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Going from Newbie to techie.
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Posted by: armystud0911
Seeded deep into the heirerarchy of hardcore computer users is the anticipation of the day when they will finally be considered an official "techie" and moved up from the inexperience and eternal lameness of newbie. When does such a transformation take place, at what point do clueless ignorent idiots (like me) come to a state of venerable and respected enlightenment known as a "techie"? Some say it is when you solve more problems than you ask, others think you have to have been in on computers since the DOS days or at least a very long time. Another belief is that this great metamorphasis takes place when a person builds their first PC. None of these hold water in the big scheme of things though so anyone wanna give me some input here? Of course I understand that this is all relative but that's why I am asking for opinions though.
Posted by: redwench
 Quote:
Originally posted by armystud0911
When does such a transformation take place,
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never. if you dont feel like an idiot/dork on a fairly regular basis, youve got problems way beyond technical.
Posted by: Canis Lupus
The first step to the transformation is being adept at using Google 
Posted by: SKYHN
Google going out of service would be the PC world equivelant to a giant meteor hitting earth.
Well that and no porn.
Posted by: redwench
google is god. worship the google.
Posted by: NyGulkuk
Teoma is good too, as is Foldoc (for computer terms etc.).
These are easily installed as search engines to Mozilla and Firefox browsers at the Mycroft site:
http://mycroft.mozdev.org/download.html
and yes, you need to feel stupid fairly often, otherwise you might get uppity.
Posted by: IceBreaker
Quote:
Originally posted by redwench
google is god. worship the google.
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I prefer googling hehe.. http://forum.presence-pc.com/images/perso/666%20.gif
Posted by: AOTY2KB
Quote:
Originally posted by redwench
google is god. worship the google.
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google may be god, but copernic is supreme aka extra terrestrial
I forgot to add, 90% of being smart is knowing your stupid at it.
Posted by: Ack1027
Newbie to Techie eh?
Well as with most other things. The greatest teacher is experience. Nothing can replace experience.
Edit: Yes I am a Blasphemer. Yes I just defied the god that is Google.
Posted by: NegotiatorSmith
In my opinion, a "techie" in the PC world is someone who not only knows how to get things done on a PC, but also understands what is going on "under the hood" when they do those things and why problems occur. For example, when you play a computer game, what goes on hardware and software-wise when you do it? How does the game know what to do when you input certain commands, how do the things on your monitor screen get there, why does the game crash when you hit Alt-tab, etc.
There are many people, myself included, who claim to be computer-savvy when we really don't know anything about computers. It's very easy to say that you're "good with computers" when all you know how to do is surf the Web and check your e-mail. I am not afraid to admit that even though I think I'm good with computers, I'm really not. I have no idea as to exactly what's happening when I start up my computer and boot up Windows, I don't understand how burning a CD works, and if you asked me how to properly apply thermal paste when installing a CPU, I'd have no clue how to do it. I know more things about computers than most people will ever know, but compared to some of the tech-heads here I know nothing. I have much to learn, and I don't think there's any shame in admitting that. I have learned a lot since I started having an interest in helping people with computer problems, but I have a long way to go.
So far, there have been two points in my life where I realized that even though I said I knew a lot about computers, I really didn't. The first time was when I arrived at college for my freshman year there. I go to a "techie" school, and when I started talking to my peers about tech stuff, most of the time I had no idea what they were talking about and they realized that they couldn't carry on a conversation with me about the latest Intel/AMD CPUs and their strengths/weaknesses, for example. Most of the people I talked to were truly knowledgeable about computers, and I knew that I had a lot to learn. And learn a lot I did, as I took my computer-related courses and started to take part in conversations about things that I thought I'd never talk about, such as the latest offerings in motherboard chipset features.
The second time was when I started offering input on Blizzard computer game problems. At first I thought to myself, "hey, a lot of the problems I see on the Battle.net forums look pretty easy to solve, I think I'll hop in and give some advice". After spending only a few weeks on those forums, I realized that most of the suggestions I gave were pretty generic, simple things that most people had already done, such as "did you update your drivers?". I also had a habit of referring people to the ever-so-helpful Blizzard support pages all the time, which unfortunately some of the "helpers" on the Battle.net forums still do. When I reflect on my early days helping people with Blizzard game problems, I realize that I really wasn't helping and I couldn't give any real, on-target advice. I believe that I have improved greatly in that area since then, but there are times where I know that I really can't help someone because I don't have a complete understanding of exactly what the problem is and how to solve it.
