Do you consider yourself as a pc expert, in between or just a beginner?

[sweater]

I am pretty much curious how many of our members in this forum are really an “overall” expert techno geek, and also how many are in-between (means 50/50- one that are technically knowledgeable or computer science graduate but still learning more things about privacy and security issues), and how many are still a beginners or just an ordinary surfers learning lots of things like me. ;)

[Bubba]

Geesh....even after all these many years on the net discovering some items I can't even spell I can say unequivocally without a doubt I have no clue today given the fact I have now read from someone in the know that many of the programs I use are Rootkits ::) :o :-X

[controler]

I think he ment any program that touches the kernel is a rootkit by definition, no matter if it hides it's files or not.

[New Nod User]

I consider myself a beginner,I can do the basics but when it comes to allot of things i see and read on this forum I AM LOST.

[ErikAlbert]

I'm an application analyst and believe it or not, I never studied anything about computers.
All what I know about pc and mainframes is based on reading and hearing.
I don't need to know anything about computers to do my job, but I know almost everything about an application, much more than any programmer of that application will ever know.
The problems, I need to solve are totally different from the (technical) problems of a programmer.
So I'm a newbie in this forum and I consider this as an advantage.

I would never call myself an expert in anything, because I still learn something new every day.
Expert is just a word, but I admit, it's an impressive title. :)

[WSFuser]

many of my friends and my parents friends see me as an "IT pro" but theres a lot i dont know about computers themselves and security. im always learning new things and troubleshooting peoples computers as well as my own.

[Mrkvonic]

Hi,
I'm just trying to fit into my corner of the world. Not an expert, of course. The strong side of mine concerning computer comes from programming algorithms and methods for scientific experiments. My friend think I'm obsessed with security, but I disagree... :)
Mrk

[rdsu]

2º choice...

I'm always learning, and I'm almost a computer engineer...

[bigc73542]

I have had two computer shops for over a decade+ and have worked on thousands of PC's and related security issues and I am still learning and hope that I never quit learning because the day I quit learning is the day I die :-\

[mercurie]

Just read my signature. The answer is there. ;)

[LookingGlass]

No one here is a pc expert from what I can see, myself included. But some here are very knowledgeable with computer security.

And Bigc, sorry to disappoint you, but you won't stop learning even after you physically expire. But some get a vacation at least. Let's just hope yours is not a very hot one. ;)

[BlueZannetti]

-{ Quote: "No one here is a pc expert from what I can see, myself included." }-I would hazard a guess that there may be a handful of genuine experts that frequent the site. Like you, I certainly would also not place myself in that class.

HBlue

[Rmus]

ex·pert
: one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject
[Webster On-line]
--------------------------------------

Any Windows experts around? (not me)

In "Windows 95 Secrets" Brian Livingston and Davis Straub made the statement that after interviews with many MS developers/programmers, they concluded that Windows was too complex for any one person to have mastered all of it.

-rich

[whatdoiknow]

I used to think I *wasn't* an expert.

[whatdoiknow]

-{ Quote: "I'm an application analyst and believe it or not, I never studied anything about computers.
All what I know about pc and mainframes is based on reading and hearing.
I don't need to know anything about computers to do my job, but I know almost everything about an application, much more than any programmer of that application will ever know.
" }-

Give me an example.

[Happy Bytes]

Voted for me Beginner, because no knownledge with computer hardware. (Graphic Cards, Sound Cards and such bull)

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "Give me an example." }-
I'm not sure what you mean with an example, but I guess an example of an application.
I worked once for a Container Repair company. So I had to learn everything about containers from the moment the container entered the repair company until the container left the repair company.
The total administration, the estimates, the revised estimates, the complicated tariffs, the invoicing, the container movements, the container components of each type of container, the repair instructions, statistics, ... and all that in FULL DETAIL.

If you want to put such an application on computer, I can assure you that it requires alot of preparation, before you can even start the programming and I'm talking about MANY programs.
I hope you don't want any details, because that's a huge file. :)

[whodoiknow]

-{ Quote: "I'm not sure what you mean with an example, but I guess an example of an application.
I worked once for a Container Repair company. So I had to learn everything about containers from the moment the container entered the repair company until the container left the repair company.
The total administration, the estimates, the revised estimates, the complicated tariffs, the invoicing, the container movements, the container components of each type of container, the repair instructions, statistics, ... and all that in FULL DETAIL.
" }-

It sounds to me what you mean is that they try to make a program that is useful to you. Since you work in the container business and use the stuff, obviously they have to find out what you need , and they hopefully code it up to your specs.

