How long have most of you been into PC's?

Eag's · October 2003

I myself have only been mucking around with them for a couple of years now.
I was a late starter getting my first pc when I was 30 (33 now) I mainly used to just play games or surf the net. One day I decided to open up the case just to see what it looked like inside.

I quickly shut it again because what I saw looked way to confusing to understand.
This led to more curiosity on my part and I soon found myself bying my first pc book which made things a lot clearer. From that point on I have learnt a hell of a lot about them, but I still have a long, long way to go before I can call myself qualified.
Hence the reason I am here

Ghetto Rambo · October 2003

been playing with them for bout 5-6 years, I'm qualified but no job still!!

jlambert · October 2003

Since the day the first one came out I've had one...

colebert · October 2003

i've had a computer since 1991. i'm 22.

Special_k21 · October 2003

I got my first computer when I was 16. I am 24 now. I didn't get into repairing computers until I was around 20. So I have been heavy into computers for about 4 years.

Carson_Mage · October 2003

I've been interested ever since i got my first computer in 99, im now 18.

viper75 · October 2003

Have been working very heavly on computers for about 9 years now. When I first started out I couldn't tell you the difference between a printer cable and a IDE cable. I was very intimidated by computers but did not let that stop me from learing how to work on them.

From my 1st computer job I was lucky enough to have my boss take me under his wing and teach me a lot fo things about computers. He tough me the basics of computers and from there I started to pick everything up on my own...I also had help from people that have been in the field for years. I had a lot of people in my IT career help me out and teach me. I went from just selling computers to repairing them...upgrades...all the fun stuff...became the head computer tech at my previous job. Became A+ Certified about 6 years ago. Then I got my Certifications in IBM, HP, Compaq servers and workstations.

I am now involved very heavly in working with networks. That's what I always wanted to do. I have been doing networking for the past 6-7 years now. I work with Cisco equitment, Wireless AIRONET 1200s antennas, Switches and Routers. My job is to provide IT support for 2 buildings and provide LAN supports for all the wiring closets in 6 buildings. I setup, install and configure all the Cisco switches at my place. We have about a total of maybe 80-100 Cisco switches and 3 routers. I provide the 1st line of defence when troubleshooting any cisco problems, if I can't resolve the problem then the big dog steps in. The Sr. LAN admin and takes care of the problem.

I must say I enjoy configuring switches. They are fun to work with when you get all the correct configurations, but can also be a pain when something goes wrong.

Anyway I'm working hard to get my CCNA Cert. Studying my butt off. That's my goal for now. I'm also going to take my Net+ exam soon. That will be a good cert. to also have.

That's what I do now. Maybe a little bit much more then you guys wanted to know.

BTW...I'm 28 now.

janmike · October 2003

Since about 1996. At that time, I was reacting in "self defence". I was in charge of a field lab for construction testing, and it had a PC in it. We had one testing tech who knew about using programs, but when the PC stopped working, I had to use my limited knowledge of radio electronics to replace parts and reconfigure BIOS, install drivers, etc. As time went by, I read a lot and bought my own PCs bare bones so I could get an idea of "what the score was".

Just got my first real job in IT. Deploying and configuring workstations on a humongous network. Almost all configuring is downloaded by script from servers, I just have to monitor the process and intervene if the computer gets stubborn, but my title is "Tech" so I guess I am one.

Two years ago I didn't even know what an A+ certifications was! But, my recently acquired A+ and Net+ certs helped get me the job.

So now, it feels pretty good getting paid for practicing "self defence".

Lexxdymondz · October 2003

I first started in about 2000. I was serving in the Army and was a Telecom tech for t1 and t3 equivalent radio communications. They gave me a desk job after being injured and when anything went wrong with the computers in the office they looked to me to fix it, at the time I didn't know anything but enjoyed the play time.

I had loads of fun troubleshooting so when I got out (2002) I started looking in to certifications and found myself playing more and more.

I love installing and administering networks but everything about computers really intrigues me (DBA, SQL, scripting, programing, Linux, security) but there is just sooooooo much to learn and so little time

.

Eag's · October 2003

Wow!! some of you guys have had some serious experience.
Thanks for the feedback one and all.

bellboy · October 2003

i had a c64 in 1983. didn't do too much with it.

started working with apples around '89. didn't do much with the insides of them until about '99. changed a bit of ram. nothing serious.

got my first pc about '98. started upgrading and stuff about a year later. started a+ study in '01. never looked back.

Webmaster · October 2003

I got my first PC in 1987 when I was 12 years old. Of course, it was a Tulip. Tulip was actually a very good brand, not to be considered a clone (which of course it was). It was an AT 286 8Mhz with 655KB RAM and a 20 MB disk, 5.25" and 3.5" floppy drives and a monochrome monitor with '64 shades of gray'

I had some 'experience' with an Atari 800XL since I was 8, primarily programming simple games and what we called 'demos' (e.g. a flashy name rotating.)

My folks didn't have much to spent, so I took every job I could find, delivered newspapers, gardening, and pulled potatoes out of the ground for less than a $1 per hour (it wasn't actually legal to work at my age)..
Eventually, I bought it for 1200 Guilders (that's from before we had the horrible Euro), that's approx. $500. I always had the urge to break things and put it together again and the (huge) case was filled with dust so I got a screwdriver and got started. I took everything apart and after a couple of days it was up and running again. I found out I had more fun with the software than with the hardware though. After my DOS 4.x and Windows 2.x installation got corrupted I deciced to format the disk (I remember people warned me not to do that... format equals danger

) and reinstall everything... anyway, from that moment on I've been a major addict

How long have most of you been into PC's?

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