Introduction to Computers Forum

[JLevinson]

Hey All,

After speaking with Joe and Chad, we decided that a Computers Forum might not be a bad idea. Being a resident nerd, I lucked out and get to Moderate the forum!!! Yee-haw.

Anyway, this is basically in response to computers problems, questions, or anything else you might have.

If you're looking for a good tutorial for HTML, you can ask here. If you're trying to figure out what's wrong with your Instant Messenger, you can ask here. If you want to listen to me rant about how much better Linux is than Windows, you can do that here.

I have some experience programming in Java and C++ as well as pretty extensive knowledge about basic computer problems and web design (though if you're looking for graphics help, there's another forum just for that).

Since nobody's asked a question yet, obviously, I'll answer one I get all the time: if you're going to buy a computer and NOT build it youself (god bless Newegg.com), then yes, dude... you should get a Dell.

Problems, comments, suggestions, whatever, let me know.

-Josh Levinson

 

[QueenOfTheRing]

Here's my tried and true method of what to do when your computer doesn't work right.


Kick it.


Screw you, Levinson...EYE should be the mod of this forum.

 

[BarryClarkJr]

iMac

All I got to say is, once 'ya iMac.....ya never go back. HAHAHA. This is a phat little section here Josh. Good idea.



-Barry
Master of the iMac

 

[JLevinson]

Heheheh.

Queenie:

You can do it your way, and I'll do it my way, and we'll see how it goes in the end.

Barry:

iMac?!? Are you kidding me?

Seriously, though, Macs are great for video and music editing/creation. They have some great multimedia stuff.

Ultimately, though, I built my own PC and now I'm running Linux with Mandrake 9.2, and I don't miss Windows at ALL. No pop-ups, no spyware, no sudden browser crashes, no programs freezing up with no way of shutting them down.

Sweet, sweet freedom from Microsoft.

 

[Al!]

Welp guess I'll offer help if wanted

Here's the deal guys. This goes to Josh first and foremost as mod. I'd like to offer help answering some questions if they ever come up and maybe get added to the mods of the forum if the powers that be allow it.

Why? Welp here's my resume:

Information Technology worker over the last 11 years.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer -NT4, 2000, and in about three weeks 2003 Server.
Apple Certified Systems Administrator and Engineer - OSX
Certified Novell Engineer v.5.1

2 years as a Field Service Engineer for a major integrator
2 years as a IT Administrator for a major retail chain
6 years as a Helpdesk Supervisor for a medical research firm.
Currently enrolled as a dual major Computer Science and Electrical Engineering student.

So my areas of expertise are exactly opposite Josh's (I know no linux but the Debian (unix) kernel the Mac is based on) and over time will come up to speed in programming and math. My specific goal is to get into game programming and in the next year I've got courses in Maya, DirectX programming and C++ so maybe, just maybe there can be a game programming feel to this place in a while.

Who knows, I'll lurk anyway but I'd like to be a decent go-to for this forum.

Thanks
Al

PS. To all you mac geeks. My home network has three OSX level macs and two PC laptops. I will say this.. I replaced 5 PC's with three macs running emulation software. I haven't missed the PC platform at all. Just be ready to spend dollars on pimping out the macs with memory to pull off the stunt.

The only reason I keep the PC's around is that it's harder to get software in backup copy for the Macs. I like to test things via backup copy prior to purchase. (Then I delete the backup copy as some of them are illegal)

Why not run the backup copies on the macs running emu software? Because I don't have an imaging software that works on the mac yet, though I'm testing a few. It's easier to wipe the PC's clean.

To Josh:

How are you handling the reality that the IE browser is the defacto standard for a lot of websites these days? I'm finding a lot of annoying problems with a lot of industry standard banking and work sites because of the inconsistencies with Safari, Mozilla, and IE such that I have to keep a copy of IE on my machines.. (which sucks because MS isn't making new versions of IE for the mac.)

 

[jediPREZ]

To Josh:

How are you handling the reality that the IE browser is the defacto standard for a lot of websites these days? I'm finding a lot of annoying problems with a lot of industry standard banking and work sites because of the inconsistencies with Safari, Mozilla, and IE such that I have to keep a copy of IE on my machines.. (which sucks because MS isn't making new versions of IE for the mac.)

This is even worse as a website designer. I can't tell you how annoying it is that html code doesn't mean the same thing in every browser...makes me want to shoot Bill Gates.

 

[JLevinson]

Hey Al,


Welcome to the Forum. As you can imagine, I don't have the ability to pick and choose moderators, so you'll have to ask The Powers That Be, though you certainly have the experience.

Feel free to contribute and help out in any way you can.

That's cool that you want to get into game programming, as that's what I'd ideally like to do as well. Next year I'll be taking classes in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Graphics, so that should be a lot of fun and hopefully helpful, too.

As for Linux, there are a few things that bother me about the de facto IE standard, but Mozilla has held up surprisingly well. I have Macromedia Flash and Java Virtual Machine both installed and working, and the new Mozilla runs a 128-bit encryption scheme, so I can perform my banking and whatnot online.

I built my machine myself, so I kinda had Linux in mind ahead of time. I got a 1.83 Ghz AMD AthlonXP 2500+ with a 128 MB nVidia GeForceFX 5600 Ultra so that I could play games in Linux. Thank you, Newegg.com. I just got the new Unreal Tournament 2004 and it's running beautifully.

At some point, I may posts a Resource List of HTML and other coding resources, but today I'm feeling a bit too hungover and lazy.

If you do have any programming questions, feel free to ask, as I've had to lose many years of my life to programming in both Java and C++.

And if you ever do start up a game development company, feel free to give me a call.

I look forward to discussing nerd-riffic topics with you in the future, man.

-Josh

 

[MarcusWestcott]

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in:

I'll be happy to help out in this forum as well.

I'm currently a Systems Administrator for a major ISP/Hosting company that has two physical data centers with a total of about 500 systems between the two locations, each with systems running Windows NT/2000, HP/UX, Linux, and the majority are Sun Solaris machines. Been with the company for 6 years.

I'm certified as a Sun Solaris System Administrator, plus the MCSE/MCSA is coming up soon. I also know a fair bit about Macs, although my experience is limited to OS 8 and 9. My Windows experience goes from ripping machines apart and rebuilding them all the way from DOS/Windows 3.1 right up to Windows Server 2003 and all the goodies that go along with it - Active Directory, Exchange, and the other stuff Microsoft likes to through at ya. I also have a ton of harware experience.

I'm pretty good with HTML, so I can help you out with the coding. I dabble in Photoshop, but I'm not that good with it yet.

I'll be happy to field any questions I can.

 

[TheOriginalSE]

I own a Dell.