Tools for the Wannabe Geek

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

So an incoming freshman on my team says to me, "Eugenia, how can I make the best of the year as a robotics geek?". I looked at him and said, you know, you're not quite my level of approved geekiness yet. So obviously I am on a mission to show him how to become a geek. I'd like y'all to help me. My first tool for Mr. Wannabe Geek is...
*drumroll*
l337 Translator (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/leet.php)

[Scooter]

Well, I'd have to say duct tape is one major tool....though it's not directly computer related, it certianly had lotsa applications. I'd also say a USB flash drive...Can't live without one.

-Bill

[Stephen Kowski]

cold heat soldering iron.....not just any old soldering iron he needs a special cold one like i have....

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/69d3/

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Let's just say MAJOR thinkgeek shopping spree is in question for the silly freshman.

[MissInformation]

cold heat soldering iron.....not just any old soldering iron he needs a special cold one like i have....

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/69d3/

I love thinkgeek! My new favorite from them is this:

Swiss Memory (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/6b3b/)


Heidi

[Astronouth7303]

Well, if you want to be a computer geek (like myself), Here's what I'd do:
Know you're chosen OS. Intimately. If you use linux, compile the kernal a few times (with some changes that actually work) and know Bash. If you're running Windows (which doesn't disqualify you from geekiness), know hacks and don't be afraid of the registry
Get rid of the Alpha interface in WinXP (if applicable)
Get a USB Key (aka USB Mass Storage Device or Jumpdrive if you're talking to normal people). The larger the better. And make sure it supports USB 2.
Learn a Programming language or two. I happen to do Visual Basic 6 and PIC C. (and learning Visual C++)
Get Freeware/open source apps. I can recomend a few:
ConTEXT - A great text editor for coding. Includes a customizable highlighter and support for compilers.
OpenOffice - Replaces MS Office.
Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) - A souped-up version of MS Internet Explorer
Get a sourceforge registration. Also a good idea to join some projects
Get a CVS client (for Sourceforge). I can recomend TortoiseCVS, which integrates itself with Windows.

I think this is a good start, but I know I'm missing something...

[KyleGilbert45]

ThinkGeek.com calls it "An essential geek tool".

Swiss CyberTool 41 (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/3653/)

I've got one on order....thanks Microsoft...lol

[Billfred]

Now THE essential geek tool, as we all know, is teh firefox.

http://www.mozilla.org

[JoeXIII'007]

Oh YES! The perfect thing he needs is a laptop found at a yard/garage sale for CHEAP. Notice the word CHEAP.

The summer before my freshman year I found a laptop manufactured in May of 1992 from the now extinct company AST. The lady selling it offered it to me for $5! No kidding, she previously wanted $20 for it, but it was the last day and wanted to get rid of it. It was STUFFED with goodies, MS Word, PP, Excel, 4.0, a designing lab, Win 3.1, etc. I loaded other goodies into it, fixed its registry, and it became a beastly machine. Sadly the LCD ribbon tore and I had to rip off the screen and give it a monitor. :( But it still is what it was.

So, I recommend he goes out and looks for one, there is still plenty of time in the summer for sales to pop up.

PS: anyone have a site I can goto to find a replacement LCD signal ribbon for it, I would like to make it mobile again.

[Jay H 237]

Oh YES! The perfect thing he needs is a laptop found at a yard/garage sale for CHEAP. Notice the word CHEAP.

The summer before my freshman year I found a laptop manufactured in May of 1992 from the now extinct company AST. The lady selling it offered it to me for $5! No kidding, she previously wanted $20 for it, but it was the last day and wanted to get rid of it. It was STUFFED with goodies, MS Word, PP, Excel, 4.0, a designing lab, Win 3.1, etc. I loaded other goodies into it, fixed its registry, and it became a beastly machine. Sadly the LCD ribbon tore and I had to rip off the screen and give it a monitor.
PS: anyone have a site I can goto to find a replacement LCD signal ribbon for it, I would like to make it mobile again.

You could try Impact Computers (http://www.impactcomputers.com/index.html). I have dealt with them several times and have been very satisfied with them. They are located in Florida. I bought a Toshiba Satellite 2800 series off Ebay with a damaged keyboard and dead battery. I replaced the keyboard and battery and also maxed the memory out with parts from Impact. They were cheaper than going through Toshiba. The Satellite has performed flawlessly for me so far. I don't know if they would have the parts you need or if they list all of them on thier website but it's worth a shot.

[Astronouth7303]

PS: anyone have a site I can goto to find a replacement LCD signal ribbon for it, I would like to make it mobile again.

Try googling the model name. You may be plesently surprised.

[Katie Reynolds]

Try beating this guy: Super Mario Brother's 3 Time Attack (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/smb3.php)

If you can beat that game faster than he does, I'll ... give you a high five. Or something. :D

[Pat McCarthy]

Pertaining to Thinkgeek,
I saw "I am JVN" on the fortunes page! :yikes: It's spreading!!!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/fortune.shtml *surfer beware, occasionally has inappropriate language*

There are other great, completely random things that appear on that page also.

[Andy A.]

A paper clip, key chain LED light and a good knife.

The days of ejecting stuck 3.5 disks may seem over- but mark my words, I use a paper clip on a daily basis. Watch some Mcguiver for ideas on how to best implement the paper clip.

