Comments on: NECC: Day Two http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/07/necc-day-two/ Challenge The Status Quo Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:38:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Todd http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/07/necc-day-two/comment-page-1/#comment-636 Todd Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:22:09 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/07/necc-day-two/#comment-636 Do you have a program that has little flashy, animated things that keep kids from asking you those questions? I sure as hell don't. The extra features don't make things easier, they just make them seem worth the price tag. Instead of simply releasing a cheaper version of OS 10.4, Apple will release 10.5 at a higher price, and then 10.5.1, 10.5.6, 10.6, etc. The price of these pieces of software only increases and it's all the feature bloat that justifies it. Things don't get more streamlined that way. The idea of tech support is a problem. He didn't address it, instead suggesting that the computer must make use of software that doesn't require much support, things that are more stable. He also suggested that feature bloat is a big part of what makes computers crash and he's right. People don't need those flashes of animation and such to make their jobs easier. Does the fact that the bottom toolbar in OS 10 hides and that icons grow bigger as you roll over them make things easier for you? No. Someone who didn't have that animation option turned on would just as easily switch applications, but all that processor power required to make those animations possible makes the computer slower. I've got to trust that he has good people working on making this happen, though it sounds crazy that a computer would run for even as long as a month in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it. Still, it's not as if he hasn't actually made this happen in the past. I think a school he started in Cambodia was the first to receive these computers and they are working there, in India, Egypt, Thailand, and lots of other places. Hike, yeah. I'll be back next week. Do you have a program that has little flashy, animated things that keep kids from asking you those questions? I sure as hell don’t. The extra features don’t make things easier, they just make them seem worth the price tag. Instead of simply releasing a cheaper version of OS 10.4, Apple will release 10.5 at a higher price, and then 10.5.1, 10.5.6, 10.6, etc. The price of these pieces of software only increases and it’s all the feature bloat that justifies it. Things don’t get more streamlined that way.

The idea of tech support is a problem. He didn’t address it, instead suggesting that the computer must make use of software that doesn’t require much support, things that are more stable. He also suggested that feature bloat is a big part of what makes computers crash and he’s right. People don’t need those flashes of animation and such to make their jobs easier. Does the fact that the bottom toolbar in OS 10 hides and that icons grow bigger as you roll over them make things easier for you? No. Someone who didn’t have that animation option turned on would just as easily switch applications, but all that processor power required to make those animations possible makes the computer slower.

I’ve got to trust that he has good people working on making this happen, though it sounds crazy that a computer would run for even as long as a month in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to use it. Still, it’s not as if he hasn’t actually made this happen in the past. I think a school he started in Cambodia was the first to receive these computers and they are working there, in India, Egypt, Thailand, and lots of other places.

Hike, yeah. I’ll be back next week.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/07/necc-day-two/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Laurie Thu, 06 Jul 2006 23:34:27 +0000 http://www.toddseal.com/rodin/2006/07/necc-day-two/#comment-634 Hey I am with you on the unnecessary gimmicks that proliferate programs. I am just a little jaded as are you my friend. However, these very gimmicks are needed to hold the hand of many neophytes who are not savvy navigators. While I realize that the computers are for learning and therefore for students. I wonder about those less than tech friendly teachers among us. If every kid were to have a laptop, how much time would we spend answering, "Ms. Weck, how do I format a letter, paper, outline, project, etc.?" Maybe the little dancing guy and his cohorts are okay to have around. I just worry about being stuck with a sea of laptops and a tech guy like you know who to keep them floating. Did Negroponte address that concern? And nobody needs a caps lock unless they are yelling in an IM. On a personal note.. Glad you're back from Japan...hike next week? Hey
I am with you on the unnecessary gimmicks that proliferate programs. I am just a little jaded as are you my friend. However, these very gimmicks are needed to hold the hand of many neophytes who are not savvy navigators. While I realize that the computers are for learning and therefore for students. I wonder about those less than tech friendly teachers among us. If every kid were to have a laptop, how much time would we spend answering, “Ms. Weck, how do I format a letter, paper, outline, project, etc.?” Maybe the little dancing guy and his cohorts are okay to have around. I just worry about being stuck with a sea of laptops and a tech guy like you know who to keep them floating. Did Negroponte address that concern? And nobody needs a caps lock unless they are yelling in an IM.

On a personal note..
Glad you’re back from Japan…hike next week?

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