I'm still grappling with CLI in Linux, and I can't write programmes at all. I can get around fairly comfortably using the GUI, but that's probably the case for 99% of my generation.
Your computer knowledge
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Anything more than installing/uninstalling a program makes me go into angry gorilla mode where I bash stuff till it works, or ceases to work anymore...I've gone though alot of computers.
So my computer knowledge is very low, which is shameful considering the amount I use computers.
So my computer knowledge is very low, which is shameful considering the amount I use computers.
I can generally keep a computer in running order. If I don't know something I'll use google. Which is 100% of the time. My parents never let me fiddle with computers much, so I don't have any knowledge really.
I know how to change parts in it.
True story, my wife broke her old PC so we got new parts for it and I managed to get them in and get it working without killing us both.
But if you believed everything you read Escapist has more computer science trained people than other other website known to man. Seriously, look through threads relating to PC's and at least 1 in every 5 answers is someone claiming to have a computer science degree. Those very same computer science trained people then go on to give entirely the wrong advice to whoever asked the question, see smallthemouse's post.
True story, my wife broke her old PC so we got new parts for it and I managed to get them in and get it working without killing us both.
But if you believed everything you read Escapist has more computer science trained people than other other website known to man. Seriously, look through threads relating to PC's and at least 1 in every 5 answers is someone claiming to have a computer science degree. Those very same computer science trained people then go on to give entirely the wrong advice to whoever asked the question, see smallthemouse's post.
I know nothing about hardware. Give me a list of a computers stats and components and I'll be staring blankly. I'll poke and play around with things until they work again, but I wouldn't be able to tell you how I did it and it was probably down to luck.
I'm okay with software and using a computer. I can do what I want unless it involves designing graphics, then I suck.
Basically, I would say my abilities are far better than the average Joe. But compared to the average Escapist user I'm probably 'special' in the bad way. To be fair though, that doesn't bother me.
I'm okay with software and using a computer. I can do what I want unless it involves designing graphics, then I suck.
Basically, I would say my abilities are far better than the average Joe. But compared to the average Escapist user I'm probably 'special' in the bad way. To be fair though, that doesn't bother me.
Id say pretty basic, especially in comparison to anyone tech savvy
I know the basics enough to play games on a PC (and even then If i encounter a problem..and goolges doesnt have an answer I'm screwed)
all trial and error over time I guess, I did do a computer related course in highschool...vaugley from that I only remember what the CPU RAM and HDD so
I know the basics enough to play games on a PC (and even then If i encounter a problem..and goolges doesnt have an answer I'm screwed)
all trial and error over time I guess, I did do a computer related course in highschool...vaugley from that I only remember what the CPU RAM and HDD so
I know tons of stuff about hardware. Software is a different story.
I could build a 'pooter from scratch, but when it comes to doing something like updating a graphic's card, I just Google all my answers and hope random strangers know more than me.
I could build a 'pooter from scratch, but when it comes to doing something like updating a graphic's card, I just Google all my answers and hope random strangers know more than me.
I know the theoretics. I know how the hardware works. But just don't ask me to build a computer, or fix your PC. Just not enough experience with that.
I can do a bit of Java and C++ programming with a little Open GL (Software engineering minor), but nothing too drastic.
I can do a bit of Java and C++ programming with a little Open GL (Software engineering minor), but nothing too drastic.
I studied C++ specific to games for one year. I can make a functional Pong game in a matter of about 6 hours, so I know quite a bit about software.
Currently building a desktop PC, so I know a bit about hardware.
I'm the one in my family and group of friends everyone goes to about PC trouble.
Currently building a desktop PC, so I know a bit about hardware.
I'm the one in my family and group of friends everyone goes to about PC trouble.
Hrmm well I have a computer science degree and work as a system admin... so I don't think that really counts as my knowledge comes from my work, not my hobby.
However I know lots of gamers and unfortunately, their computer knowledge ranges greatly. Some I went to uni with and thus are at my level (or above), some just like games and don't know or care much about the technology behind it beyond the uppermost layer.
Also..
I remember back in 3rd year, me and some friends were hanging about in one of the computer labs and a quiet asian girl asked us for help. We had a look, she was trying to do her computer graphics assignment, which was done in C++. Looking through the code there it was VERY clear that at least 3-4 different people had been working on it and now it seemed she was looking for number 5. We asked her what part she was having trouble with and she said 'all of it'. We asked if she understood something (I forget what) and she said no, it was too hard. We asked if she remembered the topic from . No. Too hard. Same question for <subject where you learned java.. in first year>... no. Too hard.
This girl, a third year computer science student, had no idea how to program. At all. We left her to it...
But the reason for this is because the way the degrees (at least mine) are assessed is completely backwards. In a three year degree, every single one of my subjects (minus I think one first year one) was divided up the same way - your entire semesters work, which involved going to tutorials every week and two assignments per class made up 30% of your course mark. The final 70% was determined by a 3 hour closed book hand written exam.
This included programming courses...
So take someone like myself, who actually understands the content and worked DAMN hard on all the internal stuff and did very well (I basically went in with 80%+ internal marks for most subjects), but who is not brilliant at exams, had a lot of trouble getting through them.
However then you had the people like my example above. They beg borrow and steal for the technical aspects of the courses interal assessments (very easy with computer science as there are only so many ways to write a program.. many of them look near identical, especially when it's a class of people who have all been taught the same stuff) - and they are absolute masters at exams. They cram all the knowledge into their brain and they spew it out by wrote onto a piece of paper at the end of the semester, then walk away with high marks.
