Computing basics are still kicking my ass in 2025 even though I’ve been messing with computers since the Bush administration, and I figured if I’m still confused, maybe y’all are too.
I’m sitting here in my apartment in [redacted mid-size US city], air conditioner rattling like it’s about to die, empty Taco Bell wrapper next to my mouse pad, trying to explain computing basics without sounding like a know-it-all or a total idiot. Spoiler: I’m probably gonna land somewhere in between.
Why Computing Basics Still Matter in 2025 (Even If You Hate Tech)
Look, I used to think “I just need to know how to open Netflix” was enough. Then my mom called me crying because her new “smart” fridge kept locking her out and she thought the CIA was watching her cottage cheese. That’s when I realized computing basics aren’t optional anymore—they’re survival skills.
Even if you’re not a programmer, understanding the fundamentals stops you from feeling like a helpless boomer when something breaks. Which it will. Constantly.
My Pathetic Hardware Journey (aka How I Learned What’s Inside the Box)
I once spent 45 minutes on the phone with tech support because my brand-new laptop “wouldn’t turn on.” Turns out I had plugged the charger into the extension cord… that wasn’t plugged in. True story. I cried a little after hanging up.
What Actually Matters About Hardware in Computing Basics
- CPU – the brain. Faster number = more money. I still buy mid-range because I’m cheap and mostly watch YouTube.
- RAM – short-term memory. 8 GB is painful in 2025. 16 GB minimum, 32 GB if you like having 40 tabs open like I do.
- Storage – SSDs are life. I swapped my old HDD for an NVMe SSD last year and nearly wept at how fast Windows loaded.
- GPU – only matters if you game, edit video, or do AI stuff. Mine’s a potato and I’m fine (mostly lying).
Pro tip from my own dumb mistakes: when upgrading RAM, buy the exact same stick you already have. Mixing brands and speeds can make your computer angrier than my ex when I forget trash day.
Software: The Part That Actually Makes Me Rage-Quit
Software is basically just instructions. But in 2025 it feels like instructions written by sadists who hate us.
I have 14 password managers installed because I keep forgetting which one has my bank login. My desktop looks like a crime scene. Anyway.
Operating Systems – My Hot Takes
- Windows 11 – fine, but I still miss Windows 7’s simplicity.
- macOS – pretty, expensive, and makes me feel poor.
- Linux – I tried Ubuntu for three weeks last summer. Felt very smart for about four days, then spent a Saturday fixing Wi-Fi. Went back to Windows.
Apps & Programs You Actually Need in 2025
- Chrome or Firefox (pick one and stop arguing)
- Notepad++ or VS Code if you ever want to feel like a hacker
- 7-Zip for unzipping stuff without ads
- Malwarebytes (because Norton is a scam and we all know it)
The Internet & Cloud – Where My Data Goes to Party Without Me
I still don’t fully understand how my Google Photos can show me pictures from 2017 faster than I can find my keys, but here we are.
Cloud storage saved my butt when my external hard drive committed die last March. Lost six years of terrible poetry and okay vacation pics. Lesson learned: back up to at least two places.
Quick 2025 cloud reality check:
- Google Drive – 15 GB free, plays nice with everything
- iCloud – only if you’re already in the Apple cult
- Dropbox – still good but expensive
- OneDrive – comes with Microsoft 365, which I have because work pays for it
Security: My Embarrassing Wake-Up Call Computing Basics
Last year someone tried to Venmo scam me for $800 pretending to be my niece. I almost fell for it because the text had correct emojis. I’m an idiot.
Computing Basics Security Rules I Actually Follow Now Computing Basics
- Use a password manager (I finally picked Bitwarden – free tier is fine)
- Turn on 2FA everywhere possible
- Don’t click links in texts unless you’re expecting them
- Update your damn computer when it asks (I used to ignore this for weeks)
- Antivirus? Windows Defender is honestly good enough for most of us
Networking & Wi-Fi: Why My Zoom Calls Sound Like a Robot Orgy
My apartment Wi-Fi is a war zone. Neighbor’s router is named “FBI Surveillance Van #47” and I believe him.
Quick tips from someone who reset his router 3 times last week:
- Put it higher up (closet shelf > floor)
- Change channel if there’s interference
- Mesh systems are worth it if your place is bigger than a shoebox
- Ethernet cable still wins for gaming or important calls
Wrapping This Mess Up Computing Basics
So yeah, that’s my sweaty, slightly unhinged take on computing basics in 2025. I’m still learning, still breaking stuff, still googling things I should already know.
If any of this helped even a little, drop a comment and tell me what part of computers still makes you want to yeet your device out the window. Or if you have a better way to organize 47 Chrome tabs, I’m begging you to share.
Next time your computer acts up, maybe think “what would that chaotic dude from the internet do?” and then do the opposite. You’ll probably be fine.
Talk soon, Me, still trying to adult in 2025
