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“Techie” Interview Series 5 – Joey Camarena

I ran into Joey while visiting his blog, cleartechinfo.com, which is a blog dedicated to the technology and computer beginner.  He makes some very good tutorials showing how to get things done on the computer.  Check out his blog, you may find it useful!  Here’s the interview he was mkind enough to give:

Bio:

My name is Joey Camarena. I was born and currently live in Southern California. I have an A+ certification. I have worked a couple of years at a large retail store named “Fry’s” and about 7 years at Creative Labs Inc. I currently work for a local school district as a Computer Tech.

Do you mind being called a “techie” friend?

I do not mind being called a techie friend. I don’t get insulted that easily, I have been called much worse, lol.

How long have you been interested in technology or computers?

I have been interested in computers since the 4th or 5th grade. A neighborhood friend had this computer from Radio Shack which we played video games on. I begged my father to buy me one, which he did. Then years later he bought me my 1st real computer, a 386. I then discovered “Wolfenstein” and eventually, “Doom 2″. 1st person shooters became my heroine. So I had to learn how to build and maintain them to keep up with the latest hardware that was compatible with the newest FPS games.

Do people in your life (friends or relatives) seem to turn to you for computer related problems?

Yes. Most people I know, family, friends and coworkers turn to me for help on computer related issues.

If so, does this bother you?

This doesn’t bother me. I don’t mind helping out at all as long as I have the time. The only times I do not help them out the same day or weekend is when I want to get out, away from the computer and have a social life. If they call me up on my cell and leave a message I just call them back the next day. If they want me to fix their computer I just tell them I will not be available that weekend since I am busy.

If someone would contact you for assistance, what kind of steps should they take before asking for help?

The first thing I would tell them is to “RTM” (read the manual *edited*), lol. Next thing I would tell them is to make sure that all the cabling is plugged in correctly and restart the computer. Last thing I would instruct them to do is type their question into Google.

Where do you see the internet in 10 years?

In 10 years I see the print versions of newspapers going out of business and the industry transitioning 100% online or near that figure. I see the Internet integrated into more appliances and vehicles. People will have a very tough time living without it, even more than now.

Related to the last question, where do you see computers in 10 years?

In 10 years from now computer will be smaller, a LOT more powerful, use less energy and therefore produce less heat. Computers will be a lot smarter, artificial intelligence will be much improved but still not perfect. Media Center/Entertainment PCs that are made to be plugged into your living room TV and stereo will be more mainstream and a lot easier to plug in and use.

Your opinion on:

Best OS?

I have used Linux (Ubuntu and Fedora), XP and Vista (32 and 64-bit versions). The best operating system for most people is the 32-bit version of Windows XP Pro. It is the friendliest and most compatible OS that runs smoothly as long as you have a half-way decent PC. If you are very good with computers and don’t mind initially jumping through a few hoops I’d recommend Ubuntu.

Best Web browser?

The best browser is Mozilla Firefox. It runs smooth, fast and has a ton of free add-ons. I love it so much it was the main subject of at least a dozen video tutorials I have made.

Best free/paid antivirus program?

The best Anti-Virus program I have used is Kaspersky Anti-Virus. The computers at work are all using a different brand since I assume it was a lot cheaper to purchase but not nearly as good as Kaspersky. I had my boss buy me Kaspersky Anti-Virus since I noticed there were a lot of virus problems these past 9 months. I combine Kaspersky with the free version of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware to scan and disinfect any computer at work that is infected with viruses/malware, etc. That combo works great. I do not have much experience with free anti-virus programs so I do not know enough to comment on them.

Best search engine?

I don’t think there is any doubt that Google is the best search engine. I can’t live without it.

What are the top 3-5 websites you visit regularly?

• Twitter.com
• Anandtech.com
• TomsHardware.com
• ProBlogger.net
• NickyCakes.com

Thanks for giving us some of your time, Joey!

-Anyone else, feel free to add to or comment on anything discussed above!