Windows and schools

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Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
Our school uses some slow gateway computers. The teachers use tablet pcs, which die every day or so and have to be replaced. All the computers are new, but they are just so slow and use windows.



For some reason all the other students are just amazed by the tablet pcs. They ask the teacher to be able write with them and look amazed when the teacher erases or writes in color.



Also, in the language lab, the teacher locked the screen with a locked symbol and the class went crazy. They all were screaming "OH my God that is so cool" while they sat in front of a screen that locked their computers.



I thought that was an over reaction until the teacher decided to screen share. Students were running around screaming about how cool it was. Then the teacher stated a video camera on the screen share thing and the entire class basically started to riot. It was like Jesus had come down and granted them never-ending life.











These computers at my school probably cost them millions of dollars as they always die or get other problems. Our servers are set up so we can only save in one folder and the options are never saved. Book marks reset them selves every time you log off and you cant copy and paste pictures. The server is supposed to be closed but by going on a certain file path you can open anyone?s data and delete them. The locked screen can be exited by pressing alt F4. Half of all Internet sites are locked but you can go around this by changing an option in firebox. You can?t download pictures or other documents in PDF format off the web. There are just too many problems to mention.



Why is it that at a school that was called "quite possibly the best public school in America" is using technology that limits our basic work and creativity so much? Why must we use and OS from 1995? Money isn?t their problem so what is?



Instead we are stuck with a bunch of students that are amazed by things that macs could do for ages. Instead of innovation, we are forced to work around these computers the cripple us.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 3
    rich-mysterrich-myster Posts: 771member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrpiddly View Post


    Our school uses some slow gateway computers. The teachers use tablet pcs, which die every day or so and have to be replaced. All the computers are new, but they are just so slow and use windows.



    For some reason all the other students are just amazed by the tablet pcs. They ask the teacher to be able write with them and look amazed when the teacher erases or writes in color.



    Also, in the language lab, the teacher locked the screen with a locked symbol and the class went crazy. They all were screaming "OH my God that is so cool" while they sat in front of a screen that locked their computers.



    I thought that was an over reaction until the teacher decided to screen share. Students were running around screaming about how cool it was. Then the teacher stated a video camera on the screen share thing and the entire class basically started to riot. It was like Jesus had come down and granted them never-ending life.











    These computers at my school probably cost them millions of dollars as they always die or get other problems. Our servers are set up so we can only save in one folder and the options are never saved. Book marks reset them selves every time you log off and you cant copy and paste pictures. The server is supposed to be closed but by going on a certain file path you can open anyone?s data and delete them. The locked screen can be exited by pressing alt F4. Half of all Internet sites are locked but you can go around this by changing an option in firebox. You can?t download pictures or other documents in PDF format off the web. There are just too many problems to mention.



    Why is it that at a school that was called "quite possibly the best public school in America" is using technology that limits our basic work and creativity so much? Why must we use and OS from 1995? Money isn?t their problem so what is?



    Instead we are stuck with a bunch of students that are amazed by things that macs could do for ages. Instead of innovation, we are forced to work around these computers the cripple us.



    you can't use a mac as a tablet.
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  • Reply 2 of 3
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,580moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrpiddly View Post


    Our school uses some slow gateway computers. The teachers use tablet pcs, which die every day or so and have to be replaced. All the computers are new, but they are just so slow and use windows.



    They are cheap and compatible. That's what matters to schools.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrpiddly View Post


    Then the teacher stated a video camera on the screen share thing and the entire class basically started to riot. It was like Jesus had come down and granted them never-ending life.



    Remedial class is it?



    School is boring and anything that's mildly impressive will seem great. It's the same reason that parents make your life hell all year round. It's so that Christmas seems more worthwhile.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrpiddly View Post


    Our servers are set up so we can only save in one folder and the options are never saved. Book marks reset them selves every time you log off and you cant copy and paste pictures. The server is supposed to be closed but by going on a certain file path you can open anyone?s data and delete them. The locked screen can be exited by pressing alt F4. Half of all Internet sites are locked but you can go around this by changing an option in firebox.



    We had that at university. One reason is that it protects personal privacy and it means people don't ruin the system for others.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mrpiddly View Post


    Instead we are stuck with a bunch of students that are amazed by things that macs could do for ages. Instead of innovation, we are forced to work around these computers the cripple us.



    VNC sessions in OS X are slow though. Screen sharing via Windows is probably easier/quicker. Leopard has screen sharing in ichat though.



    I think instead of getting your school to switch to Macs, you should perhaps try and get Apple to deliver the products that people are waiting and waiting and waiting for.



    still no decent mouse

    still no mid-range tower

    still no tablet

    still no 12"/13" MBP

    still no santa rosa

    still no improved GPU options

    OS X is still slow and they haven't fixed obvious problems after 6 years

    Apple still don't have anywhere near the technical support coverage PCs have



    the list goes on.
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  • Reply 3 of 3
    bmmlbmml Posts: 2member
    This actually sounds quite a bit like my private school. We have over 500 Gateway tablet PCs in the inventory. They are fun to play with, but I'd never do more than draw with it. That's the only thing I find useful with them. And even then, you can easily connect a tablet to any computer and have it work just the same.



    And to be honest, screen-sharing and locking just ticks me off because I'm usually in the middle of writing something when the teacher decides to explain something so simple.



    My idea as to why most students seem overly excited about something that limits them in the long-run is because they may not be able to afford most of the equipment offered in your school. Students at mine don't quite care about the computers much more than to draw with them because I attend a private school, thus the students are more apt to having that equipment in their homes already, so they are not interested all too much when they get to use the PCs in the classroom.



    Honestly, I only like using the PCs in the classroom because it's a change of pace compared to writing. I type faster and am more open about ideas and thoughts when I type compared to speaking or writing by hand. By typing, I can keep up with my thoughts and have more interesting things to say, whereas with using the traditional pen and paper, I tend to forget what I had intended on writing about.



    Sure, it's a wonder as to why people are so amazed over what Microsoft has been doing recently, while Apple sits on the sideline wondering why they didn't receive that attention when they released it years earlier.

    I see exactly where you're coming from with this, and it's a shame that few people know the power of Mac.
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