But that doesn't mean you know everything about the application, more than the programmer knows. You only know what you want to have, that's different.

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "It sounds to me what you mean is that they try to make a program that is useful to you. Since you work in the container business and use the stuff, obviously they have to find out what you need , and they hopefully code it up to your specs.

But that doesn't mean you know everything about the application, more than the programmer knows. You only know what you want to have, that's different." }-
Do you really think, that a programmer knows what I know after my analysis. Forget it.
Programmers are instructed by me, otherwise they wouldn't even know where to start. These programmers don't know anything about containers, they just follow my written instructions.
I'm not in the container business either, my boss tells me where to go and to work.

[Blackspear]

Removed personal swipe.

Ladies and Gentlemen, remain on Topic and leave the personal swipes out of it.

Blackspear.

[WSFuser]

-{ Quote: "this only really applies to windows users where you have no choice but to become an expert in an attempt to avoid being swamped by legions of worms trojans virii keyloggers etc etc

mac users surf the net in blissful ignorance having no need to sully themselves by getting their hands dirty." }-
-{ Quote: "Voted for me Beginner, because no knownledge with computer hardware. (Graphic Cards, Sound Cards and such bull)" }-
so is this poll for computer hardware, security, or both? either way, my answer is the same.

[Notok]

My father is a good example here, I think. He's been a programmer for decades, and is very good at what he does.. at very "senior" level. He's reaching retirement age now (although he has no plans to retire, that I can see), but now that he's working on his own, he's getting into areas that he had never even concieved of before.. down to designing and programming his own chips. So even though he was very very good at some very complex programming in the past, he is like a kid again, learning a whole new world. Fact is that it just never ends.. as soon as you get a good grasp on the way things are now, there will be some new hardware tomorrow that throws everything for a loop.

Expert is really a very relative term, I believe, and most of the real experts will still recognize that there is still a lot to learn. They can become proficient enough in their own field to, perhaps, become a functional "expert" in that field.. but I don't think that what we really think of when we use the term "expert" really even exists.

[Ailric]

I'm number #2 as well. I know how to do most things I need to and if not, I'm smart enough to ask.

Being a member here has pushed my security knowledge up too.

[Brian N]

Well that depends...

If I've not been drinking, I'm #2 on the list.
A 6 pack.. Probably between #1 & #2.
10 or more: I become "mr. know-it-all" :lurking:

[dadkins]

#2 I doubt that I will ever become an expert on anything computer related(stuff changes faster than I can keep up!).

But I'm not afraid to ask when I need help!

[Nick Rhodes]

Dadkins, thats spot on.

Im supposedly an expert in my field (MS Web development, everything from software/hardware to servers).
I never call myself one, I would rather just call myself experienced, theres always new tricks to be learnt, always help required, but I also dish out lots of help and solve problems for others. You only become an expert when what your working on is obselete !

With experience you learn how all the systems of a computer work, even if your not intimate with the specifics, that allows you to do logical problem solving (learn as you work to fix a problem - usually googling ;)), and also ask the right questions, something that inexperienced computer users cannot do.

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "#2 I doubt that I will ever become an expert on anything computer related(stuff changes faster than I can keep up!).

But I'm not afraid to ask when I need help!" }-
Asking questions is a proof of intelligence. :)

[sweater]

I was very surprised w the poll result..:o that only very few are pure beginners or just an ordinary surfers. Maybe, most of the ordinary surfers i think don't mind at all at this security issues and privacy attacks (that's why very few are in this forum). :-\

Its no surprise to me that most of the members here really have know how on pc
hardwares and the likes, but still many are newbies on security and privacy issues. Well, just like my nephew, who build my pc. He's a computer graduate and now works on pc stores... he has all the knowledge on hardware and softwares but lacks the ability to answer my questions about firewalls, anti-spywares, anti-trojans and other sophisticated protections softwares that we're talking about here. Maybe he's not interested on something not related on their business... or maybe he has no time to read or visits forums like this. :-\

[Larry38]

Intermediate

[RCGuy]

Nice idea for a poll. Thanks for bringing attention to this topic, Sweater. Also, a poll like this gives an opportunity for people like me, who admittedly doesn't have a clue as to some of the more technical aspects of pcs, but who cares enough to want to try and understand and protect their computer to the best of their abilities, to admit to their limitations. Additionally, I think that Sweater made a good point about how beginners here at this forum are in a small minority and how the average computer user probabaly doesn't know about(and probably doesn't care about) pc privacy and security issues, which is probably why most of them don't frequent these types of forums.(I'm sure there are more of them out there in the public than there are "experts" and "in betweeners.")

