I completely agree with this...but I might add that application of the learning might be the next step. Meaning what does the OP want to DO with the knowledge?
I am very smart when it comes to home building. Nobody has ever said different of me.
I went from a laborer to a master carpenter in only a decade or so.
I was a carpenter for 25 years before a scaffold collapse landed me in a wheelchair in 2002.
I learned the trade quick because I was fortunate enough to work for some very qualified builders.
They took the time to share their knowledge with me, and I absorbed it like a dry sponge to water.
I haven't worked since then. I don't do much of anything anymore.
One day I watched a guy doing something on a "really neat looking" phone.
I said something to him like, "I could never even figure out how to turn that thing on" to him.
I had a dated Razor flip-phone at the time, and had been thinking about getting a new flip.
He said, "sure you could. These smart-phones are easy. You ought to go across the street and get you a free one", pointing to T-mobile.
I did. I got a free Optimus T for signing a 2-year.
Then one day, when Googleing(?) Android, I found this forum.
It didn't take long to realize that there are some really, really, smart people here.
Heck, you guys had me hooked on Android instantly.
I had that thing rooted within a couple of months, from not even knowing what the term "smartphone" meant. I figured it was another word for Blackberry or something. Android? IPhone?
Not a clue to rooted in a few months (albeit Gingerbreak, I think. I may be confusing this with my second phone, an HTC My Touch, maybe).
Anyway, I quickly learned what Open Source meant.
It was at that point that I decided that I wanted to learn how to develope an app.
I knew I had some great teachers at my disposal, and lots of time on my hands.
I thought I was smart enough to do anything I set my mind to.
Like learning how to build a house.
But...And this is your answer.
This stuff you guys can do blows my mind.
I am utterly fascinated with what these things can do.
To me, OS means no limits. Every single day, I find, by pushing buttons, checking out apps, and hanging out in here, something new that I wish I knew how it came to be.
I thought (and think) that there are what start out as a simple function. But when all these basic...algorythms...? Functions and commands...? Little...somethings...?that have been given their orders...abilities, thanks to something that is making signals and connections to the...other somethings...when following other commands that are set in play because this other thing said go do that so that we can achieve the final product that the...administrator...?...user...? is asking for...
I want to know how to arrange and layer these orders and commands to get the hardware to function to achieve the desired outcome.
That's it.
I know, at my age and the many real life problems, distractions, that are depleted and tweaking my core thinking processes, that I'll never learn how to make an app, even a little money, maybe, as was my original goal.
It's different now.
I don't have any goals, except to absorb and retain anything that I do learn, if only to help me understand something later.
Just good old fashioned curiosity on how things work.
This phone will be rooted by Tue or Wed, and I will figure out how to play with other ROM's that you guys recommend.
I will be ecstatic when I am there.
I might even have a better sense of belonging (in here), and maybe a boost in my self-confidence.
I guess I must be learning something.
I have confidence in myself that I can follow instructions good enough to not brick this thing (that's only one day old, and uninsured...soon no warranty...I paid $600 cash...)
