Replies

*63,000 computers? I'd say this will require at least 60 techs to support those machines with troubleshooting, hotlines, software upgrades and loads, asset management, rolling out new computers when these are old, rolling out and loading new software and software patches etc. And that is if they can get the computers on a network where they can do remote, automatic upgrades, new virus protection, etc. This'll require a server farm. If the county doesn't do it, they'll hire a vendor. Either way, it's big bucks.

*Within two days each computer that is being used by the kids will be infected with every variety of spyware, adware, popup, etc., making Internet use almost impossible. Who is gonna teach the kids about Popperstopper, Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc.?

*To paraphrase Milton Friedman, people care the least for things that other people paid for and gave them. I'd be surprised if 1/4 of the 63,000 computers are in operation at any given time.

*What about a succession plan? This means they are going into the business of providing computers and support---hardly a one-off expenditure. The computers that survive will be obsolete in three years. Then what?

*What do their lawyers say? When some child uses his/her 'puter for hooking up with someone online who turns out to be an adult, lawsuits will fly, and the County will be the plaintiff.

*Powerpoint? The kids are going to learn Powerpoint. This is so post-modern. It's about teaching the kids STYLE and appearance and perception---how to PRESENT...who cares about content...Make sure the kid knows how to spin stuff with fluff and visuals. One name for that is "chartware"---products you create that exist only on a powerpoint slide.

*If it's like any other government entity I know of, kickbacks are flying among Cobb county bureaucrats.

63,000 computers? I'd say this will require at least 60 techs to support those machines

Wrong--this is part of the support they are getting included in the total contract.

Within two days each computer that is being used by the kids will be infected with every variety of spyware, adware, popup, etc., making Internet use almost impossible. Who is gonna teach the kids about Popperstopper, Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc.?

You obviously have no experience with a Mac--these computers are inherently resisant to all that stuff. I have not had an antivirus or popup stopper on my Mac for the past 10 years and have never have even one of these problems.

Powerpoint? The kids are going to learn Powerpoint. This is so post-modern. It's about teaching the kids STYLE and appearance and perception

Have you ever worked at a professional job in the past 10 years? Right now, today, mastery of Powerpoint is one of the unspoken requirements for advancement. I have not even seen a transparency used in a presentation in the past 5 years. Why would you deny the kids the opportunity to learn a real busuness skill? At first, PowerPoint seems flashy and able to disguise lack of content with fluff, but after a year or so of experience, the audience knows how to tune this out. If someone doesn't have something valuable to say, it becomes apparant quickly.

I work in technology & engineering--drawing intricate graphs on a chalkboard is just not practical. With PowerPoint I can present real pictures and real data.

I stood next to a woman at a Mardi Gras parade who teaches at a New Orleans high tech school funded by Bill and Melinda Gates. Everyone has a laptop.

She says it's a complete waste of money. The kids can barely speak English. What do they need lap tops for?

Yea, the kids will learn algebra better if it is in a power point pitch. Yea, right.

Waste of money if it was a Mac or a PC. Until the kids are ready, these things should be in labs supervised by the appropriate people.

You did notice these were Macintoshes... no spyware... no adware... no popups... no etc. No need to teach them about Popperstopper, Ad-Aware, Spybot, or etc.