I was a "gifted" child. When I was 4, they wanted to toss me in the third grade instead of kindergarten...when mom and dad refused (thankfully), they enrolled me in the school district Gifted and Talented program (my family certainly could not have afforded a private tutor for me).
It was sort of a directed Montessori learning environment...part of the time, you had to do classes, but most of the time, you were able to work on an Independent Study. Basically, the IS was a year-long project on ANY topic you wanted to explore. I did a my first couple on other countries/cultures, and then I began to get into computers and robotics...finally, for my last IS (in fifth grade) I discovered my love for structural engineering.
Even though the G&T program only ran through 5th grade, I kept learning things that I wanted to learn all through high school and now, into college. Yes, these things may not have a THING to do with my major/future career...but I am far more well-rounded, conversant, and social because I continue to learn things that are of interest to me.
My advice: Let the child choose what he'd like to learn. It seems that he has an interest in electronics. Encourage it, but don't limit a 9 year old to one thing. Yeah, he could probably be bumped up a grade, but supplement his classroom learning with sports and activites that he wants to do. They key is to spark interest in other things in order to make up for boredom in the classroom. The mind needs stimulation in order to grow, especially for a child.
I agree that many distributions of linux are becoming much friendlier to the mainstream market. Compared with my first linux install a year and a half ago, mandrake 7.2 was a piece of cake. Personally, I get annoyed with having to contend with cute little GUI config tools, when all i want to do is edit one text file...but overall, I love mandrake.
I consider Mandrake to be the most "desktop ready" of any distro, but even it has work to be desired before my parents, for example, can be as comfortable with it as they are with Windows. For someone who knows a bit about unix-based systems, Linux is not difficult to handle. However, users who are used to Windows not giving the user any control or freedom will have difficulty adjusting. Although I agree that my linux system is easier and more pleasant to use than Windows, KOffice is buggy and only StarOffice gives me any degree of effective compatability with MS Office. Even that is marginal.
Basically, linux needs more (automatic) driver support, less initial configuration, and a fully MS Office-compatible productivity suite in order to become an attractive alternative to Windows for the general public.
Good article, gives some idea of how to set up a PPP server in general, not just for a dreamcast (although I must admit i think the idea's cool).
Katie
Perhaps a distinction needs to be made between various reasons for blocking Napster. I'm a student at the University of Connecticut, where Napster has been banned, quietly, since last winter. The primary reason cited at the time was that students utilizing Napster were taking up far too much bandwidth. Since then, we haven't heard from the University about it, and many students use the Napigator/Napster combo, Gnutella, or Scour Exchange. I really don't see that anyone has been deterred from using file sharing software due to legal concerns. Our campus resnet has added some weekly and monthly bandwidth restrictions, in addition to the old daily limit. They've set up a way to monitor the use on your IP, so it is quite easy to avoid running afoul of the limits.
My university blocked Napster last winter due to problems with bandwidth, but they did mention questions about the possible "illegality of the service". Most students simply downloaded Napigator and continued to use Napster, while others now use Gnutella or Scour Exchange.
The university has not attempted to block or restrict the use of any other file sharing applications (although in some cases, ie Gnutella, this is impossible). They have increased our weekly and daily allotment of bandwidth, and people are downloading merrily away.
Not only do students use file sharing software, but there is also a large campus network, where students have MP3s for the asking.
Apparently, bandwidth is not as much of an issue as the university claimed it was, since people are actually downloading more. Note that the only banned service is the one being sued by the RIAA, and the fine folks from campus resnet have made no attempt to block anything else.
I know where I stand on the Napster/MP3 issue. I just don't know where my university does.
Although I'm not a CS major, I've taken 3 CS classes (or classes with a strong CS component) as requirements for my engineering major. I will have take at least three more. I've run into a few issues with the languages I've been taught and the platforms I'm "supposed" to use.
For one of these classes, I was supposed to code in Fortran, using MS Visual Studio. The prof claimed to only care about results...he never asked to see the code itself. I live across campus from the engineering labs, and going back and forth across campus at night was a safety issue for me. Unfortunately, my professor refused to let us use other compilers, and it got to the point where he made us physically demonstate to him that it ran properly in visual studio. So much for my nice, free, open source Fortran compiler!
