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From: Rod Speed on 6 Apr 2010 13:49
Rob wrote:
> On 6/04/2010 9:51 AM, SG1 wrote:
>> "Clocky"<notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message
>> news:4bba756c$0$27875$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com...
>>> John Tserkezis wrote:
>>>> Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> One Laptop Per Child delivers 200 laptops to Territory kids in
>>>>> Yirrkala Non-profit outfit continues to roll out budget XO laptops
>>>>> to children in remote areas
>>>>
>>>> This brings up another somewhat related point. What's the appeal
>>>> of laptops?
>>>>
>>>> My 10yo niece was whining to me that they were originally told they
>>>> were getting laptops, but her school had taken delivery of a bunch
>>>> of brand spanking new desktops instead.
>>>>
>>>> The laptops were to be permanently tethered (presumably via a
>>>> Kensington lock) and never intended to be moved at all. Like the
>>>> desktops will be.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps this was a 10yo's over-active perception here, but the
>>>> reaction was akin to expecting 15 PCs, but actually taking delivery
>>>> of two second hand pocket calculators instead. The non-scientific
>>>> kind.
>>>>
>>>> It's not just her either. Family friends upgrading, are looking at
>>>> laptops to replace their aging desktops. They don't need the
>>>> portability, they tether the machines to one spot, but they appear
>>>> happy to make do with a smaller screen, smaller keyboard, limited
>>>> upgraded potential, a F%#king trackpad instead of a more useful
>>>> mouse, AND a generally higher price to boot. On top of that,
>>>> because they'll never cycle their batteries, it's almost
>>>> guaranteed to bed dead within the year. I'm expecting them to
>>>> whine about the few-month warranty on batteries for this exact
>>>> reason. What makes people do this? I understand the "flavour of the month"
>>>> attraction, but this is way past silly.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Don't get me wrong, lap/note/netbooks have their purpose, I have
>>>> three myself, (seven if you count the broken ones), but I have a
>>>> higher end desktop, a server, another server (that I only use for
>>>> destructive testing), another server that will go into service
>>>> when I get some time, and another two PCs that are quite old that
>>>> I haven't found an embedded purpose for yet.
>>>> I do the *vast* majority of my work on the one desktop simply
>>>> because it's the ideal hardware base for the work.
>>>>
>>>> The lap/netbook(s) are good for portability where I need a wintel
>>>> box while I'm on the move. I certainly don't do (or try hard to
>>>> avoid doing) any heavy duty work on them. And for that they serve
>>>> nicely.
>>>
>>> Kids would be better off learning stuff like long division
>>> multiplication tables and actually learn to use their brains to
>>> work stuff out. My nephew is an top level student yet I'm astounded more about what
>>> he doesn't know then what he does.
>>
>> Try asking a kid to do maths in their head. What a radical idea
>> today. When I am having a good day the brain gets used if not then
>> silicon.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> School kids are sick of using computers all the time.

Like hell they are compared with doing long division in their heads.


From: Clocky on 7 Apr 2010 07:51
Rod Speed wrote:
> SG1 wrote:
>> "Clocky" <notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message
>> news:4bba756c$0$27875$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com...
>>> John Tserkezis wrote:
>>>> Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> One Laptop Per Child delivers 200 laptops to Territory kids in
>>>>> Yirrkala Non-profit outfit continues to roll out budget XO laptops
>>>>> to children in remote areas
>>>>
>>>> This brings up another somewhat related point. What's the appeal
>>>> of laptops?
>>>>
>>>> My 10yo niece was whining to me that they were originally told they
>>>> were getting laptops, but her school had taken delivery of a bunch
>>>> of brand spanking new desktops instead.
>>>>
>>>> The laptops were to be permanently tethered (presumably via a
>>>> Kensington lock) and never intended to be moved at all. Like the
>>>> desktops will be.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps this was a 10yo's over-active perception here, but the
>>>> reaction was akin to expecting 15 PCs, but actually taking delivery
>>>> of two second hand pocket calculators instead. The non-scientific
>>>> kind.
>>>>
>>>> It's not just her either. Family friends upgrading, are looking at
>>>> laptops to replace their aging desktops. They don't need the
>>>> portability, they tether the machines to one spot, but they appear
>>>> happy to make do with a smaller screen, smaller keyboard, limited
>>>> upgraded potential, a F%#king trackpad instead of a more useful
>>>> mouse, AND a generally higher price to boot. On top of that,
>>>> because they'll never cycle their batteries, it's almost guaranteed
>>>> to bed dead within the year. I'm expecting them to whine about the
>>>> few-month warranty on batteries for this exact reason.
>>>>
>>>> What makes people do this? I understand the "flavour of the month"
>>>> attraction, but this is way past silly.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Don't get me wrong, lap/note/netbooks have their purpose, I have
>>>> three myself, (seven if you count the broken ones), but I have a
>>>> higher end desktop, a server, another server (that I only use for
>>>> destructive testing), another server that will go into service when
>>>> I get some time, and another two PCs that are quite old that I
>>>> haven't found an embedded purpose for yet.
>>>> I do the *vast* majority of my work on the one desktop simply
>>>> because it's the ideal hardware base for the work.
>>>>
>>>> The lap/netbook(s) are good for portability where I need a wintel
>>>> box while I'm on the move. I certainly don't do (or try hard to
>>>> avoid doing) any heavy duty work on them. And for that they serve
>>>> nicely.
>>>
>>> Kids would be better off learning stuff like long division
>>> multiplication tables and actually learn to use their brains to work
>>> stuff out. My nephew is an top level student yet I'm astounded more
>>> about what he doesn't know then what he does.
>>
>> Try asking a kid to do maths in their head.
>
> Just had a pharmacist do that in the last few days.
> Corse he does appear to be a relatively recent immigrant.
>
>> What a radical idea today.
>
> I cant do it, but an not stupid enough to do it myself.
>
>> When I am having a good day the brain gets used if not then silicon.
>
> I'm not stupid enough to do it in my head unless there is no silicon
> available.
> And thats true of even cutting some shelves to fit the existing metal
> racking etc too.
> Being able to do long division isnt something I have been stupid
> enough to do in my head for something like 50 years now even tho I could
> if I
> wanted to.

