Be a computer guru.

Ice Cube

I want to be a computer guru. Exams have just ended and i have lots of time. But i don't know where to start. I understand that some knowledge of hardware is neccesary. How do i acquire it? Can anyone suggest some e-books?

I have studied some Java at school and now i am going to learn programming in C++. What else i am supposed to know to be an expert. Suggestion from experienced members and staff are welcome. Thanks in advance...

nhlkoho · 04-30-2012, 18:41 | posts: 3,939 | Location: Washington DC

Start with the A+ exam. It's the basic hardware and software test.

sykozis · 05-01-2012, 03:02 | posts: 13,636 | Location: US East Coast

@OP...here's what you do....

Step One: Join G3D (you've already done obviously)
Step Two: Leave your ego at the login screen (extremely important for education)
Step Three: Pickup and actually READ the A+ Exam Guide (yes, it's long but well worth the read)
Step Four: Take and Pass A+ Exam
Step Five: Keep ego in check (again, very important at this point)
Step Six: Pickup and actually READ the Net+ Exam Guide (again, long but well worth the read)
Step Six: Take and Pass Net+ Exam
Step Seven: Finish current schooling
Step Eight: If you don't know it at this point, Google til you learn it and if you can't find it, ASK!!! (again, ego is a BAD thing)

Now, the most important step.
Step Nine: There will ALWAYS be someone that knows something you don't....so ASK the questions you can't answer yourself.

Now, keep in mind, egos prevent learning. If you want a career in computers, an ego is your worst enemy as you'll constantly have something new to learn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhlkoho

Start with the A+ exam. It's the basic hardware and software test.

Have they finally updated it??? Last time I saw it, there were still questions about loading Dos6.22 and Win3.11 for Workstations....and that was only 10 years ago....

Pill Monster · 05-03-2012, 13:01 | posts: 20,852 | Location: NZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykozis

Have they finally updated it??? Last time I saw it, there were still questions about loading Dos6.22 and Win3.11 for Workstations....and that was only 10 years ago....

CompTia revised the exam in 2011...or so I heard.

I paid $7000 for refresher course a couple years ago and most of the content was related to XP. I was appalled tbh...

Bentez · 05-03-2012, 15:56 | posts: 994 | Location: Southampton, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykozis

@OP...here's what you do....

Step One: Join G3D (you've already done obviously)
Step Two: Leave your ego at the login screen (extremely important for education)
Step Three: Pickup and actually READ the A+ Exam Guide (yes, it's long but well worth the read)
Step Four: Take and Pass A+ Exam
Step Five: Keep ego in check (again, very important at this point)
Step Six: Pickup and actually READ the Net+ Exam Guide (again, long but well worth the read)
Step Six: Take and Pass Net+ Exam
Step Seven: Finish current schooling
Step Eight: If you don't know it at this point, Google til you learn it and if you can't find it, ASK!!! (again, ego is a BAD thing)

Now, the most important step.
Step Nine: There will ALWAYS be someone that knows something you don't....so ASK the questions you can't answer yourself.

Now, keep in mind, egos prevent learning. If you want a career in computers, an ego is your worst enemy as you'll constantly have something new to learn.

Have they finally updated it??? Last time I saw it, there were still questions about loading Dos6.22 and Win3.11 for Workstations....and that was only 10 years ago....

What if you do all of that but you've not got a computer degree and your too old and broke to go back to school? after A+ and Net+ what exams carry the most muscle? I'm thinking along the software engineer side of things.

Pill Monster · 05-03-2012, 16:20 | posts: 20,852 | Location: NZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentez

What if you do all of that but you've not got a computer degree and your too old and broke to go back to school? after A+ and Net+ what exams carry the most muscle? I'm thinking along the software engineer side of things.

MCP (Microsoft).

zhengzhoudave · 05-03-2012, 20:52 | posts: 600 | Location: United Kingdom

If you're interest is to be an expert then you should keep yourself as current as possible. Computer tech evolves incredibly fast as do the theories which drive it.

That's not to say you should neglect the old school tech either though as many of the principles are unchanged and are actually more difficult to operate because simplification is also a key driving force with the latest tech.

I suppose a computer science degree is a good academic thing, but you will be learning from someone who is qualified for using old tech, not to say they are not also current though.

freelance application and self assessment is always going to be more cutting edge in such a fast moving world, as long as you understand the concepts behind it and have good intuition.

These are just my thoughts, I'm by no means an expert on the subject but I do think it's just as much about the philosophy you use to approach it and the actual interest you have in taking things apart and putting them back together or just learning about applications old and new because you're interested in them.

I've only been learning for three years but I'm so keen I'm already catching up with all my old mates who have been into it for 20 years or so. I'll never know everything though, I think!

JohnMaclane · 05-03-2012, 21:24 | posts: 4,837 | Location: Malta

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentez

What if you do all of that but you've not got a computer degree and your too old and broke to go back to school? after A+ and Net+ what exams carry the most muscle? I'm thinking along the software engineer side of things.

Wouldn't even bother with the A+ as it really doesn't make you a computer expert.

If coding is your thing then I suggest an accredited (affiliated with Microsoft or some company) computer science degree. The more the university has practical teaching the better it is generally.

Personally I wanted to do programming and VLSI (chip design) and that's why I entered the electrical engineering course. Now I am about to finish and I ended up focusing more on electrical power conversion point being keep your options open.

