CSflim

I have just finished second year computer science in college and everything is going good. I aced my exams this year, as I did last year. I completely understand all of what we have covered, and none of it is beyond me.

One problem: I don't seem to know anything about computers!

I don't hang out with the clique of nerds (I don't mean that in any kind of an offensive way!). I am not "into" computers. Don't get me wrong; I very much enjoy my course, but I have other interests outside of college work.

There are others who just seem to know so much more than I do.

So:
1. Should I be worried?
2. What can I do about it?

Of course I'm not expecting a magical; "here, read this book and become a genuis", just some general hints as to what sort of things I should get up to.
I was thinking about setting myself some sort of programming project to do over the summer, to help myself learn. Any ideas?

Here is a link to my courses website if anyone is interested:
http://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/ba/BAcourse.html

Thanks for your help.

ps. I currently work in my local supermarket.

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NeoSparky

Explain more on what your define as not knowing about computers..

not sure what you should be worried about but if you dont even know where the on switch is and your in a computer programing course then ya, you should be worried.

All you can really do is learn more about what you dont know. First you need to define what you dont know.

Polyphobic

Figure out your weakest point and either take a class or read a book. I know a fair amount about computers but I also understand that there is quite a bit I do not know. Thus, I frequently engage in the practice I mentioned. Remember, it takes time to become a full fledged computer nerd

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Redjake

I hear ya, man. here's a no bullshit answer: Go to Tomshardware.com, and read as many FAQs and guides as possible. Check out bit-tech.net, read up on some info there. Do some Google searchs on "how to build a computer" or something, there are tons of sites out there. Also try to find some cheap CIS books (different curriculum than CS). They tend to explain the hardware more concrete and user-friendly. Most important: Find someone who knows about them, and ask them questions. That's how I learned!

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bltzkriegmcanon

Aye, that's the place to start. Also look for some For Dummies books on programming, like Java, Visual Basic, ASP and the like. Redjake's idea about tomshardware is a great place to start. That's a really good primer for hardware shit. I mean, these guys are mad thorough.

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Key

no, don't be worried. as long as you know what's going on in the class and your programming is solid, you're fine.

i know countless CS majors that can program anything you throw at them. any problem they can debug, they know the methodology, they know the process cycles. variables, loops, you name it they know it.

but ask them how to upgrade their computer with more memory and it's like asking a blond sorority chick the capital of turkey.

the point is, it's not NECESSARY you know the intricacies of anything electronic, but it helps. by knowing how a computer functions, by knowing what memory and hdd and processor capabilities hold on programs, you can code better. it's also semi-implied by employers that you know this. and you'll have a sore competitive disadvantage when school lets out if you don't have it under your belt.

remember- these nerd circles are the people you're going to be competing against for a job. they'll have the same degree as you.

bobd123

It all depends. If you want to find a job in a large corporation where at any moment your job can be outsourced to some third world nation then you have nothing to worry about. The more skill sets you have in a field the more valuable you are as an employee. It means you can contribute more to the company while at the same time costing them less for your employment.

You need to know about what you are working on. I am a NOC admin and a coder. If you came before me in an interview for a coding position I would ask you questions such as you have an application that is hitting the database and a query is timing out. Where could the problem be and why? This type of question requires you at least have a clue about coding, hardware, networking and possibly such topics DNS and security. If you could not answer then to tell the truth you would probably cost me more then you are worth as I (or someone else) would have to take time out other projects in order to solve what should be fairly common knowledge in this field. In other words book knowledge is fine and dandy, but nothing beats hands on knowledge.

I suggest you get a part time job in something like a local computer shop doing repairs and upgrades of hardware and software or an internship in network admin where your coding skills could be exchanged for hands on network and hardware support.

Have a good one.

dnd

theres nothing to be worried about...i dont really know much about computers and i just graduted this week from uni after doing comp sci....just worry about getting a job...ur gonna need to sound like u know wat ur talking about, but once in u'll get all the training u need...just relax...ur at collage to relax, have fun and study (importance in that order)...

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Jesus Pimp

It is important. If you're in any computer field you gotta live and breathe computers.

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nukeu666

many many many ppl r like that
graduade with hons in comp sci and it stll feels alien to them...
only remedy=spend all your waking hours with comp, mess with it, trash it and try to set speed records on how fast u can fix and tweak it to normal...open up your comp and say hello to the little guys in it :P
if u r rich,overclock it to oblivion
use other OSes

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Fallon

What do you want to do with your life. My first thoughts are that maybe you went into a CompSci major because you thought it would be cool, but now you don't really want it. I'd suggest that you figure out what you wanna do after I get outta school and determine if you really want to get in the industry. CompSci majors are having a rough time right now, so maybe you might want to shift your focus from programming/software to maybe hardware or something if you want to stay in the field because you can send the programmers, but I don't think they can outsource hardware specialists.

