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

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

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Comments

Ghetto Rambo

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

jlambert

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

colebert

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

Special_k21

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

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

viper75

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

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

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

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

bellboy

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

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