Self taught on PC or ?

[FIREWALL]

I've been surprised on different pm's the different members who have revealed to that their self taught.

As for myself Iwas introduced to a pc in 8-2004 and have been hooked ever since.

I have thought about getting some formal knowledge but since I am retired and my wife says inherintly lazy Ifigure I'll get around to it someday.:D

I learn more from the helpfull and friendly member on this site anyways.:yep:


This thread is'nt just for selftaught stories but,for all the interesting stories IMHO that got everyone else Hooked.:p

[Yahoshua]

I've been hooked on the PC since 1995 (way back when I was a young'un).

[FIREWALL]

I'm a 57 year youngin :p :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Sailor Steve]

Stupid old fart...wait a minute, I'm 57 too. Why, you're just a sprite!

I learned to type back in '68. Saw my first computer in '86, got my first PC in '98. Self-tought, I guess. No formal classes, but I've picked up a lot from different people I've met, face-to-face and online.

Of course I sometimes learn things the hard way. When I got my new PC I wanted to transfer a lot of stuff and sometimes even a CD wasn't big enough. when a friend described a flash card, I said "They can do that?":rotfl:

[darius359au]

I got my first computer back in 1985 (C64) , progressed to c128 , amiga then PC's - seeing that computers wern't as user friendly as they are now, I had to teach myself programing and hardware and it just went from there ;).

I scared myself a few weeks back , a mate sent me a test to see how much of a computer geek you are , he's the head admin for a company and been working in IT for years , I Ended up out Geeking him :o - somtimes i think Ive spent tooo much time with computers

[CCIP]

I had my first computer in 1991 (it used cassette tapes and had 64kb of RAM). I later had an Atari (which, ironically, is what eventually led me to being here - my favorite game on it was Silent Service II), and my family's first PC came in 1996. It took until 2003 until I had my own.

I'm more or less self-taught, or at least I learned a lot of it by imitation. Games and computers were always inevitably tied to each other for me.

The internet was a strange place to me until around 2001 though. Maybe a good thing :p

[Bill Nichols]

My first PC was a brand-new Apple II+, which I bought in 1981 for $1,100. It was fully-loaded with 48K of RAM and had a 5-in floppy drive that could hold a couple hundred Kbytes. My monitor was an old B&W television. I was in hog heaven!

:|\\

[Tchocky]

I remember messing in DOS with 5.25's

early nineties, certainly.

[JSLTIGER]

I was born in 1986, and started messing with my grandfather's 1983 IBM PC XT and DOS about 1988. I believe I finally began to figure out what I was actually doing in 1991-1992, when I was five. My dad bought our first family PC in 1994 (a really sweet machine with Windows 3.1 running on a 100MHz Pentium, 16MB of RAM, 4X CD-ROM, and the world's first 1.2GB HDD), and by then I definitely knew what I was doing because I remember playing "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" on it the night we got it home and set it up. Since then, I've graduated on, and just built this PC myself last week, having learned pretty much everything I know from reading and self-teaching (my parents stood with their mouths plastered open in shock as they watched me build the system from start to finish on the dining room table, wondering where I'd learned to do everything!).

[lesrae]

I got my first computer in 1983, a Dragon 32. Moved onto an Atari ST in the late 90's and started using PCs at college around the same time.

I work in IT with the MoD now and although I'm still largely self-taught they do train you well and I get to drink my way through a lot of training courses.

[FIREWALL]

.they do train you well and I get to drink my way through a lot of training courses.

Now thats the school I want to go to.:up:

[kiwi_2005]

Actually i can't remeber exactly around 1988/89 and no it wasn't a commodore, instead called a 286 running DOS and first games i had on it was "Another World" & later on Wing commander. I remeber buying it to teach myself and ended up just playing games instead... :lol: :roll:

[bigboywooly]

The year after I left school they bough in computer studies so missed all of that
Early nineties had an Atari St and a Spectrum +3
Though I considered both nothing more than games consoles at the time
Did make one program on the Spectrum though
:rotfl:

Didnt get what I call a PC till 99
Bought it real cheap for the time and found my way around it by taking it apart and generally breaking it

Once ppl know you can do stuff like that it was always " can you fit me new HDD " or RAM or whatever
Always ended up fixing someones comp and 99% of the time it worked

Not too bad for self taught though I dont consider myself an expert or skilled
Far from it

[P_Funk]

I remember that the first computer I ever used was a 486 with Windows 3.1 but I always messed with DOS for the games. Even back then I was a gamer.

