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Are Colleges Helping to Maintain the Microsoft Monopoly?
lexus99 asks: "Recently, while attending college and wanting to take tests in order to avoid taking basic computer courses, I have signed up for a few SAM (Skills Assessment Manager) tests. What really surprised me is that these tests are entirely based upon Microsoft products (Windows XP and Office XP). Note that this course is -required- before taking any any of the more advanced courses. Is this not a clear cut case of U.S. Colleges forcing its students to exclusively use Microsoft's software? Does Microsoft pay for this 'privledge', or do the schools get some type of M$ discounts? I don't believe that I will have any problem passing these tests, as I frequently use M$ software in my workplace, but I cannot help but feel insulted that I have to take them in order to take more advanced UNIX courses." This issue is a lot more complex than it sounds. Many colleges fall into Microsoft's software because they do get decent volume discounts and Microsoft provides them with decent service, so why change what works? However, with the new licensing schemes that Microsoft is beginning to push, maybe we'll see some change in this area in the near future. Have any of you seen evidence of Microsoft worming it's way into your college courses?
My CS 171 course is taught using solely VC++
This kind of talk just reaffirms my belief that college is a waste of money in this country.
What you really need to be an engineer is a mode of thinking-- something that colleges don't bother to teach. And what they do teach is a waste of time.
A class that provides VC++ examples is fine. But one that requires you to write "VC++" code rather than C++ code, is a waste of time.
Nothing makes me think an prof is someone who is teaching because he's totally incompetant at the art but not being able to seperate an environment from a language.
This is the kind of idiocy we've grown to expect from airhead bimbo recruiters who think Oracle 8.15 and 0racle 8.14 are totally different products.
Any programming class that requires a specific compiler is a waste of money. Demand your money back and transfer to a better school.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
You also get what you pay for.
Unless, of course, you're a customer of buy.com, in which case you either get what you pay for quickly at low cost or don't get it at all...
May we never see th
Which makes him a model student for what colleges these days are trying to turn out.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23