I don't think there's a definite answer to your question of "when does a computer newbie become a computer techie". Techies still learn something new everyday, and I guarantee that you can find someone who knows ten times as much as you do and possibly has ten times your experience. I think it's very difficult to pinpoint a level of knowledge that is considered a "techie" level, as the word could mean different things to different people. A level of knowledge that someone has about computers could be considered "techie"-level by one person but "n00b"-level by another.
If you really want an opinion from me about when a person becomes a "techie", I'd say that it's when they can associate with others who truly know computers (and I mean, TRULY know them), can discuss the most complex computer-related subjects with them and when asked if they can help someone, they can give very accurate, on-target advice with adequate technical explanations of any problems and potential solutions.
An example of someone who I wouldn't consider a techie even though they know a thing or two about computers is someone who responds to a video-related computer game problem with "did you try updating your drivers" and when asked why that would help, they say "I dunno, I just heard it might help". Another example of not necessarily a "noob" but someone who isn't quite a "techie" is someone who knows how to configure their e-mail client, and when they're asked to help someone else set up their e-mail client, they give them the exact settings they used and don't understand what those settings mean and why they might not work for the person they're trying to help.
An example of a "techie" in my mind is someone who when asked why a power supply upgrade might be in order for a person whose system crashes or freezes while playing 3D games, they would say "well, when you play those games, you're making your hardware do more 'work', and if the hardware isn't receving sufficient power from your power supply under load, it could cause these symptoms. Your power supply feeds your hardware the power it needs to function, and with this kind of problem people often overlook the possibiliy of a faulty or inadequate power supply".
I hope that the example I gave of a "techie" is a good one, maybe I didn't know what I was talking about when I presented it. 
Remember, anyone who uses computers on a daily basis is always learning, and there will be people who know a lot more than you do. Just have fun learning about the things you don't know and remember that at one point, everyone was a "newbie". I like this thread you made and I'm very interested to hear what others have to say about the subject. I hope you enjoy my response.
EDIT:
That was long... maybe it a bit too long. 
Posted by: AOTY2KB
It was a long but well worth read.
I believe a NOOB is the utterly clueless (we've all started off from there) while a techie is someone who takes a significant interest in how a PC works, software, hardware, etc. A majority of people around us are just average users, who know how to cut, copy and paste. I think all of us in this fourm could consider ourselves techies as we all have this drive to tweak and understand the inner workings of our computer. Of course there are plenty of uber-geeks out there too, who we haven't touched base on.
Posted by: taco_fox
http://www.tacofox.net/stuff/postcliffnotes.jpeg
Posted by: Bunmiadefisayo
Keep in mind that you will know when u r no longer a newb. It'll come to you ina flash and you'll be like "woah!"
I used to go thru the same thing while playing Starcraft. I asked my freinds all the time how i would knwo if i was still a newb and when i would stop being one. Experience is the best teacher man! Trust me.
Posted by: armystud0911
wow smith that was quite a response, I'm glad you took the time to write it all out, and that I took the time to read it! I think you really took this thread the way it was supposed to be taken. Of course I wasn't trying to find a definative answer at all but rather I was trying to get a little info from other members on how they learned what they did and what big breakthroughs added something to their computer learning experience. I'll never forget the day I stared blankly at my best friend while he patiently explained to me that RAM actually ran at different speeds and that there was a REASON why 2100 cost so much less than 3700. In short, as simple as it sounds, you really learn a lot more about PCs when you own one. We never had a computer at home growing up and I had to use the ones at school from time to time but that didn't happen till my senior year. I'll never forget the day I first fired up my brand new workstation and saw the 18.1 screen blazing in all its 3D liquid cystal glory! Since that day 8 months ago, I have learned a lot and I owe it to everyone esp. all the mods and red for taking me under their wings.
for goodness sakes, who called me veteran?! I'm flattered that's for sure.
By the way, great post their taco fox, lol.
oh yeah my prefered term is googlizing. But let's keep these posts related!
Phew that's the last time I use the quick reply feature, way too much scrolling!
Posted by: taco_fox
Quote:
Originally posted by armystud0911
By the way, great post their taco fox, lol.
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I try
Posted by: Yumaddar
Quote:
Originally posted by SKYHN
Google going out of service would be the PC world equivelant to a giant meteor hitting earth.
Well that and no porn.
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That just made me laugh....
And yet, it is so true. 
Posted by: Bix VT
Quote:
http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/blackeye/lol.gif
Wow taco...you have got to be the funniest guy here.