Paq

no kidding, do you know how flooded the comp sci major is right now with people who have probably been around computers since they were 8. Heck, I thought i was doing well in 97 as a tech agent in my 2nd year of college for music. I had great command over IP routing, network setups, hardware, software basics, nothing on programming other than a small bit of C++...

So i'm chatting with a girl from cali. She has no interest in a computer related field, total artist, etc. She started with her own little BBS when she was 8, developed websites for companies in 94 when she was about 13, just has a natural command of almost any aspect of computers without any formal training.
And this is the type of person going into the comp sci programs now that will probably fly through them bc they spend hours upon hours with computers and the intricacies.

Basically, these are your competitors in the job field. The good part is that the field is still growing rapidly, so there is room, but the difference between a dream job and a mindless drone may just be a few of the random questions like those posed by bobd123

I'm not saying give up your social life and just live and breathe computers, but I would definitely suggest you identify your weakest points and work on them. If you don't know hardware, try building a computer or fixing something or just screw up a bios setting every now and then, or kick it until it stops working, then try to fix it...

I think you cna have a reasonable life outside the computer industry, but honestly, every single person i have ever known in engineering, networking, programming, design, whatever, has been an honest to god computer geek. They dont' look like it, but almost every hour is spent tied to a computer...

have fun

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Chris

Toecutter

Experiment, experiment, experiment. Thats how the discoveries are made and knowledge is gained. Don't be afraid to expand either. My degree is in networking and im installing project and sql servers and working with visual studio.net. Have fun, enjoy what you are doing, and nevermind anybody elses opinions, but be open, if that makes sense.

Redlemon

You sound like my wife. She has a double degree (computers and management), and programs huge databases. Very successful, in the same company for the last 10 years, very happy. She likes to program, but does not 'hack', and doesn't care a bit about hardware. There's hope for you.

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ratbastid

How many CS majors does it take to change a lightbulb?

None. It's a hardware problem.

CSflim

Thank you all for your replies.

Well, the majority of what goes on in this forum seems to be over my head. Same with Tilted Programming.

I built my machine from components, and it was no problem, though if something went wrong in such a process, I wouldn't be 100% on what to do, I could probably bluff my way through a lot of it though.

As for what I want to do in the future: well I honestly have no idea. I plan to do some more research on what exactly I do with such a degree, and what areas I think I would be good at, etc. But I don't know what I will be doing after this degree. I have considered further education, but again, no real idea what.

I do enjoy experimenting on the computer, but I have too much important stuff on it to risk damaging, not all of it mine. Also I don't want to have to go through the expense/embarassment of having to get someone to fix it, if it all goes horribly wrong!
I will probably buy/build a computer over the next few months, just to have a piece of junk to mess with without worrying. I will probably install linux on it, so I can learn how to use it, somehting I have been meaning to do for ages!

I used to do websites a few years ago (for enjoyment not for money), and could do a bit of javascript, and was 'fluent' in Macromedia Flash (though not very talented as an artist!).
I would like to learn more about the various web technologies other than just making static HTML pages, such as ASP, PHP, MySQL. But my problem is that my only computer has dial-up net access, and so is not suited for running a server.

I will check out those websites mentioned.

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Fallon

Who says you need a constant connection?
On this linux box that I'm using I have PHP/Apache, MySQL, an online role-playing game I run and a few other things running on it. You can dl Apache for your box and PHP and dink around with those without doing any real damage. I'd personally change the port on it so that you can block access to it from a firewall and you can do whatever you want with it.

CSflim

Is there any magazine that I should consider subscribing to?

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tritium

PCWorld and PCMagazine are 2 good options for covering broad topics and giving you pretty general information about the computing world. I wouldn't subscribe to them expecting to receive a stack of white-papers in your mailbox every 2 weeks; That just won't happen. Both of those magazines do a good job, however, of introducing a large array of topics to a semi-tech literate audience.

I'm a web designer and communications engineer/tech writer, and I read each issue thoroughly -- no time to constantly read through tomshardware or any of the other incarnations of online computer-related communities. You'll get what you need from both of those magazines in order to set your Google search strings correctly for delving deeper into topics that intrigue you.

The computer world is large enough that anyone can have a successful niche. We can't *all* be webmasters or A+ certified techs. In most cases, you've got to be many different things in order to stay alive in today's corporate environment. Plan on having unusual, but useful, skill-sets. Take some English classes and maybe a few electronic art courses and you'll have the ground work in place for a job that can't be exported to non-English speaking countries -- technical writing.

Technical writers are paid well, and have a wide range of employment opportunities. Every company needs someone to express ideas, internally and externally, in efficient packages -- that's where we fit in with our technical backgrounds. Not only do we comprehend some pretty technical subjects without any major training, but we possess a mastery of the equipment and technology necessary for producing said documentation, marketing devices, etc.

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