On the other hand, the next semester, I had a prof who allowed me to use C++ (which I prefer to code in over Fortran) and even Java (which I was teaching myself at the time). He also encouraged the use of whatever compiler we felt comfortable with.
Every situation is different. I've learned that you need to be flexible about it. My summer employer was extremely stringent upon using only MS systems for every computing purpose in the company. I certainly couldn't put up a fight and insist upon using what I wanted to use...I would have been reprimanded and possibly fired. Similarly, had I argued with that first professor, I would have found my grade in danger (it happened to a classmate). I got lucky that one time in that the prof didn't care what platform or compiler or even what language I was using.
I guess you've just got to go with it...don't try to force a change that will result in problems with the prof, it just isn't worth the hassle. Besides, you need to be able to use any platform, and any development tool or compiler out there. It will only increase your own skills and flexibility.
I found a link to an article about a lot of old computers and their (often proprietary) operating systems...mainly 8-bit systems. The article is kind of long, and there's a lot of hardware issues that are worked into the discussion, but there's some neat OS stuff in there. There doesn't appear to be much out there about any old mainframe OSes...my father used to use a mainframe in college (late 1960s...punchcards and all) and claims that he doesn't recall what the OS was. Oh well, what else would you expect from a business major? =)
This is another example of why Microsoft is in blatant violation of U.S. anti-trust laws. It is absurd that a corporation that has been accused (and rightly so) of intimidating the competition and stiffing the consumer would force people to purchase another license after already recieving money from bundled software.
My last computer came bundled with a lot of extraneous software. I still use Windows (in addition to Linux) for specialized software that only works in Windows. However, of the software that came bundled, not one application (or the OS) that I currently use is original to the system. However, if I ever felt the need to upgrade Windows, I certainly wouldn't pay twice for the same OS.
It's interesting to think of how much has changed in just a few years...my first computer was an Apple IIC and it did have a modem, which i used a couple times to dial random numbers.
My first computer that was online, per se, was a 386 laptop with a 14K modem and Prodigy . I was 12 years old and my friends were jealous of both the "speed" of my modem and the fact that I had Prodigy and I could go on Gopher and "that Internet thing".
Of course, my current computer puts the old 386 to shame in rather extraordinary fashion, and I have a T3 connection...my, how things have changed.
I am a mechanical engineering major, which I consider to be a technical field. I am also female. Although there are not many women in engineering/computer science majors at my university, I think that the imbalance is not due to social pressures. As a kid, I was always playing with Legos. I began programming at the age of 5. I have always known that I would have a career in engineering. Despite the fact that neither of my parents have technical careers, I am just the sort of person who enjoys technology and engineering. It's part of who I am. I know a number of other women who have the same abilities and enjoyment of technical subjects. Vice versa, I know males who do not. I can see where the socialization argument comes from, that girls are discouraged from technical careers. I would have agreed with that 20 or even 10 years ago. Today, however, I have never been told that I am unable to have a technical career or that I am going to be a bad engineer on the basis of my gender. None of my female classmates have been told that either. Essentially, technology is in my blood...engineering is something that I am good at and that I plan to do for a long time...no one can tell me that I can't do it, simply because I'm a girl.
My parents started me on BASIC when I was five, and since neither of them can code to save their life, they got me that cute little 321-Contact magazine which had BASIC programs in it every month. Needless to say, I learned not a thing.
Fast forward 13 years...
Now a college freshman. I taught myself C++ for kicks. Since FORTRAN is a requirement for engineering majors at my school, I learned it. I did not like it, and so I continued to use C++ and tried some Python and a little Perl.
My little brother is 13, and he can handle C++ and FORTRAN with no problem...he actually likes FORTRAN better. I use MS Visual Studio with him, since he likes it, and he got along just fine with a college-level introductory C++ textbook. He basically taught himself and asked me for help when he needed it.
Go for C++, it's simple and quick to learn. The kids will stay interested if they are able to accomplish things early in the learning process. Kids have short attention spans, so whatever book or other teaching method you use, make it interesting.
