Computers
Computers: Don't you love'em?
I first learned about computers on a borrowed TRS 80 computer from Radio Shack, then an NEC PC8801A hybrid CPM/MSDOS machine. These two provided learning about spreadsheets and bookkeeping, word processing and brochures, mail-merge letters, and databases.
The work at the environmental monitoring company provided continued learning about these items, plus programming in interpreted languages such as a proprietary report language and Basic, and a little C.
The work for the Reconciling Congregation Program and at the Rocky Mountain Conference provided in-depth learning about web site development, programming and maintenance.
So I enjoy computer-related stuff. I now use Linux/GNU (Ubuntu), on a box put together from parts from JDR Microdevices and my "junk box." It has a 3.6gHz Intel Pentium processor, 1 GB ram, 30 GB and 320 GB hard drives, SVGA video, and CD-RW. It is fun getting "under the hood", putting it all together, and keeping it running.
Besides this main "production" machine, I also put my partner's machine together (using the Tiger Direct Asus P5GC-MX 1333 Motherboard CPU Bundle, including the Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2GHz). It runs WinXP dual booted with Linux Ubuntu.
I recently showed my appreciation to Dell for offering a computer with Linux preloaded by buying a laptop with Ubuntu 9.04. Suspends, Hibernates, has fast video, large hard drive and lots of memory. I like it!
When I worked at the Rocky Mountain Conference office, I helped in a refurbishing project bringing free or low-cost computers to churches and pastors. The free ones used the free and open source software Ubuntu Linux operating with free and open source software office suite, web browser, e-mail client, bookkeeping, and Bible study.
We have Qwest Choice DSL Deluxe service. We also use the Linux-based Linksys WRT54G wireless switch and firewall, through which everything is networked. The printer is an HP 7310, accessible through the network. No unusual problems getting it networked with my Linux box, or my partner's machine.
I enjoy surfing the Web, and learning about all kinds of things from TCP/IP networking, CSS, Joomla!, to PHP.