For me, I learned from reading books, magazines, other more knowledgable people, school, and experimenting on my own. I started to really get into computers back in 93. My how has time flown by.
Where did you learn about PCs?
- Thread starter Adul
- Start date
I started back in 93 also...got a 486SX33mhz/4MB RAM/1MB video....and a 170mb HDD. i added a "multimedia kit" which included a 2x cd-rom and an ensoniq soundscape. I learned on this machine(trial and error...as well as learning from other friends) and finally upgraded it with an intel486DX4 100mhz overdrive and 4 more MB of RAM(cost $200 back then) before trashing it for a Cyrix 6x86 P166+(remember those?)...
I started experimenting in late 1997 with my first computer, Compaq Armada laptop, and then hit some magazines. Eventually in the summer of 1998 I found out about hardware websites (Hardware Central, AnandTech, Toms) and started tinkering with my girlfriends Gateway 2K P200MMX system.
Since then I have made computers a big part of my life. I don't regret anything.
Since then I have made computers a big part of my life. I don't regret anything.
Sure do. I knew enough to avoid them 
.
let see, we had a 486-66 DX2, 8 MB RAM, 1 MB Vesa Local video, Sony 2x cdrom, 250 MB hd, SB16, speakers, 14" monitor. I think we bought a 14.4 modem has well. It been down hill since for me. I must have taken apart that comp a dozen times.
.let see, we had a 486-66 DX2, 8 MB RAM, 1 MB Vesa Local video, Sony 2x cdrom, 250 MB hd, SB16, speakers, 14" monitor. I think we bought a 14.4 modem has well. It been down hill since for me. I must have taken apart that comp a dozen times.
i only started in late 1999 when i decided my 486 with a 586 overdrive chip wasn't working for me. my friend built me a k6-3 450 and i stood over his shoulder and bugged the crap out of him with questions. when i started using the k6-3 i would read about it and see things like "cache" and "bus speed" and i was very interested about what i had and started reading (a lot of reading). then, i cought on to the forums here and elsewhere (this one is the best though ) and read what people wrote. basically, i learned from other enthusiasts.
) and read what people wrote. basically, i learned from other enthusiasts.Wow. I thought I was the youngin here, but I guess I do go back a little way... my first PC of my own (that I built) was a 286 (old xt), i think I was 10 or so.
when I got my Packard Bell Pentium 75 computer in 1995.
Teaching myself with magazines and the internet and also watching my "computer" friends do some stuff is how I learned about PCs.
Teaching myself with magazines and the internet and also watching my "computer" friends do some stuff is how I learned about PCs.
<< and started tinkering with my girlfriends Gateway 2K P200MMX system. >>
John, I admire how you got your pratical experience!
Well, I first started on them in 80 (Timex Sinclair w/16k memory pack!)
Moved on to several iterations of Tandys
First 386, 1989-1990
Started actually working on them when I got married in 93- Momma had bought a Packard Bell 486-25 sx shortly before we had met. When it started to have some problems, couldn't find anyone willing to touch it, and had to learn on my own!
Moved on to several iterations of Tandys
First 386, 1989-1990
Started actually working on them when I got married in 93- Momma had bought a Packard Bell 486-25 sx shortly before we had met. When it started to have some problems, couldn't find anyone willing to touch it, and had to learn on my own!
I started in 1997, with my old Compaq Presario 1540... now it serves as an mp3 server. all it does is run windows95, and serve MP3s to the other 5 computers spread across the 4 bedrooms and dining room of this apartment. Since then I've built myself a nifty celery 350 (o/c to 550 once I learned how). Built a comp for my dad, a couple for friends. I learned most of what I know from my room mate, and the internet.
Since then I've built myself a nifty celery 350 (o/c to 550 once I learned how). Built a comp for my dad, a couple for friends. I learned most of what I know from my room mate, and the internet.
ISAslot
Platinum Member
- Jan 22, 2001
- 2,890
- 108
- 106
1996. 10th grade. My dad got a IBM 5150 and a NEC pinwriter P3 for $25. We got that working, and meanwhile in school I was able to obtain about 8 IBM 5170's that were donated, but not able to run the autocad in the drafting room. Started helping my drafting teacher maintain the 15+ computers in the drafting room as well. I learned a lot from that experience. I took drafting 1,2 and 3 so I was with those computers for 3 yrs. I saw them go from ACAD 10 DOS/win 3.1 ACAD 12 computers to Pentium machines running ACAD 14 IBM's, Dells, and Gateways. Oh! and these cool computers donated from NASA. They were 486's with turbo. Big huge beasts, reminded me of the IBM 5170's in footprint size
IBM's, Dells, and Gateways. Oh! and these cool computers donated from NASA. They were 486's with turbo. Big huge beasts, reminded me of the IBM 5170's in footprint size i'm gonna hafta say it was the internet also. that let to certifcations and a job. never looked back since. later.
Well lets see. I started playing with computers when I was about 10 (1986/87) when my brothers convinced my parents to buy us a TRS80 (TRASH 80) from Radio Shack. A year or two after that we started using Apple II's at school. In middle school (age 13 to 15 (or so)) we used Apple IIc's and then Macs (Plus/SE) in Gr. 8. When I got to HS (15/16yrs old) we were a completely Mac school and I started out in my first HS computer class using old Mac 128/512s and Pluses. Gr. 10 programming was done on Mac SEs/Classics (16Mhz/20Mhz). Anyway by the time HS was over we were running Mac LC IIIs/475s (68040 Motorola Processors at 60Mhz and we had a few Pentium based systems for CAD etc in the tech wing). I had taken programming all through HS and was in the first year we actually had a Gr. 13 Computer Programming course (one of my fav courses of all time). When I started college I had a P133 and went in to Business IS. etc, etc....
