As a "computer guy", I find myself often giving advice and explaining parts and pieces of technology to people. I don't usually mind talking about it - in fact, I really enjoy helping people understand things they did not think they could grasp. However, it does get tiresome to explain the same concepts over and over, or to give the same warnings and the same recommendations.
So, I've decided to begin a catalogue of advice and make it available on a website. This way, I can explain something once, and use that explanation over and over again. One of the beautiful things about technology is that you can use the technology to help educate people about the technology!
The purpose here is to help you learn. I don't like to fix people's problems - I prefer to help them understand the problem, and bring them to a place that they can fix it themselves. Then, hopefully, the next problem will not be so difficult. You won't find a lot of references or examples of specific programs here. Instead, I will focus on typical situations, protocols, and standards, so that you can take the next step to apply the advice to your particular situation. It may require a little bit of thinking on your part, but believe me - you will be better for it.
The intended target is anyone who is using a computer, but doesn't fully understand what is going on. This could be a first time user, a teenager who is learning about technology, a retiree who is trying to get up with the times, or just anyone interested in learning something new. I'm not going to get into deep subjects like computer languages and network architecture. I just want to give you the information you need to use your computer safely and effectively.
Some of the advice give on this website is based more on personal opinion than a standard or "right way" of doing things. There may be other options, or additional advice that is perfectly sound even though it is not presented here. This website is certainly not the end-all be-all of technical information - it's just my view of things based on what I've seen and learned.
I'm a programmer / web designer in Middle Tennessee. I have been using computers in different ways since I was very young, but only recently (in the last 5-10 years) have I made a career of working with them. My primary expertise is with software and internet architecture / protocols, but I also have enough knowledge about hardware systems to be dangerous.