Anfield82 · 04-30-2012, 18:47 | posts: 1,109 | Location: UK

^Agreed. It's a good starting point and really simple to pass.

JohnMaclane · 04-30-2012, 19:11 | posts: 4,837 | Location: Malta

Depends what kind of computer guru you want to be.

Any particular interest?

Ice Cube · 05-04-2012, 11:46 | posts: 191 | Location: Refrigerator

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMaclane

Depends what kind of computer guru you want to be.

Any particular interest?

Mainly a software expert, like being able to develop and contribute to open source software. Being able to program in most of the languages like C, C++,Perl etc.

dcx_badass · 04-30-2012, 19:16 | posts: 9,568 | Location: Leeds [UK]

Depends what you mean by a "Computer Guru". I'd never use that term but I guess I could be one. I have a wide range of software + hardware experience as well as real world application as an IT and AV Technician in a school. However coding is well beyond my ability (and patience).

anticupidon · 04-30-2012, 19:34 | posts: 1,719 | Location: far,far from home

Will it hardware of software part?maybe both ?

Shadowsoldier · 04-30-2012, 19:43 | posts: 2,545 | Location: Florida

You should get a Computer Science degree.

Signed,

Computer Science student

fxmercenary · 04-30-2012, 20:17 | posts: 383 | Location: Sarasota, FL

Experiment.

Read hardware reviews, learn what component does what, what the benefits are of one product over the other. Take your PC apart, put it back together etc...

I learned through experimentation. That was 17 years ago.

Now I am the lead IT guy for a big medical group. Never went to school for any of it, so no debt!

The only downside of it all is the calls from family members wanting their computers fixed, or wanting to know how to use the random expensive iPad they just decided to buy with no idea how to even use it. BE WARNED!!!!

Ice Cube · 05-04-2012, 07:07 | posts: 191 | Location: Refrigerator

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxmercenary

Experiment.

Read hardware reviews, learn what component does what, what the benefits are of one product over the other. Take your PC apart, put it back together etc...

I learned through experimentation. That was 17 years ago.

Now I am the lead IT guy for a big medical group. Never went to school for any of it, so no debt!

The only downside of it all is the calls from family members wanting their computers fixed, or wanting to know how to use the random expensive iPad they just decided to buy with no idea how to even use it. BE WARNED!!!!

Agreed. I do it too. Yesterday only i took apart my case, removed the heatsink+fan, RAM, HDD cleaned it and put it back again. I have learned a lot by messing around

(both software and hardware).

As for the calls from family members, they already happen, so no big deal, i can handle it...!

BLEH! · **Memory**: 24GB @ 1600 @ 9-10-9-27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowsoldier

You should get a Computer Science degree.

Signed,

Computer Science student

While the departments still exist XD.

I consider myself more of a hardware guru than a software guru. Software crap is way beyond me, but I enjoy faffing with old (and new) hardware, which I have quite a collection of. Hardware wise you can read up on stuff. Wikipedia is an excellent source most of the time. Google is your friend as always. Software experience in my mind comes from using it. Same with overclocking really, you only get any better by (figuratively) getting your hands dirty.

Jae-So · 05-01-2012, 09:50 | posts: 6,684 | Location: Bristol, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowsoldier

You should get a Computer Science degree.

Signed,

Computer Science student

I have one, I am far from a guru lol

sava700 · 04-30-2012, 20:38 | posts: 4,837 | Location: In a game world

Real world work trumps all.. I've been working on PC's for over 18 years now, I've never taken the A+ or any classes that taught this. In fact I could prob teach these types of classes now but this field is limited big time in clients as regular people just won't spend the money now to fix something, they will just suck it up and clear popups and whatever till the thing just won't work no more then major shop around time for cheapest to do the job.

I would recommend flipping burgers over this line of work, at least you get free food.

volors · 04-30-2012, 22:15 | posts: 194 | Location: Toronto, Canada

well in my opinion go to a local computer store who make computers and ask them that you want to learn hardware, well thats how i started when i was in grade 10.
but before that i used to open each and every battery operated toy i owned to check how it worked. :p
and yeah get a A+ book and study that side by side.

Redawgc187 · 04-30-2012, 23:00 | posts: 662 | Location: United States

Computer hardware is becoming easier to assemble and in the near future the desktop form factor may become obsolete with only laptops and smart phones remaining mainstream. At the current rate in about 5 years they will completly replace the desktop with good enough processing and raw GPU performance. So coding is a safe bet A++ C++ Java and .NET. I love hardware and there may be a place for desktops but it will only be for enthusiast only with hefty price premiums way more so than now.

airbud7 · 05-01-2012, 02:42 | posts: 2,066 | Location: Evans Ga,USA

A Software Engineers salary pays a whole lot more than a hardware Geeks salary...

Speed Weed · 05-03-2012, 11:50 | posts: 678 | Location: Somewhere in Scotland

Recently downloaded CentOS Essentials, andCentOs 6.2 Basic Installation to my Kindle.
Certainly make for interesting reading, and I hope that CentOS lives up to my expectations.

Pill Monster · 05-03-2012, 12:17 | posts: 20,852 | Location: NZ

The internet is probably the best place to learn. There are lots of different sides to computing - what are you interested in?

ibitato · **Memory**: 4x2GB@1080 5.5.5.15 5:6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pill Monster

The internet is probably the best place to learn. There are lots of different sides to computing - what are you interested in?

this, pick your cherry, eat it and go for the next one.

from bottom up.

also sykozis is completely right.