Learn about hardware in a computer course<\/p>\n
Go to any busy computer trade center in Jakarta or in other
\nmajor town in Indonesia, and you will be surprised to see how
\nquickly the so-called \"technicians\" can put together a PC from
\noff-the-shelf component parts.<\/p>\n
Even if their boss receives an order for a dozen PCs that have
\nto be assembled and delivered to the customer in two days,
\ncomplete with the pirated operating system and software programs,
\nthey will meet the challenge. Even when the PCs have to be tested
\nand burned in before delivery, they will still say \"Sure, we can
\ndo that.\" Not infrequently, their workplace is a tiny area on the
\nfloor right next to the store entrance.<\/p>\n
And, you may be even more shocked to know that the majority of
\nthese \"technicians\" do not have any formal education in computer
\nhardware. All they have received is just on-the-job training, and
\ntheir tutors may be people who also learned the trade just by
\ndoing it. And, it is also amazing to see how much technical
\nknowledge they have. Because they are in this business every day,
\nthey know which graphics cards will not work with which
\nmotherboards, for example. Mind you, they never read PC Magazine
\nor PC World, nor do they surf the Internet for such information.<\/p>\n
A PC is made up of a number of modular components. You will
\nneed the basic components -- the processor, motherboard, memory
\nmodules, graphics card, hard disk, keyboard and monitor -- to get
\nit running. Then you can add accessories such as a sound card, an
\ninternal modem, an Ethernet card, a CD-ROM drive and so on. The
\ngood thing is that most of the circuitries in every hardware
\ncomponent have some mechanism to handle assembly errors, so
\nputting the wrong cable in the wrong place does not necessarily
\nend up in wasted computer parts. However, good and reliable
\ncomponents do not necessarily make a great PC if they are not put
\ntogether in the proper way.<\/p>\n
Forget about missing screws, which is a common problem in PCs
\nmade in Glodok due to carelessness and the pressure to assemble
\nas many PCs as possible per day. Sometimes they use a screw of
\nthe wrong size, and use force to tighten it. Almost always this
\nwill result in damage to the casing, but who cares? This is the
\nGlodok version of a PC assembly line.<\/p>\n
Obviously, it is not the best way to build a PC. There are
\nsteps that you have to follow. For example, before you touch any
\nof the components and take them out of their special plastic
\nwraps, you must touch the metal part in the rear of any PC to
\ndischarge any static electricity that may ruin the sensitive
\nelectronics.<\/p>\n
If you are serious about learning to assemble your own PC in
\nthe proper way, several computer training institutions in town
\nhave begun offering courses in hardware. States Information
\nTechnology in Kebayoran, for example, has included a hardware
\ncourse in the menu of computer courses that they offer.<\/p>\n
You do not have to buy your own components, as these are
\nalready provided by them for learning purposes. They will show
\nyou all the components that are required to build a PC -- the
\nprocessor, the memory, the motherboard, etc. They will also tell
\nyou the difference between SDRAM and RDRAM, for example, so you
\nknow which one to buy for your next PC. And they will guide you
\nas you insert the memory modules into their slots.<\/p>\n
Once the components are put together, they will teach you how
\nto set up the BIOS. This is an important step that people in
\nGlodok or Mangga Dua usually neglect. The right BIOS setting,
\nwhich basically tells the system how to handle all the input and
\noutput in and out of the components, will determine the overall
\nperformance of the PC.<\/p>\n
In the course, you will also be taught to partition the hard
\ndisk, install the operating system and find the right driver for
\nhardware components such as the modem, the mouse and the sound
\ncard. The instructor at States Information Technology will even
\nteach you how to overclock your processor, i.e., to run your
\nprocessor faster than its designated speed. If you encounter
\nproblems in the process, so much the better. You will also learn
\nhow to troubleshoot your PC.<\/p>\n
If you have no interest in learning to build your own PC,
\ndefinitely a course in computer hardware and the proper way of
\nassembling a PC will be very useful to your children. Ask anyone
\nwho has at least once built his own PC, and he will definitely
\ntell you how much fun he had. -- Zatni Arbi<\/p>",
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