Also, I wanted to ask if anyone knows of any simple to read material where a person can learn about some of the more basic technical aspects of a computer. An example of what I'm talking about is that when I read articles about, or read posts in forums where people are talking about things like the "registry," I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. :o

[Snowie]

RCGUY

for your enjoyment:


http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&guide=registry



Snowie The Snowman

[zorro zorrito]

Hi, expert? mmm, whenever I learn something about pc's I feel I'm going backwords, because many doubts pop up like popcorn in my brain. So that each day I think I know less than the day before.

[RCGuy]

-{ Quote: "RCGUY

for your enjoyment:


http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&guide=registry



Snowie The Snowman" }-

Thanks, Snowie. I was going to come back and post a thanks after I read the article, but I had to come back to the forum to post another concern about the Security Task Manager program in the Privacy forum. ::) And speaking of after 'reading the article,' I don't know about anyone else are here, but it seems like to be able to keep up with learning and understanding one's computer and security concerns, it seems like a person has to do a TREMENDOUS amount of reading and devote a lot of time to reading and keeping up with the various material. I don't see how most of the people here who are in-the-know do that because most people in general just don't have the time to do all that reading.

And in addition to the article that you provided for me, Snowie, someone else in another thread provided me with a link about the IE Restricted Zone which I only read a part of. And that's in addition to the tutorial that I had to read for CCleaner and information that I had to read to understand the Online-Armor program that I recently installed. I just don't see how you all keep up with all this stuff. Unless of course you're speed readers. :shifty: ;) And poor Zorro Zorrito. Unlike Zorrito, I feel like I'm getting somewhere, but I feel like I'm swimming in an ocean of knowledge and information, and even though I feel like I'm going forward, when I look up, there's still the rest of the ocean that I have to swim across until I can finally get to where I'm trying to go. :(

P.S. Also, Snowie, do you have an articles about Win Zip? I recently downloaded the Eraser57 program and found out that it needed the Win Zip program to install and execute it. I had to uninstall the Eraser57 program because whenever I try to use the Win Zip program, I go bonkers. :wacko: (Or in other works, I don't have a clue when it comes to Win Zip and I get frustrated whenever I try to use it. :ouch: )

[yes!]

-{ Quote: "I have had two computer shops for over a decade+ and have worked on thousands of PC's and related security issues and I am still learning and hope that I never quit learning because the day I quit learning is the day I die :-\" }-

yes! yes!

[Pieter_Arntz]

Knowing when and who to ask when you are lost, gets you a long way. ;)

Regards,

Pieter

[Firecat]

Intermediate. I do know how to operate stuff, use software, assemble PCs or add components to my PC, and to some extent, I can perform troubleshooting and locate articles that may help me easily, and I am sufficiently knowledgeable about computer hardware, but I still need to learn much about security. :)

[Snowie]

RcGuy


Why not give 7-zip a try.....its nice software....an free....un-zips files without much fuss at all........


http://www.filehippo.com/download_7-zip


--------------------------------------------------------------------------



an here is a link to a few tutorials:


http://lists.thedatalist.com/pages/Tutorials~Guides.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, you are doing lots of reading, huh......hey, thats real good....many people never bother reading the instructions.......an end up with their computer taking a flop...........( yup, thats happen to me as well)
Always remember RcGuy.....no one is better than you.....some may know more right now....but tomorrow remains....an you may be the next security wiz to be born.....hey, who knows........could be....if you want it to be.
When you estimate yourself don't under-estimate yourself.......


Regards

Snowie The Snowman

[Infinity]

intermediate, just like all the rest cause I hate to say that I'm expert at something .. cause it's all relative lol 2morow I can meet someone who knows the double then me ... and personaly, I like to play the underdog!

but being an expert in Internet Security, I know my way around but far from being an expert ;)

[Upasaka]

Well Sweater,I added to the ordinary surfer list for you.

Four years ago I had never used a computer at all and my son who was 6 at the time had to show me how to turn one on:-\ .

I bought a reconditioned PC and had a baptism of fire(It was running Windows ME!!).. I was told by the "Expert" at the shop that it was ready to go ,just plug in and surf when you are ready.

