I was pretty much computer illiterate until about 2004 as well, i used windows 2000, not updated, connected to broadband internet with no firewall, no anti-virus, and no anti-spyware. stupid, i now know, but back then i just didnt care.

then, same thing happened to me… computer got screwed by all manner o’ malware, started trying to figure it all out and educate myself better, switched to XP thinking that some of these issues would be fixed, continued educating myself, and finally ended up disappointed with windows and not even wanting to use my computer.

finally, a lab teacher for one of my college classes introduced me to ubuntu, started using it, loved it, now use it exclusively.

It seems to be a common trend as well, with the whole ‘fixing issues on ubuntu is fun, whereas on windows its a nightmare’ thing. I’m the same way! Once i got onto ubuntu, got to experience the ease with which i was able to accomplish the things i normally do, tinkering with things to get them working/working better didnt seem as big of a deal, and i think i know why:

generally, if something went wrong on windows, the whole system suffered… it seemed like any menial error with the system caused a critical meltdown, so problems were always dreaded, and difficult to work with.

in ubuntu, most problems are generally fairly localized, and your computer remains usable while you fix your issue. That and a wonderful community… to me, i believe the community is the key!

Dang straight. When I get a BSOD, I want to see if I can fix it before I send the bug report to Microsoft. But, NOOOOOOOooo, I get a garbage error on my screen which means absolutely nothing to me and I have pretty much no tools to solve it.

That is the problem with Microsoft. When there is a new bug or virus, they are so stubborn as to not let outside help in.

[/RANT]

I don’t know the internals of my computers and how it all works. I don’t know how to assemble a computer or what all those little circuits do. But I do know how to operate and take care of my computer, just as I know how to operate and take care of my toaster oven and cell phone.

A lot of people refuse to learn even the basics of how to operate and take care of their computers.

I think especially if you make your living using a computer, you should learn how to use it efficiently, how to prevent it from slowing down, how to maintain basic security, how to prolong battery life (if you’re using a laptop). This is true even if you view it as an appliance. It is a complex appliance, after all.

I believe people still see computers as appliance-toys that don’t really affect their lives aside from the convenience factor of email and a bit of shopping. Of course, part of it is certainly generational I imagine.

After all, as you can see from this post, I am not a geek by nature. I became a geek to change with the times, and that’s what most people should do.

Fifteen years ago, I didn’t have a cell phone, personal computer of my own (I shared one with my family), internet connection, or email account. Back then, it actually made sense for me to not care about computers. I didn’t really need them for anything more than typing papers for school. I communicated with my friends by landline phone or by mail or in person. My primary concern in terms of maintenance back then was how to keep my paintbrushes clean so they didn’t get stiff with residual dried paint.

Now that I live in a culture in 2008 where everyone I know has a cell phone, at least one computer, at least two email accounts; and where almost everyone I know has to use a computer for work 40 hours a week or more and then chooses to use a computer at home as well… I don’t really think ignorance of basic computing is something to be proud of.

Really is quite odd, no doubt helped by the proprietary software model I would bet.

It doesn’t really matter either way for me, personally, since I don’t remember any Pascal.

“The best, and perhaps most surprising, part of the whole bloom of e-mail came when a fellow I had never met, D. Jason Penney, converted the program from the fading Pascal into the more popular C. He did this on his own and sent the new, converted software back to me. When I asked him whether I could distribute his version, he said that it was my program. He was just helping out.”

This was back in 1991. It’s likely that Pascal was “obsolete” by the time you began learning it. Schools tend to be conservative with the languages they teach with, sometimes too conservative. Or just lazy (overworked?) not wanting to adapt their coursework to newer languages.

I think python and C work best today, because python exposes you to most of the logical aspects of programming (“You type the pseudocode, and it works!”), and then you can move unto C and learn the low-level stuff.

Then again, I’m not much of a programmer, maybe they know better.