30th September 2002

Question: I really like the Windows Daily newsletter, but because I don't know the technical side of computers, I feel a little lost sometimes. How would you suggest I go about learning some of the technical basics?

Answer: Being a computer technician, this question hits close to home. The way I started was as a kid, and let's just say my mother wouldn't let me use my new computer until I read all the manuals (they used to come with a ton of them!). She also had a policy: "You break it, you fix it." So every time I messed with my computer and it "broke," I went on a rampage to find the fix. Needless to say, my philosophy since then has become that you can learn the most about a technology by knowing what breaks it, and from there you can always find some way to fix it. Now, I'm not telling you to attempt to break your computer. What I AM saying is that nothing beats real-world experience. If you can't get your hands on a spare computer to "break" and fix, that is fine. There are tons of resources online where you can learn more about your computer. Just reading the Windows Daily and submitting questions to the feedback section will help increase your technical knowledge. You could also look into any training CD having to do with A+ Certification, as this will teach you the basics to advanced technical aspects of your computer. I personally like to get all my training CDs from CBTNuggets.com. Another great place to get quick-study guides is cramsession.com; just look for A+ Certification. I'm sure your local community college probably offers a computer technologies or A+ Certification course. Keep in mind that you do not need to go for the certification; you may just want to attend the class to gain the technical knowledge. Another great Web site for when you are looking for a specific technology (like how a CD Recorder works), and one that Lockergnome has mentioned a few times, is howstuffworks.com. I just want to close with saying that one specific way of learning will not always work for everyone, so it is best to try out all the methods listed above. Also, please remember that there is no substitute for real-world experience, so try out what you learn.