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At least doing a Google search for Viiv will probably get you what you want instead of doing a google search for Vista. Let's see ...

Currently a Google search for Viiv returns the Intel product as the top result while a Google search for vista returns, um, AmeriCorps ... #@*^#!*9 wtf?

From a customer point of view, Viiv is a good choice.

Vista seems to be taken so many ways what about Americorp Vista

Vista == Volunteers in Service to America, a Kennedy-Johnson era program (domestic Peace Corps), which lives today under the rubric of Americorps. Much of the earlier recruitment was oriented to retrirees. A primary aim was to combat poverty in the United States. See: http://www.friendsofvista.org/vhistory.html and http://www.americorps.org/vista/. Not to offend, but Microsoft's new name for Windows/Longhorn feels a bit gray-haired and creaky, which it probably will be. On the stress/poverty (and stability) side, MS has lost me to Macintosh. Switched three of five home PCs to Macs; for me, Longhorn is long gone. MS's purchase of spyware comapny Atria (ne Gator) was last straw.

I would partially agree with the AC. We can't forget to also help our country. There are many ways to do this, one being AmeriCorps, TeachForAmerica, etc. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, battered women's shelter, etc. Helping out your community/country is just as important as helping out a third world country. Polarizing the issue between helping 3rd world vs helping local society, is what part of your argument I would disagree with.

As others have said, donating old tech to such organizations doesn't really help them. I spent the last year with AmeriCorps working on setting up after school computer labs. I worked with the local library, Boys and Girls Clubs, etc. In most cases, these organizations had closets full of old systems that they wanted to get rid of, but couldn't afford to because of the costs involved to dispose of them properly.

The kids I worked with also knew the difference between a "fast" computer, and a dinosaur - when you have at least one decent machine around, who's going to use the older machines? The kids will all queue up to use the "fast" machine.

If you think that they'd make good servers running various daemons - you're wrong unless you're willing to donate the time to admin the box. Non-profits are stretched thin as is - "good" tech people in non-profit are hard to find . . .

Neither of my schools ever offered to let my financial aid cover living expenses.

I guess you didn't go to schools with a fat enough bank.

I'd be perfectly happy staying in the US doing things to help my fellow citizens.

How about AmeriCorps? It was invented by the Clinton administration as sort of a domestic PeaceCorps. Teaching computer skills is even one of the tasks they list. You work for them for a year in exchange for money to pay for school or pay off school loans (and your loans are deferred while you're with them). Some people also get money for living expenses but all get health insurance which may not sound like a big deal until you need it.

Again I wonder why they don't offer jobs instead of welfare if they are going to give you money anyway.

Because that would be Socialist and Socalism Is Bad. There are other reasons given but for most people, that simple-minded concept is what it boils down to.

The Peace Corps and AmeriCorps web sites can answer your questions. I believe just about everyone qualifies for either of these organizations.

So far, it hasn't been a barrier to finding a job. In some job interviews, it turned out to be a problem, but it hasn't kept me from finding a job or doing what I really want to do. I'm only 27 now, and maybe it will be a problem later on, but somehow I doubt it.

During my last job search, in January, I found that my lack of credentials made it more difficult to find a job. On the other hand, even folks WITH credentials are having a hard time!

So when I did find a job, I was particularly pleased that my employer is willing to pay for my training. As I write this, I'm sitting in a Learn iT! classroom, undergoing indoctrination into the cult of Microsoft. Bill's tech isn't what interests me most, but with a Microsoft credential, it certainly will be easier to find a job than without one.

Not having gone to college even has advantages, I think:

No Debt - One advantage is that while my peers are still paying off their college debt, I have none. Some folks can get their college paid for by the State or family members, but the rest have to work really hard or borrow.

Free Thought - Another advantage is that by taking my own road, I am less influenced by the dogma of the academic sector. A good part of going to college is socialization. While in school, we learn which thoughts are acceptable and which are not. By eschewing the bastions of academic hegemony, I can look at the world in a more independent way. (I now gird myself for the onslaught of the collegiate masses)

Head Start - since I didn't spend four years or more in school, I have more real-world experience than my colleagues who went to school. This advantage fades quickly, though.

