a Work Group Manager, or Client Support Administrator, or 'the computer guy' at work, they sent me to a 2 week course for training.

This course, is, IMO, a waste of time. For example, while covering basic hardware, the instructor 'taught' the class how to read memory names. What I mean is, if you see 'PC3200 DDR' for sale at Fry's, whats it mean? Okay, so I think its DDR memory, with an effectve 400Mhz clock, with a peak bandwidth of 3.2GB/s. According the instructor, the 3200 is the MHz of the CPU you should pair it with. So, you you can only use DDR400/PC3200 memory wth a 3.2Ghz processor. The hardware section was full of these.

One of the questions on the pretest was as follows.

What port would you configure to setup a printer on a network?

A. Parallel Port
B. Serial Port
C. TCP/IP
D. Com 1

Had USB port been an option, I would have chose that, but it wasn't, so here was my thought process.

Well, I don't know of any serial port printers, so I ruled that out. TCP/IP is protocol, not a port, so that was out. Windows does like to put a network printer on com1, although its usually a virtual port. I know parellel port as my answer, as it seemed the only valid physical port.

Guess what? The answer the instructor wanted was TCP/IP. When I inquired as to why, when TCP/IP was a protocol, not a port, and thus not what the question was asking. She told me that Windows would use TCP/IP to communicate with the printer, which was true, but still not what the question was asking.

Another question from the pretest, exactly as it was typed on the pretest.

Which of the following is a storage device? Check all that apply.

A. Floppy Disk
B. CD ROM
C. Hard drive
D. Compact Disk

I chose all of them. Apparently, however, a CD-ROM is not a storage device.

Also, when covering processors, the 'P4 only has 1 million-ish' transistors, the Celeron Duo (???) is their upcoming high performance CPU, with over 2 million transistors. And, oh, yeah, almost forgot, A64s run a lot hotter than P4s, so the AF doesn't like to use them.

Naturally, all the new towers we just got in my shop use 3.2Ghz Prescott P4s. And, we just got a few HP A64 towers for our supervision.

Needless to say, I'm getting pretty fed up with this class, and don't really give a rats butt if I score well on the test, so long as I pass it and don't have to take it again.

/rant


Edit - She also offered, if we have trouble with our home PCs, don't hesitate to send her an email to ask for her help.

Not a chance in hell.
 
I had an older professor like that once who taught a class about computer technology. He said that cd rom drives were too slow to do anything with but play music. The whole class argued that cd rom drives were pretty quick and you can use them for a lot of things espescially with 52x drives. The professor said those didn't exist and that we didn't know what we were talking about. The next day somebody brought in a box they had of a 52x cd rom drive. The professor got pissed and said that it must have just come out. It was a horrible class.
 
Originally posted by: Wonderful Pork
a CD-ROM is not a storage device.
Click to expand...

A CD-ROM is a storage device. A CD drive or CD-ROM drive is not. A CD-ROM is the full, proper name for a CD.

Unless copies of Windows and Office started shipping with free CD drives, instead of just CD-ROM media. Or when you order Windows SPs from MS, the print on their page says CD-ROM.

 
In its infinite wisdom MS uses that terminology for printer ports. When you want to add a TCP/IP printer you create a TCP/IP port and assign it an address.
 
Yeah the TCP/IP question is a load of crap. If it make you feel any better I have to go to a training course next Tuesday that has to do with web development. Ok look at my sig, I can handle the website. But they are starting out with "a basic understanding of what a web page is" Now that can prolly go either way but from talking to people that have taken this class, they actuall start with what html and www means. Not what they do, but what it stands for. He said they discussed that for over an hour.

I think I am going to kill myself. This is going to be as bad as the advanced computer class I took in college (easy A) and the teacher started with how to turn the computer on. We were all playing games and checking email by the time he got to Start menu lesson.
 
DDR memory only works in Dance Dance Revolution machines. Duh.

Although, I think you could have figured out the correct answers to the multiple choice questions if you were not so busy wallowing in your own intellectual superiority. I assume you're getting paid for training? I assume it's two weeks you're not being badgered by calls from people in sales and marketing freaking out because "My optical mouse has a red warning light on the bottom! HELP! TOP PRIORITY!"

So enjoy 🙂
 
Originally posted by: thirdeye
I remember those classes in college, what a waste.
Click to expand...

yeap. its rather amazing how bad some of the low level computer classes are.

i had one computer class with a very beutiful indian women proffesor. She was very hot. to bad she did not know what she was talking about but she was easy on the eyes.
 
Good rant... Needs more emotional angst and frustration, but you get extra points for detail and knowledge. :thumbsup:
 
By "port," they meant "checkbox." There's a TCP/IP checkbox you click to register a printer with active directory through TCP/IP.

BTW tests are stupid.
 
Originally posted by: Linflas
In its infinite wisdom MS uses that terminology for printer ports. When you want to add a TCP/IP printer you create a TCP/IP port and assign it an address.
Click to expand...

yeah, the clue in that question was on a network.

sorry dude, she's right on that one.

also, a cd-rom is a medium, not a device. there is nothing in it that makes it device. a hard drive is a storage device.

with those tests you have to really pay attention to every single word in the question.
 
Dude, I feel for you. I too am a CSA (which replaced the old WGM), but I just retired and am doing this for the AF as a civilian. I went through that class with a SSgt 3C teaching that class and he barley knew what he was talking about, so I know where you are coming from. Just pass the class, get your certificate and forget about it when you get back to work. You already know more than she can teach you anyway. You have to understand that they teach from a lesson plan and whatever is on that lesson plan is what is right to them.
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: Wonderful Pork
a CD-ROM is not a storage device.
Click to expand...

A CD-ROM is a storage device. A CD drive or CD-ROM drive is not. A CD-ROM is the full, proper name for a CD.

Unless copies of Windows and Office started shipping with free CD drives, instead of just CD-ROM media. Or when you order Windows SPs from MS, the print on their page says CD-ROM.
Click to expand...

If you want to get truly techincal about it, a CD-ROM is not a storage device. By your explanation, a CD-ROM would be consider storage media, not a device. However, the questions do suck. 😀 BTW - pics of the instructor?
 
i am totally with u man. i remember those classes. i remember in highschool when i learned C, the teacher first had us learn to use the computer. by that time all the kids were running laps around the teacher doing whatever they wanted. (the fvcking computer weren't even in limited account. the kids could do whatever they wanted.) atleast i got hours for helping them fix the computer.😀 although i must say i have yet to encounter such a stupid remark as the one about the RAM. hold on tight man. u can do this and finish it. atleast u get paid for this, right?
 
I would have to punch the instructor in the face for the memory question. No one can really be that stupid can they?
 
Bateluer , you are smarter than the teacher
you should start a computer training company that would teach mo better

but you would have to pay good instructors too much $ to make a profit

so, uh, nevermind, good luck on your new job/position
 
I actually looked at the ground and shook my head when I read the PC3200/ 3.2GHz CPU part.

The heat of a prescott P4 vs. the heat of an A64 got a good sigh out of me.

I'll be on the lookout for that high end Celeron Duo though. 🙂

It almost makes you want to fail the test, b/c being wrong means being right. Although, getting through it and not thinking about it again is the way to go.
 
Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i am totally with u man. i remember those classes. i remember in highschool when i learned C, the teacher first had us learn to use the computer. by that time all the kids were running laps around the teacher doing whatever they wanted. (the fvcking computer weren't even in limited account. the kids could do whatever they wanted.) atleast i got hours for helping them fix the computer.😀 although i must say i have yet to encounter such a stupid remark as the one about the RAM. hold on tight man. u can do this and finish it. atleast u get paid for this, right?
Click to expand...

The computer classes I took didn't have limited accounts too. Oh, wait, those were IIgs's.
 
Damn, you need to seriously speak up and tell her how little she knows about computers and hardware. If there are other people in this class who really aren't too knowledgable with computer hardware, then she's just spreading false information which is gonna be bad down the road.

You should really mention and point out what things she's getting confused about.
 
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