Matthew5

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Matthew5

My name is Matt Helmke and I am one of the moderators in the [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/ Official Ubuntu Forums] where I go by the name "[http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=17635 matthew]" and have over 3000 posts helping new users, answering Ubuntu questions, and trying to help maintain a calm, enjoyable and welcoming atmosphere for all. This is my main contribution to the Ubuntu community.

I can also be found from time to time (rarely) on irc.freenode.net in #ubuntu and #ubuntuforums using the nickname matthew5.

I'm not techy in my vocation, but I do have a lot of computer experience. Here's a rundown.

First computer: Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer (1) with 4K ram and a cassette tape recorder for storage. It booted into a very early version of MS-BASIC. I remember upgrading to 32K ram and a disk drive (a 5 1/4 inch disk held 180K of programs... would I ever need more than one??) and thinking I might never need another upgrade...these days I wish my Pentium M 745 with 1Gib of ram was faster with a HD bigger than 80 Gib. <laughs>

When I was younger I programmed in BASIC, then I used Unix in college in the late 80's on a vax while studying LISP and other useless (to me...no language wars, please) things like that. I haven't used LISP since then so all I remember is that I have to count my ()'s. I also began using PC's running DOS as well as early Macs in the university's computer labs. I have studied C and Python as well as bash scripting, but please believe me when I say I'm really just a hackish amateur when it comes to programming.

From the time I graduated from the University of Arizona (1992) until April 2005 I used various MS products...starting on a hand-me-down computer with DOS 4.0, then 5.0 and 5.22, Windows 3.0, 3.1, 98se, Me, and XP.

I got tired of being told what I could & couldn't do with my computer as well as spending my free time running virus scans, defragging my HD, and guarding against spy/adware. I found a Linux mag with a Hoary cd, installed as a dual boot and was hooked. I've been using nothing but Ubuntu since somewhere around October 2005. I love the software, but even more I love the Ubuntu and FOSS philosophies. I found my OS home.

On the wiki my contributions are generally minor editing and such. Here is a sample of some of my other contributions:

I have also made other mentions of Ubuntu in the internet community at large such as a page I originally set up describing the use of [http://www.geocities.com/ubuntumatthew/aopen1557gls.html Ubuntu 5.04 on my laptop] and updated to 5.10 and now 6.06. The page is included on the [http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ Linux on Laptops site].

Email: matthelmke AT {SPAMFREE} ubuntu DOT com

Launchpad: [https://launchpad.net/people/matthelmke matthew]

My plans are to continue to help out by answering questions when I can, writing "how-to" articles when I stumble on an interesting idea and make it work, and doing the occasional wiki edit as well. I have started to pick up my long-lost hobby of programming again, so who knows? I may actually learn how to do something useful on that front as well, but I won't make any promises. Smile :)

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