My fist steps in computing

I want to start off writing about how I got interested in programming. The fist time I heard about a programming language was on the computer chronicles with Stewart Cheifet. Stewart had a man on the show who was talking about a program that would teach a person how to program computer games in C++.

At that time I had no idea how to use a computer except how to use a word processing program that I learned how to use in a typing class. I did not even know what the internet was or had ever surfed the web.

In fact abut 3 years before that I saw a video about the internet and I did not understand the video all, I had no clue what the internet was.

By the time I watched the computer chronicles show I think I had a better idea of what the internet was even though as I said I had never been on the web. I thought while watching the show I someday I have got to learn how to write video games. But, I thought that there was probably no way I could understand how to program because like the internet at that time I had never seen a line of computer source code. So I thought that programming was so hard that I could never understand how to make games. All I knew was that I wanted to try.

Then probably the same year I got a book on html. Why did I get a book on html when I did not have a computer?

Actually I think I got a book the was an introduction to programming before I got the book on html. The programming book is called Absolute Beginner's Guide to programming, Second Edition by Greg Perry. I enjoyed reading the book and I think I understood everything except maybe Java. After reading the book I thought that programming was something I could do.

The I got the book on Html called HTML by Example. Which was a book about how to create websites using html 4.0. Putting up websites did not look that hard.

Next I got a book on C++ called Sams Teach yourself C++ in 21 Days written by Jesse Liberty. I probably read some chapters of the book before I got my computer. IF I read the book I probably understood something. At this point I did not know what the start menu or desktop were. That all changed with the next book I got.

I read The complete Idiot's guide to PCS, seventh Edition written by Joe Kraynak. I know I read this book. After reading the book I understood about the start menu, desktop, chekdisk or was it scandisk, disk defragmenting. Now I knew enough to use a computer. I also read most of and edition of Upgrading and repairing PCS. It was Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Fifth Edition written by Scott Mueller. I really enjoyed reading about computer hardware; processors, CD Rom drives, monitors, ISA, PCI, how to put in new cards, sound cards, video cards, plug and play, A fun book.

I tried to remember the order I got the books but, I probably remember wrong. The order does not matter. The point is that by the time I got my first computer I new enough about computers to be able to use it on my own without having to call someone up to help me with computer problems. When I got a computer I was so excited.