Need a Little advise

[LeonBlade]

Sorry

[Aeolus]

Lol that random. We dont have time for that bullshit was a joke.

But yeah leon lol you have done alot lately, and calling people on this forums pricks dont help you much.

[XianForce]

Yeah, people here are pricks...

Hey now, we're all nerds here no need for namecalling

Lol, but seriously back on topic...

Would a degree in CS give you a better chance for programming? Cause I like the software aspect over the hardware aspect, but if I can get both of them under my belt, that'd be awesome.

[Aeolus]

Yes Xian lol. About a page or so back they said:

CS: Medium to advanced programming
CPE: cross between electrical engineering and easy/medium programming

[XianForce]

Yes Xian lol. About a page or so back they said:

CS: Medium to advanced programming
CPE: cross between electrical engineering and easy/medium programming

Yeah I saw that, but that still doesn't quite answer my question.

I mean will CS give you the edge over someone with a degree in CPE in a programming job?

[programmerinprogress]

I hate to nitpick, but labelling things as 'easy' and 'medium' just isn't right in my opinion, it's all relative

by easy, I assume you're referring to High-Level (BASIC, VB, VC#, Pascal etc), Medium referrers to Middle Level (C/C++ are the only two that come into my mind) and hard would be low level? (Assembly, machine code( I guess if no appropriate assembler was available))

I'm not trying to be a jackass, but none of these languages are 'easy' or 'hard', some are just more intutive, allowing you to control more user-oriented aspects of the machine, but others allow you to manipulate the hardware (they are machine oriented, i.e. pure assembly is simply mnemonic representations of a processor's Opcodes AND/OR operands)

All I'm saying is, it's probably not right to think of them in terms of difficulty, think of them in terms of purpose.

Low Level - appropriate for writing hardware drivers, manipulating hardware on a system, or getting the best performance out of a system by programming its software in assembly (although this is debatable due to optimisation in newer compilers for higher level languages)
Middle Level - systems or applications programming, that offers some aspects of low-level control but yet remains human-orientated
High Level - appropriate for applications programming, designed to be Human-orientated, usually the fastest to develop in

In CS, you'll probably use more Middle/Higher level languages
in CPE you'll have access to more low and middle level languages
in EE you'll be doing most things in a low level language, you'll also be looking closer at the hardware you're programming for.

end of (not) rant

[sparda]

Would a degree in CS give you a better chance for programming? Cause I like the software aspect over the hardware aspect, but if I can get both of them under my belt, that'd be awesome.

Look dude, just pic a major already, and get it going. It doesn't really matter in the end, as you'll be exposed to both aspects (in a respectable CPE or CS curriculum, and in a respectable college); software and hardware. Case in point, I'm a CS major, and currently attending a plethora of software-esque courses: advance algorithms, OS principles, software engineering. But side-by-side, I'm also *required* to take several computer systems courses, (I'm attending my second one now) where it's all about Digital/Logic design, and the whole sha-bang. Simply put, I'll be building circuits, learning about programmable logic devices, more on gates, flip-flops, gray code, bipolar logic, combinational vs. sequential networks, simplification methods, circuit timing, feedback sequential circuits, you fucking name it. Of course, this is child's play for computer engineering majors, like Falco, as they go more in depth, but the basics are taught across both fields.

Similarly, there are courses which I take, and which CPE majors will never have to. But those are more esoteric and specific to the major.

Ultimately, its really in up to the person to study what interests him/her. If I'm a CS major, and I want to learn about some advance CPE stuff, guess what? I'll buy a book and learn it myself. If there is one thing I've learned, is that us computer geeks are self taught for the most part.

[XianForce]

I'm still in high school...can't really "Pick one and get it going".

[sparda]

I'm still in high school...can't really "Pick one and get it going".

That's fine. I was more addressing everyone who keeps bringing this subject up. It doesn't matter.

[MarauderIIC]

I mean will CS give you the edge over someone with a degree in CPE in a programming job?

I would say that it depends on the programming. Games? Probably depends on the platform, anything recent I'd lean toward 'yes'. Research? Probably, all my theoretical/research classes are CS. Business-related applications? Definitely. Drivers and factory automation? No way. Processor architectures? Nope.
[ CPE vs CS ]

[XianForce]

I mean will CS give you the edge over someone with a degree in CPE in a programming job?

I would say that it depends on the programming. Games? Probably depends on the platform, anything recent I'd lean toward 'yes'. Research? Probably, all my theoretical/research classes are CS. Business-related applications? Definitely. Drivers and factory automation? No way. Processor architectures? Nope.
[ CPE vs CS ]

Thank you, that DIRECTLY answered my question. I think I'm heading the right way with the choice of CS then.

[Aeolus]

Marauder always answers the questions you want to know correctly. He like gets in your mind or something.

As for sparda, you can't just pick a major. The reason they are asking is because its their money, and they want to know "If i go into this major will i have a good opportunity to get the career i want out of it." And since the typical university now requires 43grand a Year in tuition alone (not counting books or room and board) then they should get the answers they need.

I was actually thinking about going in the Airforce for 4 years for computer programming (computer science). They offer free 2 year schooling, 64grand over 4 years pay, free housing / meals, free job for 2 years, and when you get out you are a veteran and with the new laws the u.s states you have to consider all Veterans for jobs before you even think about citizens so basically veterans can easily get a job. Plus all the company's in the U.S. know that if you were trained in the military you were trained better than any college.

But i don't know, is anyone here a Airforce member/vet or has a family member that is in the Airforce? Tell me what its like being in the Armed forces.

[programmerinprogress]

That sounds great, except for the fact that you'll probably end up going to war...

At least you'll get 'on the job' training, and get to visit the world I guess...

[MarauderIIC]

Aeolus, you forgot the sign-on bonus, ha :P
My dad was in the navy as an electrician on a nuclear submarine, he wishes he had stayed long enough to get the medical insurance. I don't think that he ever saw action. My grandpa was in the army and saw Vietnam, he's alright but that Bruce Willis movie, "Tears of the Sun" sent him back for a few minutes. You probably don't want to be in the marines since they're like, the first people to go in and get shot at.

Also 43k per YEAR?! I'm only paying 9k/year (5k/semester), and the government is paying for all of that (but I have to pay some of it back).

If you're in the armed forces and you do wind up going to war, they can extend your tour of duty.

[LeonBlade]

Bleh... Military... I hate the Military...

Don't get me wrong, the Military is good and all, fighting for our "freedom".
But it's not for me... I'm more of a peacefull kind of guy... no not a hippie