is it harder to put a computer together or a bicycle together?

Is it harder to put a computer together or a bicycle together?

I was thinking about this when I look at how much stuff goes into putting a bicycle together. I think putting a bicycle may be harder to put together but a computer is more prone to a disaster happening. Like static getting on the cpu or putting something in the wrong way. A bicycle would take a longer time to put together I think.

I have done both. I thought it was harder finding the information neccessary to make correct bicycle part purchases and also fine tuning the bike took me atleast a few weeks. My vote goes to bicycles.

bike easily

I think I would have an easier time with the bicycle. It would be tough, but I think I could manage if I sank enough time into it. The idea of putting a computer together is horribly intimidating though.Kimimaro_DS

Computer, i never build a Bicycle so i don't know

I would guess its harder to put together a bicycle. Building a computer really isn't that hard and doesn't take much tech knowledge at all

I'd find a bike harder. Mainly due to the fettling and fine tuning. With the gears been the most annoying part, for me at least.

Bike, if you make a mistake putting a pc together it wont start up. If you make a mistake putting a bike together there is a good chance you will become good friends with a trucks wheel arch.

A Computer, I lack experience in Electronics.Vampireofficer

PC parts only go in one way, and you've got instructions so it's kinda hard to screw up unless you forcefully jam stuff in like a maniac :P

a bicycle requires more work, but a computer requires more intelligence.

Bike, easily. My wife just bought one the other night and I had issues figuring out how to get the front wheel off. :(

Well in my short lifetime, I've tried to build about 5 computers from scratch. 3 of them refused to work and one almost went up in flames. The actual physical nature building a PC maybe easier than building a bike but so much can go wrong when building a PC. mrmusicman247

well thats the heart of the issue.

With a PC you can put everything together perfectly... then when you hit the power button, nothing happens... could be something like flaked off soldering

Doesnt quite work the same for a bike... if a wheel is missing, its pretty F'n easy to figure that one out. Dont need to bust out voltage meters and start testing your motherboard.

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"]Well in my short lifetime, I've tried to build about 5 computers from scratch. 3 of them refused to work and one almost went up in flames. The actual physical nature building a PC maybe easier than building a bike but so much can go wrong when building a PC. SoBaus

well thats the heart of the issue.

With a PC you can put everything together perfectly... then when you hit the power button, nothing happens... could be something like flaked off soldering

Doesnt quite work the same for a bike... if a wheel is missing, its pretty F'n easy to figure that one out. Dont need to bust out voltage meters and start testing your motherboard.

I'd find a bike harder. Mainly due to the fettling and fine tuning. With the gears been the most annoying part, for me at least.

eyko

Without much knowledge of either, I'd guess they're about the same. You buy pre-built components and assemble them.

EDIT: If anything, the bike might be harder. There's an "analogue-ness" to the bicycle that the computer does not possess. With the computer, either it works or it doesn't. With the bike, you can put it together so that it works s***tily.

The hardest part of putting a computer together is figuring out all the parts you will use.

Without much knowledge of either, I'd guess they're about the same. You buy pre-built components and assemble them.

EDIT: If anything, the bike might be harder. There's an "analogue-ness" to the bicycle that the computer does not possess. With the computer, either it works or it doesn't. With the bike, you can put it together so that it works s***tily.

Palantas

a bike is based on very basic mechanical principles... if you cant figure why you are pedaling and the bike isnt moving... thats pretty damn simple compared to figuring out why you put your PC together, but one of the thousands circuits isnt working.

Is this really a conversation? You want to tell me advanced electrical engineering principles are less than the very basic mechanical enginerring principles. Anyone that doesnt drool can figure out basic mechanical engineering principles.

SoBaus

I could type an actual rebbutal to this, but since you typed more of an emotional outburst than an actual argument, we'll need to refine your post first.

Is this really a conversation? You want to tell me advanced electrical engineering principles are less than the very basic mechanical enginerring principles.

SoBaus

What does "less" mean here? Less in what sense?

I think there's some bias here since most on this forum are probably more familiar with building computers than bicycles. How many people really build bikes from scratch, as in every individual component purchased seperately?

[QUOTE="SoBaus"]

Palantas

I could type an actual rebbutal to this, but since you typed more of an emotional outburst than an actual argument, we'll need to refine your post first.

Is this really a conversation? You want to tell me advanced electrical engineering principles are less than the very basic mechanical enginerring principles.