Slashdot Mirror
I was a "gifted" child. When I was 4, they wanted to toss me in the third grade instead of kindergarten...when mom and dad refused (thankfully), they enrolled me in the school district Gifted and Talented program (my family certainly could not have afforded a private tutor for me).
It was sort of a directed Montessori learning environment...part of the time, you had to do classes, but most of the time, you were able to work on an Independent Study. Basically, the IS was a year-long project on ANY topic you wanted to explore. I did a my first couple on other countries/cultures, and then I began to get into computers and robotics...finally, for my last IS (in fifth grade) I discovered my love for structural engineering.
Even though the G&T program only ran through 5th grade, I kept learning things that I wanted to learn all through high school and now, into college. Yes, these things may not have a THING to do with my major/future career...but I am far more well-rounded, conversant, and social because I continue to learn things that are of interest to me.
My advice: Let the child choose what he'd like to learn. It seems that he has an interest in electronics. Encourage it, but don't limit a 9 year old to one thing. Yeah, he could probably be bumped up a grade, but supplement his classroom learning with sports and activites that he wants to do. They key is to spark interest in other things in order to make up for boredom in the classroom. The mind needs stimulation in order to grow, especially for a child.
I agree that many distributions of linux are becoming much friendlier to the mainstream market. Compared with my first linux install a year and a half ago, mandrake 7.2 was a piece of cake. Personally, I get annoyed with having to contend with cute little GUI config tools, when all i want to do is edit one text file...but overall, I love mandrake.
I consider Mandrake to be the most "desktop ready" of any distro, but even it has work to be desired before my parents, for example, can be as comfortable with it as they are with Windows. For someone who knows a bit about unix-based systems, Linux is not difficult to handle. However, users who are used to Windows not giving the user any control or freedom will have difficulty adjusting. Although I agree that my linux system is easier and more pleasant to use than Windows, KOffice is buggy and only StarOffice gives me any degree of effective compatability with MS Office. Even that is marginal.
Basically, linux needs more (automatic) driver support, less initial configuration, and a fully MS Office-compatible productivity suite in order to become an attractive alternative to Windows for the general public.
Good article, gives some idea of how to set up a PPP server in general, not just for a dreamcast (although I must admit i think the idea's cool). Katie
Perhaps a distinction needs to be made between various reasons for blocking Napster. I'm a student at the University of Connecticut, where Napster has been banned, quietly, since last winter. The primary reason cited at the time was that students utilizing Napster were taking up far too much bandwidth. Since then, we haven't heard from the University about it, and many students use the Napigator/Napster combo, Gnutella, or Scour Exchange. I really don't see that anyone has been deterred from using file sharing software due to legal concerns. Our campus resnet has added some weekly and monthly bandwidth restrictions, in addition to the old daily limit. They've set up a way to monitor the use on your IP, so it is quite easy to avoid running afoul of the limits.
KAR
My university blocked Napster last winter due to problems with bandwidth, but they did mention questions about the possible "illegality of the service". Most students simply downloaded Napigator and continued to use Napster, while others now use Gnutella or Scour Exchange.
The university has not attempted to block or restrict the use of any other file sharing applications (although in some cases, ie Gnutella, this is impossible). They have increased our weekly and daily allotment of bandwidth, and people are downloading merrily away.
Not only do students use file sharing software, but there is also a large campus network, where students have MP3s for the asking.
Apparently, bandwidth is not as much of an issue as the university claimed it was, since people are actually downloading more. Note that the only banned service is the one being sued by the RIAA, and the fine folks from campus resnet have made no attempt to block anything else.
I know where I stand on the Napster/MP3 issue. I just don't know where my university does.
KAR
Although I'm not a CS major, I've taken 3 CS classes (or classes with a strong CS component) as requirements for my engineering major. I will have take at least three more. I've run into a few issues with the languages I've been taught and the platforms I'm "supposed" to use.
For one of these classes, I was supposed to code in Fortran, using MS Visual Studio. The prof claimed to only care about results...he never asked to see the code itself. I live across campus from the engineering labs, and going back and forth across campus at night was a safety issue for me. Unfortunately, my professor refused to let us use other compilers, and it got to the point where he made us physically demonstate to him that it ran properly in visual studio. So much for my nice, free, open source Fortran compiler!
