MattHelmke
MattHelmke
My name is Matt Helmke and I am one of the admins 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 5000 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 am an [https://launchpad.net/~ubuntumembers Ubuntu member], and a member of the [https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-pda Ubuntu PDA team] and the [https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-moroccan-users Moroccan Users team].
I can be found from time to time (rarely) on irc.freenode.net in #ubuntu and #ubuntuforums using the nickname(s) forumsmatthew or 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.
Email: matthelmke AT {SPAMFREE} ubuntu DOT com
Launchpad: [https://launchpad.net/people/matthelmke matthew]
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