Those are the only advantages of skipping college that I can come up with immediately.

Instead of going to college, I spent a couple of years after high school in service to the nation as an AmeriCorps member. That was an amazing experience--AmeriCorps allowed me to travel extensively in the US, paid for my room and board while I did it. It also taught me a lot about teamwork. But most of all, it taught me about the value of contributing to society; and that isn't something you can pick up in a classroom.

As a techie who has been successful without a degree, I say: do what you want. If you want to go to college, do it. If you don't like it, you can drop out. If you don't want to go to college, don't worry about it. You can always go later.

Whether you go to college or not, don't waste your youth in a classroom and a cubicle, learning to be a slave to corporate masters, so you can buy the widgets they hawk. Get outside and live a little before you settle into a workaday routine. Travel, volunteer, get a fun job--and settle into the college or work routine when you're ready.

Oh, one more thing: a friend of mine likes to say: If you want an education, read a book. Go to college if you want to get laid. :)

Rather than looking abroad may I suggest joing a domestic (USA) organization. Americorps is a national civilian service organization that send people to different locations around the US where strong minds and bodies are needed.

A great friend of mine joined for a year and work with inner city kids in Las Vegas, worked at a soup kitchen in Denver, fight fires in the Sierra Nevadas, built trails and did eco-rehab in the Sierras and many other fun projects.

I looked at joining six months ago when I was between jobs, and deciding if I wanted to return to college. The people I talked to were enthusiastic about having a geek who was interested in joing (I'm also a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, so that was a plus side for them as well.)

Americorp is a great deal, you commit to work for a year, you get trianed, then while working get a small monthly per diem and at the end of your service are eligible for a decent amount of $$$ for college. I would highly reccomend it to anyone who is interested in helping people. When my current contract with my employer expires I'm joing for a year.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: NEW YORK
AmeriCorps*VISTA Member will assist in providing underseved and technologically disadvantaged youth with the skills they need to operate as productive citizens in a technological world. Activities include the recruitment of tutors and mentors who can work directly with participant youth on the computer; successful pursuit of additional technology resources in the form of funding or sources for computer equipment and software; the establishment of Internet access and development of an encompassing plan for its appropriate use at all levels of the Club, including CareerLaunch and other online curriculum; and, implementation of the five basic promises of America's Promise and the formation of additional partnerships.

Ultimately, the problem of kids and computers doesn't boil down to who has the hardware or the software, but who tkaes initiative in helping others. The cynical might say "Grab a Linux box, a cheap 4-yr old computer and Net-Zero and they're done." Realistically, can we expect everyone to accomplish this without assistance?

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: NEW YORK
AmeriCorps*VISTA Member will assist in providing underseved and technologically disadvantaged youth with the skills they need to operate as productive citizens in a technological world. Activities include the recruitment of tutors and mentors who can work directly with participant youth on the computer; successful pursuit of additional technology resources in the form of funding or sources for computer equipment and software; the establishment of Internet access and development of an encompassing plan for its appropriate use at all levels of the Club, including CareerLaunch and other online curriculum; and, implementation of the five basic promises of America's Promise and the formation of additional partnerships.

Ultimately, the problem of kids and computers doesn't boil down to who has the hardware or the software, but who tkaes initiative in helping others. The cynical might say "Grab a Linux box, a cheap 4-yr old computer and Net-Zero and they're done." Realistically, can we expect everyone to accomplish this without assistance?

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY: NEW YORK
AmeriCorps*VISTA Member will assist in providing underseved and technologically disadvantaged youth with the skills they need to operate as productive citizens in a technological world. Activities include the recruitment of tutors and mentors who can work directly with participant youth on the computer; successful pursuit of additional technology resources in the form of funding or sources for computer equipment and software; the establishment of Internet access and development of an encompassing plan for its appropriate use at all levels of the Club, including CareerLaunch and other online curriculum; and, implementation of the five basic promises of America's Promise and the formation of additional partnerships.

Ultimately, the problem of kids and computers doesn't boil down to who has the hardware or the software, but who tkaes initiative in helping others. The cynical might say "Grab a Linux box, a cheap 4-yr old computer and Net-Zero and they're done." Realistically, can we expect everyone to accomplish this without assistance?