How schools are tricked into using PCs--when Macs are better

Zdnet ^ | 2/11/02 | Bob Shier

[lawdude]

"...when Macs are better

I some opinion. A friend who is employed by a major university in computer networking systems will disagree wholeheartedly and opt for PC every time! He loves to show maint. logs to prove the error of the above statement!

[Don Joe]

"who's trying to convert who?"

Who posted the patently evangelical article at the top of the thread?

[babyface00]

I've been in business computer support, both in-house and as a consultant for the better part of a decade. I've worked with and supported just about every flavor of PC, as well as Macs and Unix boxes.

I won't argue that Macs aren't elegant machines. I have nothing against them. That said, there's no way in heck I'd ever recommend a business spend the enormous amount of money to change from the Wintel platform over to all Macintosh. Until that happens, the vast majority of businesses will continue to use Wintel and thus it makes sense for schools to teach on this platform.

Would anyone suggest using an Amiga in schools? Its a great machine, but no one uses it. Same arguement holds true for the Mac. It's sad, but that's reality.

Oh, and as for support, believe me Macs are certainly not immune from defects, and they are usually big bucks to fix. From my experience, as long as you're buying well-designed, business-quality equipment (IBM, HP, Compaq) you'll see as good reliability as Mac.

[wheezer]

I think that's what I was saying. ;o)

[Don Joe]

Wow, UFB.

Do the Mackers even read a post before firing at it?

Tree of Liberty made a point, and you (putatively) "argue" it by proving it!

[thatsnotnice]

Apple lost, and now serves a fringe market of some educators, graphics professionals, and self-styled digerati.

True, but only until those graphics professionals and digerati try the SGI O2+ machines... then they'll jump ship.

[JoeGar]

How schools are tricked into using PCs--when Macs are better

Whether Macs are better is debatable -- but irrelevant. They are like Beta VCRs and OS2. They lost they war. Move on.

[Tree of Liberty]

I was in HS eight years ago and basic PC components and usage remains about the same, and where the differences are, my prior knowlege lets me adapt more easily than if I had to learn the entire system from scratch.

[Tree of Liberty]

Thank you.

[Don Joe]

"I'm probably in the minority, but I don't feel that PC's are necessary equipment for primary education."

When I was a kid I'd have given my eye teeth for a "mere" 4-banger calculator. Of course, it was about a decade or so before the first models appeared, and they were not only far from "pocket" size, but cost beaucoup hundred bucks.

I remember when I was able to buy my first adding machine (used, "cheap") when I was in my twenties. It made doing my taxes so absurdly easy that I felt like I'd died and gone to accounting heaven. (Hey, I just waxed dramaqueenesque Just Like A Real Macker!)

[JoeSixPack1]

VHS vs. BETA
Ford vs. Chevy
MAC vs. IBM
Dog vs. Cat
Good vs. Evil
General Mills vs. Proctor & Gamble
Goodyear vs. Michelin
Harley vs. Honda
Superman vs. Spiderman
Cops vs. Donuts

I love the USA !!

[Seruzawa]

Didn't Mac's CEO make some really stupid statement back in the 80's that Mac was only going to cater to the "best" people and only sell expensive stuff to the elite clientele?Oldsmobile said something similar earlier this Century. Look who owns them now.

While Mac closely controlled their OS and refused to license clones the MS inferior OS took over the market. Bad business decisions can doom a superior product. Remember VHS vs. Beta?

[Tree of Liberty]

I was lumping in film making with graphic artists. I probably should have been more explicit, but it still composes a relatively minute portion of the job market.

[gorush]

Try standing up and stating that position at a school budget meeting and be prepared to run for your life"

...actually I did. It was during my unsuccessful bid for a seat on the school board (near Madistan, WI). The teachers were very happy I lost. (after attending a bunch of the meetings, I was happy I lost, too) ...Did quite well for an unknown, though, while only campaigning via letters to the editor.

Many didn't feel I should serve as I have no kids, yet they weren't prepared to give my school taxes back for the same reason. :{)

[Vermonter]

Good for you. That's the same reason I got on the technology committee. No kids in school, but my taxes kept going up. I didn't try to evangelize Macs, but hoped to keep the spending on computers reasonable.

HA! Try telling anyone they don't need the latest and greatest X86 with CD, sound and a huge monitor to teach word processing. Or that old computers can be used for word processing rather than being replaced. I finally gave up.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Well, it's like English. You may decide that Spanish is a superior language and culture and force your kids to grow in a Spanish-speaking environment but you should be aware that, by doing so, you are severely limiting their options as grownups.

[Republic of Texas]

I was tricked into buying a Nissan over a Toyota. The Nissan salesguy, being an evil trickster, told me it was a better car. There oughta be a law.

[Utopia]

fringe market of some educators, graphics professionals, and self-styled digerati.

Ok, you don't like Lucas and special effects (100+ scenes of his lastest movie made on an iMac with OS X and his lastest software), but the visual effects industry, the graphics industry market is hardly fringe .

Do you actually know what a Mac can do, or is this cut a knee jerk reaction? I have to ask because I still can't believe when I read hogwash about Macs that may have been true 10 years ago, but not now. Have you ever seen OS X? Do you know what it is? Have you ever heard of Mach? Do you understand what that is? I only ask because you so easily dismiss the Apple computer yet give no reasons for it. (Notice, I have not dismissed Wintel - I've only said it was not right for me.) And your reasons are, well, lacking in intelligence ...

Looking for intelligent life here .. finding none, I move on ...

[gilor]

Good point.

[Don Joe]

"Like the housing and property industry which is run by the axium Location, Location, Location the CIA uses Macs because of Security, Security, Security."

You know for a fact that the predominance of Macs in that agency is merely coincidental to the disproportionate influence of groups like this one?

You might want to reconsider your choice of credibility-fodder, Mr. Almost. *snicker*

(BTW, I wonder how it is that that outfit gets away with quoting an entire WashingPost piece without getting actioned into the ground?)