[onomatopoeic, widely spread through SF fandom but reported to have
originated at Caltech in the 1970s] One who is fascinated by computers.
Less specific than hacker, as it need not imply more
skill than is required to play games on a PC. The derived noun neeping applies specifically to the long
conversations about computers that tend to develop in the corners at most
SF-convention parties (the term neepery is also in wide use). Fandom has a
related proverb to the effect that Hacking is a conversational black
hole!
.