So, I get asked this question a lot. I have been a die hard Microsoft / Intel PC guy since Dos 5.0 (we'll not discuss my TRS80 programming days). However, last year I moved to Macbook Pro at work, and at home shortly there after. It's been a while now, and I feel like I can offer my opinion to anyone that is curious.
Cost. Yes, it is more expensive. Everything about it seems more expensive. I don't know who's coming up with the numbers for making Mac look equal or cheaper than PC in the long run. Clearly these are the same people that Statistics is a real math.
User experience: Mac is superior in many, many ways. It's clear that this is a company that honors form over function in some cases, but generally that's okay with most users since rarely do I meet anyone that effectively uses more than 20% of the OS abilities anyhow.
Software: User mileage may vary. When I first got my Mac, I found myself paying obscene amounts for software that did very basic things. As I've grown more familiar with where the users are, I've found more and more shareware and freeware. I still think ultimately you'll pay more for software than with a PC, but if you're reasonably clever and brave, you can find most of what you need out there.
Power: Ah, this is where the computer geek meets Tim, "the toolman" Taylor. I got sucked into buying a Mac Pro at home (for three times what I usually pay for a computer) because I run ProTools, and the 64bit version was Mac only. That meant to get the horsepower and RAM I needed, I had to go Mac. I've not regretted the decision. There is something about seeing those eight cores all peg to 100% during a render that is sooooo satisfying.
Functionality: This used to be a problem, but now with Parallells and Fusion you can easily run Microsoft OS, so if you've got something you can't find (or don't want to pay for) on Mac OS, this is a fantastic option (with enough RAM, you'll never even notice it running).
So, long story short? If you've got the cash, I like the Mac better - though only really when you get to the high end lines. For software development, graphics, audio and video creation I'm a bit more limited for the same money, but I'm able to do LOTS more at the same time which more than makes up the difference I'm paying for the software and hardware.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
I'm not ranting today
Sometimes an article can better summarize my thoughts than my ranting can. http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2009/04/17/stokes
Friday, April 10, 2009
Here we go again...
I'm thinking today about my upcoming summer semester. Once again I'll return to the joy and misery of student life in pursuit of ever higher education. As I ponder, I remember just how BAD the experience has been so far. Somehow, the subject that I have such great personal passion for has had all the life sucked out of it by genuinely bad instructional practices. So, today I offer some suggestions to my future professors:
1. Actually TEACH the class (or at least pretend to). Yes, I know the idea is to create the course and then go drink your latte while doing research to collect a larger paycheck and earn more kudos for the University. Sorry, but I'd like to be able to get something for my $1800 other than "go read the book and write a report". I'd settle for a paragraph or two of information that can only be related by someone that's lived the life. Anything to give me more than just a textbook.
2. Update your content. Hey, if you're going to drink your latte and do research then at least have a graduate student review the material. Trust me, despite what your syllabus may say, RealVideo is NOT the most popular video delivery media on the Internet anymore.
3. Return my emails. Yes, I really do work at 3am, that's why I'm a distance learning student. I don't expect you to read it at 3:05am, but at least in the next day or two would be fabulous!
4. Answer my question, not the question you think I should have asked... If I'm asking the wrong questions, then tell me that first!
5. Get to know me, at least a little. I don't want to have dinner with you, but at least understand the way I think enough to honestly grade my papers if you're going to ask questions that are subject to personal interpretation.
6. This one goes to the school: Provide the subject you're selling! In my case the program is grossly out of date, and in almost every case has failed to even follow by the practices it actually teaches (do as I say, not as I do!). Luckily, since it's been pretty much just reading the textbooks, I can at least learn the right things on my own!
1. Actually TEACH the class (or at least pretend to). Yes, I know the idea is to create the course and then go drink your latte while doing research to collect a larger paycheck and earn more kudos for the University. Sorry, but I'd like to be able to get something for my $1800 other than "go read the book and write a report". I'd settle for a paragraph or two of information that can only be related by someone that's lived the life. Anything to give me more than just a textbook.
2. Update your content. Hey, if you're going to drink your latte and do research then at least have a graduate student review the material. Trust me, despite what your syllabus may say, RealVideo is NOT the most popular video delivery media on the Internet anymore.
3. Return my emails. Yes, I really do work at 3am, that's why I'm a distance learning student. I don't expect you to read it at 3:05am, but at least in the next day or two would be fabulous!
4. Answer my question, not the question you think I should have asked... If I'm asking the wrong questions, then tell me that first!
5. Get to know me, at least a little. I don't want to have dinner with you, but at least understand the way I think enough to honestly grade my papers if you're going to ask questions that are subject to personal interpretation.
6. This one goes to the school: Provide the subject you're selling! In my case the program is grossly out of date, and in almost every case has failed to even follow by the practices it actually teaches (do as I say, not as I do!). Luckily, since it's been pretty much just reading the textbooks, I can at least learn the right things on my own!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A note from the "No Duh?" department
So in an article in The Journal (http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24227) they note that adoption of social networking in K-12 schools is hindered by security concerns and general stupidity (oops, the actual term was "teachers themselves doubt the instructional value or appropriateness of online social networking").
Yeah, there can't possibly be any instructional value in a place where like minded people can come together and share stories, concerns, feelings, reach out to each other for support, share news and information, etc. Oh, wait... didn't I just describe schools, churches, and any manner of other social gathering places?
This just underlines a point that keeps coming up for me. Why in the heck would you become a teacher if you're not willing to LEARN??? Technology has always been the evil "they" of instruction. "They" are always making us learn new technology. "They" are forcing us to reach outside our little bubble of reality to see the larger world at work. "They" think we should change the way we teach every hundred years or so. HOW DARE "THEY"???
Okay. Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest. In defense of many teachers, I know many, many teachers that don't feel or act this way. Often those more progressive teachers are stifled by administrators (read: former stupid teachers) that themselves have a huge fear of change.
So, come on! Get with it. Social networking, love it or hate it, does exist in the world of our students. As such, it MUST be part of our instructional platform. Get out and create a site, find some friends and give it a shot. You don't have to love it, or even be active in it. But for goodness sake, at least make an honest attempt at understanding why your students love it. That'll at least put you one step closer to relevance!
Yeah, there can't possibly be any instructional value in a place where like minded people can come together and share stories, concerns, feelings, reach out to each other for support, share news and information, etc. Oh, wait... didn't I just describe schools, churches, and any manner of other social gathering places?
This just underlines a point that keeps coming up for me. Why in the heck would you become a teacher if you're not willing to LEARN??? Technology has always been the evil "they" of instruction. "They" are always making us learn new technology. "They" are forcing us to reach outside our little bubble of reality to see the larger world at work. "They" think we should change the way we teach every hundred years or so. HOW DARE "THEY"???
Okay. Sorry. I just had to get that off my chest. In defense of many teachers, I know many, many teachers that don't feel or act this way. Often those more progressive teachers are stifled by administrators (read: former stupid teachers) that themselves have a huge fear of change.
So, come on! Get with it. Social networking, love it or hate it, does exist in the world of our students. As such, it MUST be part of our instructional platform. Get out and create a site, find some friends and give it a shot. You don't have to love it, or even be active in it. But for goodness sake, at least make an honest attempt at understanding why your students love it. That'll at least put you one step closer to relevance!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Today is the first day!
Today marks the first day of my attempt at a regular blog. This will be my outlet to discuss (and rant) about all things geeky in the world of education. Wish me luck!
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