I’ve always loved PC. It was more than just a hobby for me. It was a passion, a way of life, a source of joy and wonder. Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by how electricity could power tiny transistors and make them do amazing things. I wanted to learn everything I could about the modern computing stack, from hardware to software, from low-level to high-level, from embedded to cloud.

I started programming in turbo pascal on an old 16-bit system that my dad gave me. He was a programmer too, and he taught me the basics. I was hooked. I learned how to write code, debug it, optimize it and run it on different platforms. I saw Windows evolve from 3.11 to the latest version. I experimented with different languages and tools, such as visual basic, C-rootkits, Delphi 7, Visual C++ 6.0 and more. I loved the challenge and the creativity of solving problems with code.

I also had fun with microcontrollers, CPUs and GPUs. I learned how to mod bios, tweak settings, overclock and underclock components. I even crafted my own cases, racks and cooling systems for datacenter rooms. I was proud of my creations. They were like my children. I cared for them, nurtured them, protected them.

I also explored the world of linux and unix. I built my own kernels and ramfs for embedded systems. I played with Gentoo and X.Org, and learned how to customize everything to my liking. I used Freebsd ports to compile chromium and vlc on a slow LGA775 platform. It took hours, but it was worth it. I felt a sense of accomplishment and freedom.

There are still many things that I haven’t tried yet, but I’m always eager to learn more and expand my horizons. There is only one thing that I can’t stand - it is Apple. I don’t even want to hear their products’ names, especially around kids! ;-P

They don’t understand and share my passion. They don’t appreciate the beauty and complexity of PC. They only care about marketing, shiny gadgets and fancy logos.

That’s my story. I hope you liked it.