On the other hand, the next semester, I had a prof who allowed me to use C++ (which I prefer to code in over Fortran) and even Java (which I was teaching myself at the time). He also encouraged the use of whatever compiler we felt comfortable with.
Every situation is different. I've learned that you need to be flexible about it. My summer employer was extremely stringent upon using only MS systems for every computing purpose in the company. I certainly couldn't put up a fight and insist upon using what I wanted to use...I would have been reprimanded and possibly fired.
Similarly, had I argued with that first professor, I would have found my grade in danger (it happened to a classmate). I got lucky that one time in that the prof didn't care what platform or compiler or even what language I was using.
I guess you've just got to go with it...don't try to force a change that will result in problems with the prof, it just isn't worth the hassle. Besides, you need to be able to use any platform, and any development tool or compiler out there. It will only increase your own skills and flexibility.
Katie
I found a link to an article about a lot of old computers and their (often proprietary) operating systems...mainly 8-bit systems. The article is kind of long, and there's a lot of hardware issues that are worked into the discussion, but there's some neat OS stuff in there.
There doesn't appear to be much out there about any old mainframe OSes...my father used to use a mainframe in college (late 1960s...punchcards and all) and claims that he doesn't recall what the OS was. Oh well, what else would you expect from a business major? =)
http://www.armory.com/~spectre/tech.html
This is another example of why Microsoft is in blatant violation of U.S. anti-trust laws. It is absurd that a corporation that has been accused (and rightly so) of intimidating the competition and stiffing the consumer would force people to purchase another license after already recieving money from bundled software.
My last computer came bundled with a lot of extraneous software. I still use Windows (in addition to Linux) for specialized software that only works in Windows. However, of the software that came bundled, not one application (or the OS) that I currently use is original to the system. However, if I ever felt the need to upgrade Windows, I certainly wouldn't pay twice for the same OS.
Poor site is still slashdotted. =)
It's interesting to think of how much has changed in just a few years...my first computer was an Apple IIC and it did have a modem, which i used a couple times to dial random numbers.
My first computer that was online, per se, was a 386 laptop with a 14K modem and Prodigy . I was 12 years old and my friends were jealous of both the "speed" of my modem and the fact that I had Prodigy and I could go on Gopher and "that Internet thing".
Of course, my current computer puts the old 386 to shame in rather extraordinary fashion, and I have a T3 connection...my, how things have changed.
I am a mechanical engineering major, which I consider to be a technical field. I am also female. Although there are not many women in engineering/computer science majors at my university, I think that the imbalance is not due to social pressures.
As a kid, I was always playing with Legos. I began programming at the age of 5. I have always known that I would have a career in engineering. Despite the fact that neither of my parents have technical careers, I am just the sort of person who enjoys technology and engineering. It's part of who I am. I know a number of other women who have the same abilities and enjoyment of technical subjects. Vice versa, I know males who do not.
I can see where the socialization argument comes from, that girls are discouraged from technical careers. I would have agreed with that 20 or even 10 years ago. Today, however, I have never been told that I am unable to have a technical career or that I am going to be a bad engineer on the basis of my gender. None of my female classmates have been told that either.
Essentially, technology is in my blood...engineering is something that I am good at and that I plan to do for a long time...no one can tell me that I can't do it, simply because I'm a girl.
Katie
My parents started me on BASIC when I was five, and since neither of them can code to save their life, they got me that cute little 321-Contact magazine which had BASIC programs in it every month. Needless to say, I learned not a thing.
Fast forward 13 years...
Now a college freshman. I taught myself C++ for kicks. Since FORTRAN is a requirement for engineering majors at my school, I learned it. I did not like it, and so I continued to use C++ and tried some Python and a little Perl.
My little brother is 13, and he can handle C++ and FORTRAN with no problem...he actually likes FORTRAN better. I use MS Visual Studio with him, since he likes it, and he got along just fine with a college-level introductory C++ textbook. He basically taught himself and asked me for help when he needed it.
Go for C++, it's simple and quick to learn. The kids will stay interested if they are able to accomplish things early in the learning process. Kids have short attention spans, so whatever book or other teaching method you use, make it interesting.