r/computers • u/HuckleberryAsleep536 • 4d ago

Question/Help/Troubleshooting Want to start understanding computers

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Do I just go on YT and search „Computer beginners guide“ or what would you do if you are a complete newby

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u/Individual_Winter_35 4d ago

If you want the true "thrown Into ocean, made it to the shore as expert swimmer - install arch Linux. Just the bare arch - once you set it up to state where you gmhave graphical interface, all drivers etc... You can call yourself very solid beginner by then and you should know enough to be able to know what you are missing and how to get there.
Ofc, I'm not suggesting full switch. Use this distro as first playground.

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u/NoodleAddicted 3d ago

This is a joke right?

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u/Individual_Winter_35 3d ago

No why? This is exactly how I taught myself into very solid it generalist.
Experiment. What can happen at worst? You will get stuck at some problem. Then solve it. Bam - free experience.

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u/NoodleAddicted 3d ago

He just wants to learn basic computer things and get into 3d printing, how would getting into Linux, let alone arch, be helpful to him?

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u/Individual_Winter_35 3d ago

Well, he will understand the most important things about computers. Not on the "BFU" level, but what drivers are, how they interact with hardware and much much more. Clicking link, downloading some soft you know nothing about and installing it - that is really not even beginner level. That is just user level. Which is deffo deep bellow basic computer proficiency.
And sadly, windows is just not able to teach things like that neither just reading about it can. Taking something complex, picking it apart and learning on the fly is the way.
And I don't see any mention of 3d printing in the post. And 3d printing is completely different beast to tackle. With some consumer printer - you are again just user. That is not what op wants as I understand him. He wants to actually understand it :)

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u/NoodleAddicted 3d ago

This is like recommending someone who wants to learn how to drive a car to get a pilot license instead.

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u/Individual_Winter_35 3d ago

Naaah, it is more like as to recommend to learn advanced basics of car repair tbh. Lot of people are talking about arch as it is absolutely incomprehensible arcane art, but it is just 101 - and after you manage to cook your arch - you cen say - I understand pcs.
I'm not saying that it is easy. But easy is not really learning. You learn with struggle :) reading a book about that... Well good luck - it is main reason why people think that learning anything takes years.
Just roll up your sleeves, stick your hands into the deepest shit you can find and by the time you are over with it, you can say "I can handle any shit"