LED lights are just so cheap and geekish these days theres no excuse not to have one.

I actually prefer non swiss army knives. Sure, they have 50 tools, but they are clunkers. I find I use my normal folding knife far more then even my Leather-man. Although, that wave is always nice to have in the pits...

Oh, and a good hammer. Sometimes, you just have to beat something (someone?) into submission. Yes, you can use your head, but its a lot easier with a hammer.

-Andy A.

[RogerR]

how about a good set of calipers? i can't believe they haven't been mentioned yet...

[Ryan Dognaux]

Assorted Sharpies are a necessity. :]

[ebmonon36]

Zip ties are a must. I always carry around some small 4" zip ties in my pocket. They are good for when you need zip ties or just to chew on. Also, lots of cool small tools to put on your keychain are fun.
Eric

[Jake177]

We all know duck tape is good for keeping things from moving, but what if you want something to move and it won't? I recomend some WD-40.

[Elgin Clock]

I recomend some WD-40.
It also makes a great cologne if you buy the small 5" travel sized can. :cool:

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Mod everything is site!

http://home.comcast.net/~rodriguezl/DSCN1413.JPG

[Elgin Clock]

Mod everything is site!

http://home.comcast.net/~rodriguezl/DSCN1413.JPG
:ahh:

Ok, at first I was like.. Oops. Ogre posted a wrong link.. And then I looked at the back of that thing.

I have 3 words.

I want one!!!!!

[Ryan M.]

This watch (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/5eec/) is the ultimate in geekdom. And I know someone who owns one. :D

[looneylin]

Okkk. The most essential thing to g33k-hood is like a really heavy, obscenely huge, complicated, and uber cool calculator. I mean not just any ordinary calculator, I mean the ones with a keyboard on it and 3D functions. They're soo cool. I wish I had one.
-mmm.... calculator. lol :D

[Ryan M.]

Okkk. The most essential thing to g33k-hood is like a really heavy, obscenely huge, complicated, and uber cool calculator. I mean not just any ordinary calculator, I mean the ones with a keyboard on it and 3D functions. They're soo cool. I wish I had one.
-mmm.... calculator. lol :DYou have to read the whole manual for your graphing calculator, otherwise you're one of the billion losers (;)) who don't know how to use it. The manual is only 150 pages for the TI-83+ family. :D

[Astronouth7303]

Okkk. The most essential thing to g33k-hood is like a really heavy, obscenely huge, complicated, and uber cool calculator. I mean not just any ordinary calculator, I mean the ones with a keyboard on it and 3D functions. They're soo cool. I wish I had one.
-mmm.... calculator. lol :D
But aren't g33ks frequently w/o $$$? All I know is that a Voyage 200 is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Give me an 84+ SE any day!

[Dorienne]

You can't be a geek unless you have the Original Star Trek Series (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002I831S/104-5318901-2143112?v=glance).
Haha.
--Dori

[greencactus3]

not only can you not be a geek without some, but you still havent even started life until you have some LEGOs :D

[KyleGilbert45]

Any of the Fisher Space Pens. (http://www.spacepen.com/usa/index2.htm)

They were mentioned in this thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30047&highlight=million)

Who else would want a pen that can right in 0 gravity?

[DCA Fan]

not only can you not be a geek without some, but you still havent even started life until you have some LEGOs :D
You're right about that one :-D

[looneylin]

Wow, a lot of this stuff is awesome. But aren't they for uber cool g33ks? I mean honestly, I think people who have that kind of technology are sooo cool. Or maybe if you think people who have those stuff you're a g33k yourself. haha
-so, for the stereotypical g33k, I feel these things are essential
1) a pocket protector
2) glasses
3) calculator always at hand
4) a vast arrangement of pens and pencils
5) kleenex (g33ks tend to sneeze a lot)
6) a formal understanding of D&D
7) mebbe an inhaler
8) their own internet site or 2, it depends
haha. okk.. I had some time to think about this kind of stuff :D

[Joe Matt]

cd distro of linux. might i suggest phlak.org?

[Jeff Rodriguez]

How about a PDA?

[Jaine Perotti]

Go old school---
get a slide rule

[dez250]

How about a case or two of Bawls and an RJ45 crimping tool...

[CmptrGk]

i second the bawls, and you need to have g33ky music also

[looneylin]

mebbe reading the dictionary for fun :D

[Lisa Perez]

Two words: BINARY CLOCK :)

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

A high quality DDR home pad is a necessity. I prefer Cobalt over RedOctane myself, but if you must take RedOctane you are still geeky for purchasing any of the above.

A Binary bed set (pillow & blanket) are available at thinkgeek.com

A must for any selfrespecting geek.

Also!!!
A good Emulator on your computer, Zsnes if you want old school geek like me and play Super Mario World all day (I loooove that game).

w00t
Teh G

[Lisa Perez]

Oh yes, if you can play Tetris for at least 2 hours straight, you can join the club ^.^

[Bharat Nain]

Tools for a Wannabe Geek? Chiefdelphi

duh. :p

[Corey Balint]

Oh yes, if you can play Tetris for at least 2 hours straight, you can join the club ^.^
Tetris on Xbox is a must. 3-d Cube spinning- :cool:
After 10 minutes you become addicted and dont stop playing.

[Elgin Clock]

I have to throw in my 2 cents.

If you have never seen the movie Tron, you are not a true geek yet.