Too stupid to do it IOW.



From: Don McKenzie on 7 Apr 2010 14:17
Don McKenzie wrote:
>
> One Laptop Per Child delivers 200 laptops to Territory kids in Yirrkala
> Non-profit outfit continues to roll out budget XO laptops to children in
> remote areas


tethered to a desk?

have a look at the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/

how long will this one last?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/3832296227/

or this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/3949941736/

Cheers Don...



--
Don McKenzie

Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam

These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html
From: SG1 on 7 Apr 2010 17:41

"Don McKenzie" <5V(a)2.5A> wrote in message
news:8240ifFo3cU1(a)mid.individual.net...
> Don McKenzie wrote:
>>
>> One Laptop Per Child delivers 200 laptops to Territory kids in Yirrkala
>> Non-profit outfit continues to roll out budget XO laptops to children in
>> remote areas
>
>
> tethered to a desk?
>
> have a look at the photos:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/
>
> how long will this one last?
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/3832296227/

It's OK Don the dingo will eat the child NOT the lappie.


>
> or this?
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/41390465(a)N03/3949941736/
>
> Cheers Don...
>
>
>
> --
> Don McKenzie
>
> Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap
> E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email
> Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam
> No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam
>
> These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:
> http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html


From: keithr on 8 Apr 2010 03:42
On 7/04/2010 3:48 AM, Rod Speed wrote:
> SG1 wrote:
>> "Clocky"<notgonn(a)happen.com> wrote in message
>> news:4bba756c$0$27875$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com...
>>> John Tserkezis wrote:
>>>> Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> One Laptop Per Child delivers 200 laptops to Territory kids in
>>>>> Yirrkala Non-profit outfit continues to roll out budget XO laptops
>>>>> to children in remote areas
>>>>
>>>> This brings up another somewhat related point. What's the appeal of
>>>> laptops?
>>>>
>>>> My 10yo niece was whining to me that they were originally told they
>>>> were getting laptops, but her school had taken delivery of a bunch
>>>> of brand spanking new desktops instead.
>>>>
>>>> The laptops were to be permanently tethered (presumably via a
>>>> Kensington lock) and never intended to be moved at all. Like the
>>>> desktops will be.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps this was a 10yo's over-active perception here, but the
>>>> reaction was akin to expecting 15 PCs, but actually taking delivery
>>>> of two second hand pocket calculators instead. The non-scientific
>>>> kind.
>>>>
>>>> It's not just her either. Family friends upgrading, are looking at
>>>> laptops to replace their aging desktops. They don't need the
>>>> portability, they tether the machines to one spot, but they appear
>>>> happy to make do with a smaller screen, smaller keyboard, limited
>>>> upgraded potential, a F%#king trackpad instead of a more useful
>>>> mouse, AND a generally higher price to boot. On top of that,
>>>> because they'll never cycle their batteries, it's almost guaranteed
>>>> to bed dead within the year. I'm expecting them to whine about the
>>>> few-month warranty on batteries for this exact reason.
>>>>
>>>> What makes people do this? I understand the "flavour of the month"
>>>> attraction, but this is way past silly.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Don't get me wrong, lap/note/netbooks have their purpose, I have
>>>> three myself, (seven if you count the broken ones), but I have a
>>>> higher end desktop, a server, another server (that I only use for
>>>> destructive testing), another server that will go into service when
>>>> I get some time, and another two PCs that are quite old that I
>>>> haven't found an embedded purpose for yet.
>>>> I do the *vast* majority of my work on the one desktop simply
>>>> because it's the ideal hardware base for the work.
>>>>
>>>> The lap/netbook(s) are good for portability where I need a wintel
>>>> box while I'm on the move. I certainly don't do (or try hard to
>>>> avoid doing) any heavy duty work on them. And for that they serve
>>>> nicely.
>>>
>>> Kids would be better off learning stuff like long division
>>> multiplication tables and actually learn to use their brains to work
>>> stuff out. My nephew is an top level student yet I'm astounded more about what
>>> he doesn't know then what he does.
>>
>> Try asking a kid to do maths in their head.
>
> Just had a pharmacist do that in the last few days.
> Corse he does appear to be a relatively recent immigrant.
>
>> What a radical idea today.
>
> I cant do it, but an not stupid enough to do it myself.

Thats because you are a senile old fart :)

>> When I am having a good day the brain gets used if not then silicon.
>
> I'm not stupid enough to do it in my head unless there is no silicon available.
>
> And thats true of even cutting some shelves to fit the existing metal racking etc too.
>
> Being able to do long division isnt something I have been stupid enough to
> do in my head for something like 50 years now even tho I could if I wanted to.


Back in the 60s, I read a scifi story called "The man who invented
arithmetic". It was the story of a spaceship navigator who found that he
could copy the numbers off the displays of his computer, apply some
rules that he had discovered and reproduce the computer results only
using his brain and a piece of paper. He was proposing that this could
be taught to all space navigators so that the navigation computer would
not be needed saving weight and space.

It seemed funny back then ..........................................
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