These people do not understand the material. They are simply writing it down as the instructors say it to them. Sure, you have to write code in those exams but as you are actually writing them in a book they are simple and the markers forgive a lot of errors - they're also not a huge percentage of the exam.
So yes. While I'm sure many of the people claiming to be computer science grads are in fact talking utter crap, don't assume that because someone HAS one it means they know what they're talking about. I certainly don't know even close to everything about computers and technology and many of the things I used in my uni days on a regular basis I would struggle to manage without significant research and reference now that I've been out for 4 or 5 years.
Big rant I know, but eh
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However I know lots of gamers and unfortunately, their computer knowledge ranges greatly. Some I went to uni with and thus are at my level (or above), some just like games and don't know or care much about the technology behind it beyond the uppermost layer.
Also..
You would be AMAZED at the useless people who can get degrees.Rawne1980 said:
I remember back in 3rd year, me and some friends were hanging about in one of the computer labs and a quiet asian girl asked us for help. We had a look, she was trying to do her computer graphics assignment, which was done in C++. Looking through the code there it was VERY clear that at least 3-4 different people had been working on it and now it seemed she was looking for number 5. We asked her what part she was having trouble with and she said 'all of it'. We asked if she understood something (I forget what) and she said no, it was too hard. We asked if she remembered the topic from . No. Too hard. Same question for <subject where you learned java.. in first year>... no. Too hard.
This girl, a third year computer science student, had no idea how to program. At all. We left her to it...
But the reason for this is because the way the degrees (at least mine) are assessed is completely backwards. In a three year degree, every single one of my subjects (minus I think one first year one) was divided up the same way - your entire semesters work, which involved going to tutorials every week and two assignments per class made up 30% of your course mark. The final 70% was determined by a 3 hour closed book hand written exam.
This included programming courses...
So take someone like myself, who actually understands the content and worked DAMN hard on all the internal stuff and did very well (I basically went in with 80%+ internal marks for most subjects), but who is not brilliant at exams, had a lot of trouble getting through them.
However then you had the people like my example above. They beg borrow and steal for the technical aspects of the courses interal assessments (very easy with computer science as there are only so many ways to write a program.. many of them look near identical, especially when it's a class of people who have all been taught the same stuff) - and they are absolute masters at exams. They cram all the knowledge into their brain and they spew it out by wrote onto a piece of paper at the end of the semester, then walk away with high marks.
These people do not understand the material. They are simply writing it down as the instructors say it to them. Sure, you have to write code in those exams but as you are actually writing them in a book they are simple and the markers forgive a lot of errors - they're also not a huge percentage of the exam.
So yes. While I'm sure many of the people claiming to be computer science grads are in fact talking utter crap, don't assume that because someone HAS one it means they know what they're talking about. I certainly don't know even close to everything about computers and technology and many of the things I used in my uni days on a regular basis I would struggle to manage without significant research and reference now that I've been out for 4 or 5 years.
Big rant I know, but eh
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I can tinker around with Visual Basic, Javascript, HTML, and the good ol' original BASIC, and with a bit of a refresher I could probably write a decent program or Office macro with VB, or build a REALLY basic web page in HTML and/or Javascript. Took an introductory non-major Comp. Sci. class in college where we learned that kind of stuff. Nothing special.
I also have a bit of really beginner-level familiarity with the command line in Ubuntu and I'm not afraid to play around with code to make things work in it.
I also have a bit of really beginner-level familiarity with the command line in Ubuntu and I'm not afraid to play around with code to make things work in it.
I know a fair amount more than a lot of people around my age (24) but the majority of my technical know-how is in the hardware. It was pretty much all self-taught knowledge from when I was playing around, trying to put together a list of components for a god box PC.
Beyond that, I know enough about software and such to eventually troubleshoot or at least identify most any problem I've come across. I say "eventually" because I know full well that I don't yet know all the tricks and flags to identify and troubleshoot issues faster. Still, I at least know that the most common problems can be solved by restarting the computer and follow that up with virus scans.
Anything I don't really know too much about I can usually guess my way to knowing. "Your netbook can't play this game? This is a new error prompt. Oh wait, it talks about the rendering engine, that means the puny graphics chip is completely incapable of displaying the graphics of this game." Something like that.
Beyond that, I know enough about software and such to eventually troubleshoot or at least identify most any problem I've come across. I say "eventually" because I know full well that I don't yet know all the tricks and flags to identify and troubleshoot issues faster. Still, I at least know that the most common problems can be solved by restarting the computer and follow that up with virus scans.
Anything I don't really know too much about I can usually guess my way to knowing. "Your netbook can't play this game? This is a new error prompt. Oh wait, it talks about the rendering engine, that means the puny graphics chip is completely incapable of displaying the graphics of this game." Something like that.
I know nothing about programming, only a small amount of web-site design and so on, html and a little java.
In terms of simply keeping a computer working, I'm the only one in my family who has enough knowledge of operating systems to maintain a computer at near-peak performance. I have a... utilitarian knowledge of computers and their functionality, I think it's fair to say. I can replace parts, I could probably build a computer in a pinch, though I've not tried it yet.
In terms of simply keeping a computer working, I'm the only one in my family who has enough knowledge of operating systems to maintain a computer at near-peak performance. I have a... utilitarian knowledge of computers and their functionality, I think it's fair to say. I can replace parts, I could probably build a computer in a pinch, though I've not tried it yet.
Lets see, I know how to work all the Microsoft programs (word, powerpoint, access, Etc.) well and I am getting really good at photo editing. but other then that I learned a little of C++ but have since forgotten it and I know a little about networking as I took a class my senior year of high school.