Posted by: Xoncide
next to me of course
Posted by: Bix VT
...Of course...yeah.
Posted by: Yumaddar
Quote:
Originally posted by AOTY2KB
It was a long but well worth read.
I believe a NOOB is the utterly clueless (we've all started off from there) while a techie is someone who takes a significant interest in how a PC works, software, hardware, etc. A majority of people around us are just average users, who know how to cut, copy and paste. I think all of us in this fourm could consider ourselves techies as we all have this drive to tweak and understand the inner workings of our computer. Of course there are plenty of uber-geeks out there too, who we haven't touched base on.
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I don't think I could concider myself a techie. Sure, I know how to cut/copy/ and paste, and the basics of a word program, and do some other shit like ... oh, I dunno, rename files and stuff, but I have yet to learn php. 
Posted by: armystud0911
A NOOB is someone who ussually is trying to get into the extreme world, not just the utterly clueless, the utterly clueless is about 90% of computer users. When you can start to replace hardware componants and fix software, then your on the right track.
Posted by: Ack1027
Why is that my posts keep disappearing from this thread? Can some mod explain?
Posted by: redwench
might want to PM mister handsome stud muffin for that one.
Posted by: laborat
Your question, possibly being philosopical, if not redundant and all, cuts to the chase when separating techies from newbies. As a long time amateur newbie, I have had a unique opportunity to study techies in action especially in OTS.
What I have learned is not going to change the world by revealing it to one and all. After all, the first step toward techdom from newbiedom is the ability to pontificate at the drop of a hat on any subject that offers a problem and needs a solution. Techies excel at this.
Techies often appear short tempered, irrational, and tech-lecherous and give curt but highly technical answers to newbies that only other techies can understand. This is because techies realize that only other techies understand them and will often tech speak to newbies just to clown around.
A newbie should be prepared to learn COBOL, FORTRAN, Unix, Linux, DOS, Applesoft basic, sign language, smoke language, drum signals, become a tel-net guru, and must have conquered the secret cow level in Diablo and taken out the assassin on level 5 with only a knife in that FPS game. For that matter, newbies should know what FPS, RTS, MMORPG, and Pay Pal mean.
Credentials are an important step in Techdom as well and there are several out there you need to have, even if you don't use them. I would tell you what they are but I don't want to appear like I am a techie.
Often their quirkiness is due to repeating the same answer to the same question day after day, hour after hour, until you start mumbling stuff about incompatibility issues in certain clock speeds in your sleep.
Techies almost never sleep unless forced to by the overuse of stimulants (see CRASH), or the overuse of sleeping pills (see Suicide), or tons of software jewel cases falling on their heads as they riffle through tech manuals looking for their cheetos.
I am sure there are lots of other things out there that Techies could tell you if they are in the mood to do so. I have glimpses every now and then but I am in no hurry to achieve Techie status. It would mean I would actually have to do something on this board besides write stuff that no one reads or understands anyway. The fact that that is also a sign you have become a techie is merely a coincidence.
Posted by: armystud0911
Wow, well its pretty clear that that kind of techie is yes, very much a "techie" but also much more techie than I ever want to be. They are the ones with zero social life and well....hack as well. Maybe not for destructive purposes but ussualy for the navolty of it or at least they know how. I prefer lo live my life to the fullest with as many varied experiances as I can. I want to be a well-rounded person, knowlegible in all matters of life, not just unix. I guess that in order to accept the "techie creed" you have to give up many more important things in life.
Not everyone doesn't understand your "loborat-ory"
Posted by: AOTY2KB
Say laborat, I'm going to New Delhi once schools out. Thinking of getting a certification or two while I'm there. Do you recomend getting A+ certified before the MCSE or after.
Posted by: redwench
Quote:
Originally posted by armystud0911
They are the ones with zero social life and well....hack as well.
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wtf? where on earth did you come up with that?
Posted by: chaosisreality
Quote:
Originally posted by armystud0911
Not everyone doesn't understand your "loborat-ory"
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I don't think you understood what he meant...
Posted by: armystud0911
Quote:
Originally posted by redwench
wtf? where on earth did you come up with that?
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I was referring to the extreme side of techies, sure there's a ton of them that don't have that syndrome, I just meant that I didn't want that part of "techiedom" sorry, looking back, it looks ignorent, I shoulda used better word usage.
As for the lobarat-ory, well that's nothing new I've been a dumb---.
Posted by: AOTY2KB
You forgot to listen to Mark Twain
Posted by: armystud0911
tru tru, it happens
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