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Software Monoculture in Schools?
The World Is Not Microsoft asks: "I've been worried by changes my school has made over the past year or so to the general computer setup we have. The school is a City Technology College, and as a result of this there are an abundance of computers around the building which everyone is free to use. When I first started there (almost six years ago now) there were approximately even numbers of Windows and Mac machines. As happens over time these machines got out of date and had to be replaced, and the school has spent a lot of money buying replacements. What I'm bothered about is that when they did this they completely eliminated the Mac population, and by the time school starts again in September the only machines we will have will either be Windows 98 or Windows 2000. What's the situation like in other schools? Is everyone else completely locked into Microsoft like we are?"
"There have been security problems with these systems in the past (mostly IE toolbars which requested content from sites which were blocked by the content filters, which caused problems for everyone), and with all the recent IE security problems I'm surprised that the people in charge aren't considering alternative systems (I know Linux would be too much to ask, but rolling out some OS X machines would be good). In addition to this, those who actually study ICT are required to use MS Office for spreadsheet and database tasks; no OpenOffice allowed."
your school website even has an MS colour scheme
;)
you're doomed, drop out now
When I first started there (almost six years ago now)...
Lane, I've been going to this high school for 7 and a half years. I'm no dummy.
I think you'll find the disproportionate number of Windows PCs is the direct result of MS' selfless donations to cash starved educational establishments. It's true altruism; the fact the children will grow up with no experience of anything other than MS products is a completely unintentional side effect, and must be a complete surprise to Bill and his merry men...
Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
And this kinda describes it, too.
t e= 2004-07-14
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/?t=archives&da
Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
Caution: burning karma ahead
They have windows because you're in a technology school! If you had Macs, you wouldn't learn as much because they would work! You wouldn't have to spend time learning how to troubleshoot Windows, which is what you're there for anyway, right? If all the computers worked, how would they teach you how to fix it? I'm guessing they don't have a 'If-it-ain't-broke...' class.
Now before you reply, it's called 'humor' and 'sarcasm'. Not to be confused with zealotry.
Speaking of Macs, I managed to crash mine the other day. If you count the time I tried and succeeded to get a blue(black on Mac)screen on the OS X Public Beta, that makes twice.
"the only machines we will have will either be Windows 98 or Windows 2000"
Lemme know what your ARIN range is. I'm running low on remailer zombies.
Yeah but M$ salestaff give better kickbacks to the people making purchasing decisions.
back in the days when everyone ate apples. Now that it's Twinkies, however, it's bad.
Strange.
--
Think... or thwim
Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
> Where the heck is BSD???
BSD is dead.
Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?