All this time that I've been messing with Windows and reinstalling and tweaking I taught myself the ways of the home PC. Bloody stupid nonsense if you ask me. Half the time its asinine.

These days I fool around a bit with Linux. Thats a real thinker compared to windows. But its also alot more intelligent. Its funny but I started with typing code into a command prompt, moved to a GUI, and now I'm back to typing into a command prompt.:p

[Jimbuna]

I cut my teeth on the ZX Spectrum then the C64 before progressing to the 1/2 meg Amiga and feeling quite chuffed when I stuck the extra 1/2 meg chip in it's base :lol:

[Rilder]

Been messing with computers since around 97-99 to now, only got into building and fixing them recently though around last year or the year before, changed one computers case and installed a graphics card on one, and installed a graphics card twice, changed a PSU and HDD on this one... And i'm 17 atm.


To be honest computers seem like there hard to build and such but they really aren't. :yep:

[Chock]

I reluctantly got into computers years ago because of the simulation possibilities, but these days I spend much of my time in employment teaching people the ins and outs of software and hardware. Which just goes to show you that even someone who starts as a technophobe (such as me) will inevitably find themselves sliding down the slippery slope towards 'geekiness' :rotfl:

:D Chock

[SUBMAN1]

Man, all you guys got started in computing late. I got my first system in 1977, a $10,000 Gnat system 10. It was CP/M in those days, and graphics cards were almost non exitant! I was styling at the time though - dual 320k 5.25 floppies, and 64k memory. Trust me when I say, no one even came close to 64K memory in those days. That was an unheard of amount.

-S

PS. Games were text based back then, and if you wanted something new, well, you better program it yourself! :D

PPS. And yes, I am self taught. Even my programming skill was self taught. Its called open a book, and start reading on how its done.

[Mush Martin]

I actually got to start on a PET 2000 the grandady of them all
but am self taught and havent taken a course ever on computers.
MM

[Seth8530]

Well, i am self taught ive been using computer's since i was 3. I built my first one when i was 14, all by me self except for the blasted HDD which stumped me. lol. and i am now 15.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Have taken a few courses, but for the most part, self-taught. The best way to learn actually :yep:

RDP

[RickC Sniper]

My first PC was a brand-new Apple II+, which I bought in 1981 for $1,100. It was fully-loaded with 48K of RAM and had a 5-in floppy drive that could hold a couple hundred Kbytes. My monitor was an old B&W television. I was in hog heaven!

:|\\

Mine was the "portable" Apple IIC. It had a 9 inch monochrome monitor. Adding a 2nd external floppy drive for those 5 1/4 floppys cost $325.

Rick

[DAB]

These days I fool around a bit with Linux. Thats a real thinker compared to windows. But its also alot more intelligent. Its funny but I started with typing code into a command prompt, moved to a GUI, and now I'm back to typing into a command prompt.:p

After the adjustment phase Linux grows on you. The only time I don't use use the OS on my laptop is when playing PC games. I've yet to decide though between KDE and GNOME.

As for my first computer, the 1983 Acorn Electron. Was programming in ACORN BASIC as a kid and my first GUI OS was RISC :D.

The best OS though has to be EPOC32. Simple, productive, its never been bettered

[FIREWALL]

Hey Guys I'm glad I started this thread. Now I have alot of ppl to ask a million questions .:D

I have afew books.

1. Windows XP inside\out deluxe edition
2. Windows XP for Dummies
3. PC for Dummies
4. Win NT for Dummies
5. HTML for Dummies
6.Cryptogrraphy for Dummies

And not a DAMN THING :damn: on how to make my own Boot Disks.