SoBaus

What does "less" mean here? Less in what sense?

less is that, you learn these mechanical principles in highschool... if you went to a decent highschool.... but troubleshooting a PC on a electrical enginerring level requires training.

everyone can figure out that if they are peddling and not moving, their chain fell off (or something else is wrong). But if you computer wont start when you press the power button, its not so obvious some solder cracked on the back of the electrical board for your power supply.

repairing electronics, takes alot more intelligence than repairing mechanical devices.

less is that, you learn these mechanical principles in highschool... if you went to a decent highschool.... but troubleshooting a PC on a electrical enginerring level requires training.

everyone can figure out that if they are peddling and not moving, their chain fell off (or something else is wrong). But if you computer wont start when you press the power button, its not so obvious some solder cracked on the back of the electrical board for your power supply.

repairing electronics, takes alot more intelligence than repairing mechanical devices.

SoBaus

In such a situation, no electrical engineering knowledge would be necessary. All that would be needed is to find out what part went bad by a process of elimination, and replace it.

[QUOTE="SoBaus"]

less is that, you learn these mechanical principles in highschool... if you went to a decent highschool.... but troubleshooting a PC on a electrical enginerring level requires training.

everyone can figure out that if they are peddling and not moving, their chain fell off (or something else is wrong). But if you computer wont start when you press the power button, its not so obvious some solder cracked on the back of the electrical board for your power supply.

repairing electronics, takes alot more intelligence than repairing mechanical devices.

superfluidity

In such a situation, no electrical engineering knowledge would be necessary. All that would be needed is to find out what part went bad by a process of elimination, and replace it.

how do you figure out that part? CAn you look insiode your computer case?

less is that, you learn these mechanical principles in highschool... if you went to a decent highschool.... but troubleshooting a PC on a electrical enginerring level requires training.

everyone can figure out that if they are peddling and not moving, their chain fell off (or something else is wrong). But if you computer wont start when you press the power button, its not so obvious some solder cracked on the back of the electrical board for your power supply.

SoBaus

Perhaps you have never ridden a bicycle. You seem keen to oversimply that activity. In my first post, I mentioned the "analogueness" of a bicycle. You just ignored that and went on to describe a bicycle in a binary state: Moving or not moving. If you had ridden a bicycle, you would be aware that there is more to than that. A bicycle has a "feel" in its suspension, gears, brakes, and ergonomics. These elements need to tuned with a personal touch in order to provide an enjoyable riding experience.

Now, if you have ridden a bicycle, then I don't know what your deal is, other than being argumentative. And I also dunno why you picked me, as a bunch of other people in this thread said the same thing.

You also seem to be exagerrating the level of skill needed to build a computer. You buy pre-built components and assemble them. This does not require advanced training, and as evidence I point to the people I know with no formal training in electronics or engineering who have built computers.

repairing electronics, takes alot more intelligence than repairing mechanical devices.

SoBaus

Clearly this depends on the scope and scale of the project. I've installed a new harddrive on a laptop and installed a new shifter on a bicycle. If you don't count re-installing Windows, the shifter took much longer.

how do you figure out that part? CAn you look insiode your computer case?

SoBaus

Are you being serious? I've personally done this before and I don't know the first thing about electrical engineering.

You simply strip the computer down to its bare components and work backward. See if it posts, if not it could be memory, mobo or ps. Check the mobo lights, if they don't come on it's either the mobo or ps. Check the ps lights and fan. If they're working it's probably the mobo and you can get it replaced and test that, if not then it's the ps.

I know how to repair computers because of the standardized way they are designed, not because I know anything about engineering.

Bikes!

I've done both and computers are generally easy these days. Bikes can be a pain, especially the cables for brakes and gears, then fine tuning those tiny little screws to make all the gears work as they should when you use the gear levers

Bike...for a pc you only need a screw driver...and you dont have to use any strength when tightening anything.

Never tried either, but a bicycle sounds more intimidating (dad is a computer scientist, so I've watched over his shoulder from time to time). My friend built his racing bike, and it took him a week after he got all of his parts together. It looked like putting together a skeleton in a museum. :P

A computer is pretty easy, just slot things in and plug in cables. Things only fit where they need to go, so it's tricky to do anything wrong. I am a computer enthusiast, but I do like my cycling too. I would find it more difficulty to build a bike.