GED instead of finishing school Are there any drawbacks to dropping out of school and completing a GED instead of finishing and getting a diploma?

I am in the midwest United States and am currently unemployed. I would eventually like to have a job focused on computing and was wondering if getting a GED would let me start college early.
In general, the high school diploma is viewed better for getting jobs than the GED.  Also by colleges.  GED is (probably properly) viewed as a bit of a degraded HS diploma.

That said, a GED is still far better than nothing.  And of course, you can go on to many great things in life without a HS diploma.  Know a guy retiring as an O-6 in the Navy, who ran away from home, entered the fleet, ended up at USNA (i.e. college) and then had a professional job.

It's kind of unclear what sort of scenario you are describing.  If you're in high school, get it done in school.  No advantage to dropping out for a GED, if the plan is eventual college and a professional job.  Different scenario if you want to work a trade, but even then I would still urge to get the HS diploma.  Our society is overvaluing college...people here will disagree because they are employees of "Big College", but there's no reason for baristas to have college degrees.

Of course, if you're a couple years out of school (to draw a line, let's say older than 19), just get the GED, easiest fastest and move on.

As far as the computer career counseling (especially your comment on being unemployed), I would urge you to get a job, any job (assuming you're over 19).  Even if it's not in computers, just get something, so you're working. It's good to be productive and will help your self esteem and respect from others. 

Also, there are still many technician types of jobs/training in the broadly defined IT industry that are available sans college, sometimes with some training.  If you go that route, do something where the training is at night (so you can work in the day).  Maybe you eventually do some night school college work also, but don't make that an immediate objective.  Also look carefully over the different training options.  There are some that are snaky (expensive, not very useful) and others that are high bang for the buck and high bang for the time.You need to research them.

One practical note, if you're just 16-19, having family disputes and considering dropping out and moving on because of that, don't.  Suck it up and get the HS diploma.  It's pretty common for there to be friction (especially young man with old bull) at that stage in life.  The military used to harvest huge amounts of talented people from this dynamic who entered sans HS diploma.  It is still possible to some extent but even there, getting more restrictive.