Anybody help me with this? AAnd please give me the Dummies version. :rotfl:

Kinda a step by step simple way I can make these and don't leave anything out.
I guess what I'm saying is , Hold my hand and walk me thru this.

If anyone has the patience for this I'd appreciate this very much. Thank You all in advance.

[Reaves]

Self taught with help from older brothers.

Started with the old Commodore 64 but got an XT with CGA graphics which I learnt how to use DOS on. Think we moved to a 286 some time after that but I do remember our old 386sx with a Super Vga monitor and a sound card instead of a PC speaker. At that time I was copying game code in Tubo Pascal out of a book.

Would have been the PC that I played my first subsim on, Silent Service 2. A great title. :up:

Btw, a cookie for anyone who remembers what XTG stands for. Hint: (It's a program)

[FIREWALL]

Self taught with help from older brothers.

Started with the old Commodore 64 but got an XT with CGA graphics which I learnt how to use DOS on. Think we moved to a 286 some time after that but I do remember our old 386sx with a Super Vga monitor and a sound card instead of a PC speaker. At that time I was copying game code in Tubo Pascal out of a book.

Would have been the PC that I played my first subsim on, Silent Service 2. A great title. :up:

Btw, a cookie for anyone who remembers what XTG stands for. Hint: (It's a program)

Process Modeller ? Even if i'm not right I like Oatmeal Raison cookies :D

[Reaves]

Process Modeller ? Even if i'm not right I like Oatmeal Raison cookies :D

Nah it was a program called Xtree Gold. Basically a DOS based file manager gui. Came in handy as windows 3.11 was horrible unless you were running something that required it.

[FIREWALL]

Process Modeller ? Even if i'm not right I like Oatmeal Raison cookies :D

Nah it was a program called Xtree Gold. Basically a DOS based file manager gui. Came in handy as windows 3.11 was horrible unless you were running something that required it.


I still want my Oatmeal Raison Cookie :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[FIREWALL]

Process Modeller ? Even if i'm not right I like Oatmeal Raison cookies :D

Nah it was a program called Xtree Gold. Basically a DOS based file manager gui. Came in handy as windows 3.11 was horrible unless you were running something that required it.


I still want my Oatmeal Raison Cookie :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Reaves]

Me too!

http://www.snacksforlife.com/images/our_store_main.jpg

[SUBMAN1]

These days I fool around a bit with Linux. Thats a real thinker compared to windows. But its also alot more intelligent. Its funny but I started with typing code into a command prompt, moved to a GUI, and now I'm back to typing into a command prompt.:p
After the adjustment phase Linux grows on you. The only time I don't use use the OS on my laptop is when playing PC games. I've yet to decide though between KDE and GNOME.

As for my first computer, the 1983 Acorn Electron. Was programming in ACORN BASIC as a kid and my first GUI OS was RISC :D.

The best OS though has to be EPOC32. Simple, productive, its never been bettered
Gentoo with no lame GUI is the way to go! :p Actually, my main Linux PC that is on 24/7 runs Gentoo and doesn't have a GUI on it at all! It is kind of a chore sometimes to navigate the net with Lynx, but I manage on it. I usually use that thing as a server anyway.

[wetgoat]

self taught on a 1997 gateway (first computer I'd ever seen) Had to get wife to show me how to turn it on!:88)

[HunterICX]

I started in 1994 with a old Dos computer
I was 7 yrs and learned the dos commands and played one of the first subsims in my life. it took me days to understand how it works but anyway it was great fun.

when I got my first pentium in 1996 with Windows 95 (65mhz, 32 mb ram, 4 mb vga card) I continued learning how it works

when I later bought myself a pentium 2 1998 (330 mhz, 64 mb ram , 8mb vga) with windows 98 , I also got the internet 56 k modem. good fun in those days playing Diablo, warcraft and other strategic games.

then there came a monster in the house one of the very first pentium 4's 2001 with 1.7ghz, 128 RDR ram and a Nvidia Geforce 2 400MX 64 mb.
with Windows ME which I soon upgraded to XP. als its on this computer I learned how to format, delete viruses manually and learned video edditing.

