Ohai there. I literally just started mining bitcoin, kinda late to the scene, but I made a quick learn of it and a few mistakes along the way.
So here is a summary of my adventure:
After purchasing 8 ASIC miners, a USB hub block, and USB fan. I tested various speeds to get them just right. I had no idea how complex these lil things where. The more research I did, the more confused I got. Until I had hit the threshold of understanding, and now it is all clear.
I started mining bitcoin at 50btc's pool... I just found out about all the hacking and ddosing, now I've got about 100k shares at 16 difficulty stocked up over there, and I'm pretty sad to see that I will most likely never see the payout from it. What a waste of a week. Lesson learned.
Light at the end of the tunnel: btcguild is now my new mining pool, and I like it very much. It was very quick to setup, and similar UI to 50btc.
So why am I/why did I start mining bitcoin? I have only 2 good reasons.
The first, is... it's nerdcore. Whats cooler than turning your computer into a number crunching coin press?
Turning your computer into a number crunching coin press with cool USB erupter blocks overtaking your desk!
##FEELS ALERT##
The best reason? I've struggled my whole life trying to build computer games, card games, board games, well just... games. My son loves the work I do, he wants to be just like me. He even has his own little laptop and tells me "I'm making money like you daddy..." and just types away...Trust me its a tear jerking experience as a father, he says it constantly. He swears he's gonna be just like me, and thinks I'm some kind of magician with a computer. I've been unsuccessful in alot of ventures, but I've never quit. The hard part for me is, to build games, the morgage must be paid, I sleep 4 hours a night so I can do both. Hopefully, I can solve a single block or get a good share amount, at least enough so I can get us a safe car, and spend more time with him, instead of hoarding around this laptop trying to make him a future.