No AV,no firewall just PC and modem and a user that knew no better:gack:

Anyway still here,now have 2 machines,can do all sorts that I never knew existed, have kept both PC's totally clean now for over 2 1/2 years and have learned enough to help other people out.Have done all this through asking over and over again and hopefully learning from the mistakes I have frequently made.
The other big help has been the forums like this where so many experienced people give time to help others(Even if they do sometimes talk in techno mode)and yes as others have pointed out there is an awful lot of reading to do!

An expert I will never be but I am learning as I go and always ask ask ask.

[Sonap]

In between, knows pc but still learning securities issues

[RCGuy]

-{ Quote: "RcGuy


Why not give 7-zip a try.....its nice software....an free....un-zips files without much fuss at all........


http://www.filehippo.com/download_7-zip


--------------------------------------------------------------------------



an here is a link to a few tutorials:


http://lists.thedatalist.com/pages/Tutorials~Guides.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


" }-

Thanks, Snowie. I will try out the 7-zip program and check out the tutorials.

[chrisretusn]

My computing experience goes back to the late 1968. PC experience goes back to 1982. Many folks over the years have referred to me as the expert. I do consider my self an expert is some areas but that expertise only last a short time or is out dated. In the ever changing computer world, expertise frequently reverts to non-expert. Since the option was available I picked both item 2 and 3. I thought about picking all three, but don't really care for the term "PC techno geek expert" ;D ;) ;)

[progress]

I would like to be a PC techno geek expert but I'm just in between I think :(

[Osaban]

I know absolutely nothing about programming or the innards of a computer (except for the obvious common knowledge). What I learned here, and it is certainly above the average user, is how to troubleshoot any problem I might encounter with my computer in terms of software malfunctioning and security. I was sick and tired of asking my brother (a real expert) and some friends to fix up my machine.

[danny9]

I am not a newbie, maybe somewhere in the middle.
After reading some of the posts here, by some who I think are very knowledgeable of computers and whose opinions I respect, I have to ask what is below the newbie? :)

Since I have been coming here to Wilder's I do have to say I've learned alot.
Thanks to those who share their knowledge and experiences with us.
I for one appreciate it.
Thank you all!! :thumb:

[RSpanky]

I consider myself as in between, But I am learning Thanks to Wilders

[Gullible Jones]

Somewhere in between beginner and expert, leaning more towards beginner probably. I know my way around a PC, how to secure it, etc. but I have very little understanding of programming, or of how security programs (and others) actually *work*.

[Wildest]

In this industry it is very difficult to be an expert unless you keep updated.
An expert five years ago who does not continuously re-educate him/herself can hardly be considered an expert today.
I am not surprised that the divorce rate of programmers is second only to aircraft traffic controllers.

Burn-out is a fact of life in this industry.

[SirPeterPan]

I already know many things, but I still consider myself a Beginner or ordinary surfer. ;D

[Noob]

Here we go thread resurrection!!
In the Hardware aspect, i consider myself pretty much a geek, BUT not expert.
Software aspect, I AM A NOOOOOOOOOOOB! ;D

Between me and my friends? They look at me like an expert ::)

[SirPeterPan]

Friends look at me like an expert too, oh well, but I'm very far from it. I think that I know more about software than about hardware, maybe because I only look at hardware when I'm going to buy something new, and that doesn't happen often - but when it happens, I really analyze all my options and then I think I become a temporary hardware geek. :D

BTW I read RSS feeds from lots of tech sites, some with focus on hardware, some with focus on software, but on online forums I usually talk a lot more about software.

[nikanthpromod]

Im a student with little knowledge;D

[icr]

Learning is never ending process. Voted myself in between. I only know about Java, C++(little but fair enough) programming.

About security applications I have learned from here:-*

[subhrobhandari]

Just a beginner.

[YanK33]

i am a medium savy lol

[GlobalForce]

Five years in and still :D;) a greenhorn.

[Daveski17]

My computer knowledge is quite basic. I'm always surprised that the computer actually boots when I press the 'on' button! :wacko:

[culla]

all my friends ask me to fix their pcs i've built refurbished and loaded almost all win systems for a company
security is no problem really and i learn from the internet trial and error method been doing it for 13 years and am still learning i don't write code i don't need to as i can do what i want with apps already made although i do hack some of them to make them better for me
to friends i am an expert to me i'm an expert at somethings and not at others
my expertise is to get pcs running properly again after viri /malware infection or hardware failure
so i'll vote in between ::)

[Get]

PC techno geek moron, so I voted in between :doubt: .

[Noob]

Yeah, lots of the times my friends PC are screwed/slow i fix it for them.
Specially laptops ;D

[ameyap]

umm can i change my vote. i voted expert but after reading thru the comments i am not so sure