and now since 2004 I,m on my Pentium 4, (2.8ghz, 512 Ram and Geforce FX5700LE 256 mb) and soon I will get a new one where I leave pentium 4 behind and go for the Dual cores :rock:

[Fish]

I'm a 57 year youngin :p :rotfl: :rotfl:

67, nobody beats me. :shifty:

[SUBMAN1]

You know something? I've been researching replacement spring for my rudder pedals, which made me run across the specs for my joystick again. Do you know my current joystick is faster than my first 5 PC's? Isn't that ridiculous? :D

-S

My Joystick specs (Thrustmaster Cougar):

24MHz internal processor (the F-22 PRO used a 4MHz processor)
64KB of external memory for storing flash files, calibration data and downloaded joystick files. Everything is stored on the joystick - this is essentially a driverless system running entirely in hardware. (An F22-PRO chip contains 4k of program memory, 256 bytes of RAM, and 1k of program storage by comparison).
Flash upgradeable firmware, for any new features and even more programmability.
5 Full-Speed USB interfaces (Joystick, Keyboard, Mouse, Data In and Data Out Bulk transmissions) delivering responses 8x faster than classical USB devices.
Capable of several thousand distinct values on the main joystick axes for much finer control in flying, adjustable via new firmware. Note that all other controllers and previous TM controllers distinguish only 256 distinct values from the joystick X and Y axes.
256 distinct values on the remaining axes (Throttle, Range and Antenna knobs, etc.)
Approx. 30ms frame times
High precision potentiometers.
Autocalibrating or manual calibration modes
Joystick: 2 axes, 4 - 4 way hats programmable in 9 positions, (Up, Down, Left, Right, 4 corners and centre positon), a dual stage trigger and 4 other buttons.
Throttle: 3 axes, 4 way Radio switch, 3 way dogfight switch, 2 way airbrakes switch with momentary and locking positions, Range and Antenna rotaries with centre detentes on each and incorporating another switch on the depressable Range knob, and a 2 axis microstick iself incorporating another switch. Connects to the joystick through a 1.8m cable.
Rudders: The Cougar does not ship with rudders, but it does support all compatible analogue gameport rudders (eg. TM RCS, Elite, Simped, CH Products etc.). The Cougar can support 3 axes (rudder axis + Left and Right toebrakes) rudders although no 3 axis rudders on the market at the moment are supported. Thrustmaster are planning to develop their own 3 axis rudders for the Cougar. Note that if you don't have rudders, it's not a problem as any of the other axes or buttons/hats can be used to control your rudders.
Throttle and rudders are hot pluggable from the main joystick unit as well as the joystick being hot pluggable (hence offering true plug and play) from your computer/USB hub.Programmability:
· Complete emulation of anything you can do with your fingers on a keyboard or mouse. The Cougar can do it all, and then some.
· Capable of processing 16 macros at once, and 16 macros more in the Delay buffer.
· Capable of advanced logical programming for the real hardcore amongst you. Only high end TM controllers offer logical programming capabilities.
· Six-layered programming of hats, buttons and axes within a single joystick file.
· Realtime and multi-layer adjusting of axis data (curve, trim, reverse, etc.) - now you can for example damp down the response from your joystick for landing and increase it for dogfighting, all in flight!
· Capable of including different calibration profiles per joystick file.
· Analogue and digital programmability of axes including ability to combine these, or program them separately within a file, and multi layer it ;)
· Can operate in purely Direct Input mode with up to 8 axes, 28 buttons and a POV hat. (Note that this is different to the fact that the Cougar supports 10 physical axes)
· DirectX button programmability within a programmed file, allowing mixing of DirectX input buttons with standard programmed emulation buttons.
· Programmable control of mouse buttons and complex mouse movements, POV positions and directions.
· Capable of outputting 16 characters per frame.
· Capable of processing statements with delays up to 23 hours!
· Capable of releasing active macros in hardware after a state change to prevent sticky keys
· Capable of handling macros of several Kb in length
· Expandable structure ensures new programming capabilities are possible
· Efficient memory design.
· Capable of numerous axis and mouse functions
· Programmable axes even if not physically present.
· Advanced logical programming.