I learnt to type through my programming classes, I almost failed Gr. 9 typing (damn I hate typewritters, electric or not).
Through this all the teachers bored the crap out of me and continually ticked me off with their lack of knowledge. I always knew more about hardware then them through reading and being part of the 'online' community (BBSs then the 'Net). I taught myself to program in Basic on my TRS80, then Pascal on a Mac, pascal on x86 in College, then C++, VC++, etc... Now I program in Java (JAVA RULES), and all my computer knowledge is essentially self taught from playing and reading. The best way to learn is to do, and the best way to do is to think up something you could use and build it from scratch. You can never learn to much and you can never read to much, the things you come across may not have any immediate application for you but almost always come back to you. All the information you need to learn to Hack/Program/Play is available in books and online.
To this day I can say without a doubt that I know more about hardware then 99.9% of the people I work with and consort with outside of work (all of whom are "computer" people), simply from my reading here. I do have to admit that there are those in the company that can program circles around me, but they're mostly the 'old timers' (ya know the ones who started with punch cards and Cobol).
To stay at the top of your game and ahead of the crowd all you have to do is read, and play. Don't "work" at computing, whether it be, programming or gaming, always make sure it's fun. Once it becomes "work" you are either in over your head or doing the wrong thing with your time. Whatever you do should always be fun and challenging.
Read Phrack, read 2600 newsletters, read anything amuzing you can get your hands on, etc.... not because you need to know how to hack this one particular thing right now, but because these guys come up with some kewl stuff, and because there is always (always) someone who knows more then you (see my sig).
People think you need lots of Math background in order to do programming etc.... This is complete BS as long as you can think Logically it barely matters whether or not you can add 1+1 because you can find advanced formulae etc... online, and make the computer do 98% of the work for u.
Sorry that was so long, I just wanted to get some of that out, and obviously stress that it's all about having fun and challenging ones self.
Thorin
I learnt to type through my programming classes, I almost failed Gr. 9 typing (damn I hate typewritters, electric or not).
Through this all the teachers bored the crap out of me and continually ticked me off with their lack of knowledge. I always knew more about hardware then them through reading and being part of the 'online' community (BBSs then the 'Net). I taught myself to program in Basic on my TRS80, then Pascal on a Mac, pascal on x86 in College, then C++, VC++, etc... Now I program in Java (JAVA RULES), and all my computer knowledge is essentially self taught from playing and reading. The best way to learn is to do, and the best way to do is to think up something you could use and build it from scratch. You can never learn to much and you can never read to much, the things you come across may not have any immediate application for you but almost always come back to you. All the information you need to learn to Hack/Program/Play is available in books and online.
To this day I can say without a doubt that I know more about hardware then 99.9% of the people I work with and consort with outside of work (all of whom are "computer" people), simply from my reading here. I do have to admit that there are those in the company that can program circles around me, but they're mostly the 'old timers' (ya know the ones who started with punch cards and Cobol).
To stay at the top of your game and ahead of the crowd all you have to do is read, and play. Don't "work" at computing, whether it be, programming or gaming, always make sure it's fun. Once it becomes "work" you are either in over your head or doing the wrong thing with your time. Whatever you do should always be fun and challenging.
Read Phrack, read 2600 newsletters, read anything amuzing you can get your hands on, etc.... not because you need to know how to hack this one particular thing right now, but because these guys come up with some kewl stuff, and because there is always (always) someone who knows more then you (see my sig).
People think you need lots of Math background in order to do programming etc.... This is complete BS as long as you can think Logically it barely matters whether or not you can add 1+1 because you can find advanced formulae etc... online, and make the computer do 98% of the work for u.
Sorry that was so long, I just wanted to get some of that out, and obviously stress that it's all about having fun and challenging ones self.
Thorin
Self learned, ok I watch a few books and magazines now and then but I learned the most by digging in my old 386 and 486.
And Sites like Anandtech.
And Sites like Anandtech.
buck
Lifer
- Dec 11, 2000
- 12,273
- 4
- 81
I fiddled around computers that friends had and in school for a while. Then I got my first computer last March, I read as many books as I could get to learn about them. Then I started going to Maximum pc and reading more, then after I fried a mobo I took a break till August. Then I started building my own over and over and over again. Then I started reading more and more over at sharkys, then Nutdotnet, told me about these forums and now I rarely go back to sharkys cept to get Humus' Raid on Tweaker.
I love computers.
I love computers.
I started learning most of the stuff i know now from the internet, mainly Sharkyforums (i know, i know) i was a such a newbie.
In the Army, of all places. Beginning in 1982.
First CP/M, then later on with SPARC. Worked with PCs since 1987.
Many positions. Hardware tech, troubleshooting, diagnostics, beta projects for Uncle Sam.
Constant learning experience.
First CP/M, then later on with SPARC. Worked with PCs since 1987.
Many positions. Hardware tech, troubleshooting, diagnostics, beta projects for Uncle Sam.
Constant learning experience.
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