OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

Wed Jun 18 08:44:37 EST 2008

Hi all.  This thread is offtopic, but as long as it doesn't hang around 
long we can live with it.

While I'm here, I had a Macbook in the last rollout but have reverted to 
a PC:

- I detest the Macbook dwarf keyboard (no true DELETE key [it's actually 
a backspace], no PGUP or PGDN etc, Control in the wrong place).  I had 
to use a utility to remap keys to give me proper functionality.
- The lack of a proper right-click
-The way it shows every mark on its pristine white skin
-The lack of hard disk space on each partition when dual-booting
-The OS melt-downs (3 times in 6 months the whole Windows partition 
turned into tapioca)
-And finally, the overheating which jams optical disks in the drive and 
refuses to eject them until it cools down!  Of course a manual eject 
button would spoil the sexy look, the drive is not user-removable, and 
there isn't even an emergency eject hole for the paperclip manoeuvre.
- And I never really needed the Mac side anyway
- It amused me how Filemaker 8.5 would not run under Leopard, while 
Windows ran it fine
- Installing Leopard instantly killed wireless access through Edupass
- There was no Office 2007 for Mac

I'm a happier camper now I've thrown off this Mac tendency, and a few of 
our Macbook staff are reverting to a Lenovo on the next rollout.

Jock Garnsworthy wrote:
> If you think about it, there is no choice !
> I converted to mac in the last rollout cos I got a free Ipod – still 
> going strong.
> Best marketing strategy for yonks.
> Apple have it all covered.
> Best of all worlds.
> Have used Virtual PC for markbook, access and VB. YUK very slow and clunky.
> Now with Parallels who can argue !
> 
> Can’t wait for the rollout to actually happen.
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jock
> __________________________
> Jock Garnsworthy
> Pasco St.
> Williamstown High School
> (03)93971899
> 
> 
> 
> On 17/6/08 4:28 PM, "Russo, Frank R" <Russo.Frank.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> 
> wrote:
> 
>     I have always taught on Windows PC’s and have only been exposed to
>     iMAC in the classroom this year I do remember teaching databases on
>     an Apple IIe but that was many moons ago.
>      
>     I have always opted for the Apple option with the Laptop Program and
>     have had no problems being able to do everything I have needed to
>     except for Visual Basic.
>      
>     Now with Parallels even that will be taken care of.
>      
>     Welcome to the club !!!
>      
>     As my schools Notebook Rep there seems to be a swing amongst staff
>     over to Apple (especially those whose Thinkpad died on a monthly basis)
>      
> 
>     Frank Russo
>     ICT ~ Teaching & Learning
>     Monterey Secondary College
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     *From:* itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
>     [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] *On Behalf Of *Roland Gesthuizen
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, 17 June 2008 3:54 PM
>     *To:* Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List; eLearning
>     mailing list
>     *Subject:* [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking
> 
> 
>     With the current round of notebooks for DEECD teaching staff, and
>     after many years teaching VCE IT with Toshiba, ACER, IBM and then
>     Levono laptops, I have decided to opt for the Apple notebook option.
>     Last week I was really impressed with a colleague running Parallels
>     who was able to seamlessly switch between OSX to XP applications (or
>     Ubuntu Linux) using a little used feature called Coherence.
>          link to a blog entry with details about this feature
>     <http://lifehacker.com/software/parallels/hack-attack-how-to-run-windows-and-mac-apps-sidebyside-with-parallels-221002.php>
> 
> 
>     It didn't really matter what operating system we use .. shift
>     happens. I saw this myself at the VITTA conference last year after a
>     day long session demonstrating programming with Python in the Apple
>     lab. It didn't matter. A lighter weight and better design are also
>     factors I am considering .. bluetooth, perhaps Apple iPhone
>     integration??
> 
> 
> 
>     With due dignity to all users and systems, I do not wish to turn
>     this into a mac / windows flame or debate about incremental
>     advantages. Jokes about one or two button mice mean nothing when
>     both systems plug and play just about anything you throw at them.
> 
>     Somebody once described this to me as how we learn to play chess. It
>     doesn't matter if your pieces are made of finely crafted glass or
>     bottle tops. It doesn't matter if the chess board is made of ivory
>     or newspaper. What matters more is the game that you play.
> 
>     Is anybody thinking along the same path?
> 
>     Regards Roland
> 
> 
> Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If 
> received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before 
> opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. 
> Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the 
> negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from 
> the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying 
> any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are 
> those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of 
> Williamstown High School._______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au <http://www.edulists.com.au> - FAQ, 
> resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> IT Applications Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/infotechindex.html 
> <http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/infotech/itapplications3-4.html 
>  > - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
> http://www.vitta.org.au <http://www.vitta.org.au> - VITTA Victorian 
> Information Technology Teachers Association Inc
> 

-- 
Mark Kelly
Manager - Information Systems
McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia
Direct line / Voicemail: 8520 9085
School Phone +613 8520 9000
School Fax +613 95789253
kel AT mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au

Webmaster - http://www.mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au
IT Lecture notes: http://vceit.com
Moderator: IT Applications Mailing List

A conclusion is the place where you got sick of thinking.
If you Declare War - is it integer or boolean?