Software:
David's Cougar Control Panel (CCP), Compiler and Firmware updater: Tap into the awesome power of the Cougar directly with the CCP. Perform advanced axis manipulation such as setting individual axis response curves, trim, reverse, deadzones. Disable and swap axes around. Cailbrate your controllers and save all this information in profiles you can incorporate into your programmed joystick files. Change your Cougar Buttons and Axis modes independantly, and monitor them from your system tray. Compile and download joystick files. Flash upgrade the firmware inside your controllers. I think you get the idea :)
James's Foxy, FoxyMFE, FoxyGUI, Launcher, Windows and DirectX 8 analysers: A suite of applications following on from the Fox Two (http://www.flyfoxy.com/) series to program your Cougar and more. With effectively over 5 years development under it's belt, with many features suggested by users of previous TM controllers, Foxy and its supporting applications will make your life sweet ;) With too many features to include here, you are assured of easy programming of all Cougar statements with extensive GUI components and onscreen help in applications that many will already be familiar with. Features also include full colour printing of programmed files including pwerful and editable graphical layouts. Various analysers and key testers monitor your Cougar's axes and programming in Windows and in true gaming DirectX 8 environments. One click downloading and launching of flight sims with your Cougar programmed for them from a small system tray application, the Launcher. Full help, tutorials and wizards for the beginner right through to the hardcore user. Full intergration with David's applications make programming the Cougar effortless and seamless.
Files for over 30 different sims are already written for you by various Cougar World members and installed with Foxy. These files also include ReadMe.txt explanations of how to use them, along with printable graphical layouts showing you what the various buttons and hats do in your sims.
Extensive and complete help, backed up by a 300+ page Foxy manual as Microsoft Word doc, separate from the printed manual. Construction:

Practically all metal construction - (there's a small component on the throttle that's plastic but not that you'd notice). Even the hats and buttons are metal! Being metal, the joystick and throttle are heavy - weighing in at 8kg together!! Warning - do not drop one of these on your toe!
Dimensions: For the cockpit builders amongst you, here are the dimensions of the stick (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/images/faq/sticksize.gif) and throttle (http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/images/faq/tqsbase.gif).
Strong springs provide excellent resistance similar to the older TM F-22 PRO for accurate flying. It will be possible as well to replace these springs with those of different tension should you wish (although this is not recommended as the springs do need to be stiff enough to resist the weight of the metal joystick handle)
The joystick handle is replaceable and just unscrews from the base. Look out for other joystick handles, like that of the F-18/F-15, for your Cougars in the future.
The throttle's detentes which delimit the thrust positions for Idle and Full Military Power, are adjustable in position and can be removed completely if preferred.
Compared to the older TM F-22 PRO, the hats have longer shafts and stand away from the body of the handle more, thus offering a longer throw and greater control. Much easier getting those corner positons first time now.
Realistic lettering on the joystick and throttle - just like the real thing.
Modelled directly after the real F-16's joystick and throttle.

[FIREWALL]

And a 2cent broken spring keeps you on the runway.:p


Seriously their the Cadilllac of controllers. :yep:

[FIREWALL]

Me too!

http://www.snacksforlife.com/images/our_store_main.jpg

Thats a cookie I wouldn't mind nibbleing on . :D

[TarJak]

Got my hands on a puta back in 1987 for work. Had to buy an IBM XT with monochrome green screen, dual 5.35' floppy drives (no HDD) and a whopping 16kb of RAM! Whoo hoo what a screamer! Running IBM-DOS on one floppy and swapping the two Lotus 1-2-3 disks and a data disk to save my work on the other drive. Talk about data manipulation.

That little beauty cost over AU$11,000 at the time!

[mbthegreat]

There has been a PC in the house since I was born, amd I built my first PC at 12.

[robbo180265]

Started out on the ZX81, got a Spectrum and then moved on to an Amiga. A few years without a pooter and now I have this one.

Completely self taught :smug: