It's the UID -- Chances are the BASIC he was using is very different from the BASIC you were using.
Still, I agree. I also found assembly and BASIC to be very similar. It makes me laugh when someone brags about learning assembly after a brief stint with BASIC on their micro
It's the best learning tool I've found so far -- it's simple and has an excellent help system. The auto complete has descriptions along side the text (encouraging exploration and discovery), the sidebar help automatically displays help for the current command, and the PDF tutorial is well-designed and simple enough for a bright child to understand.
Some of the changes are a bit odd, but they make sense. Next has been replaced by EndFor, for example, but this does keep things consistent with EndIf, EndWhile, etc.
The program itself is small (6mb download) and incredibly simple -- no weird options or anything to get in the way. It actually makes tools like Scratch look complicated!
Microsoft actually did this one right. I give it my full endorsement.
no, it sounds EXACTLY like a documentary on religion in society.
I only mentioned the video in passing as I thought it would be a good introduction for those not familiar with the controversy.
Oh, the deaf school bit isn't from the documentary. You might want to watch it before you pass judgement and comment on its contents.
Anyhow, it doesn't take much searching to find any number of similar stories about jobs lost for not being "deaf enough". You might even remember the recent (2006) Gallaudet protests.
I was given an iPad 2 and tried it for book reading - gave up on it. Granted I haven't tried the Kindle, but if it is anything like the iPad for reading it is not going to kill books any time soon.
The e-ink display makes it is a completely different experience. Really, I don't know how people can stand to read books on an iPad or Nook Color.
I really recommend you try one out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Just what in the documentary made it possible to claim that about several million people?
Sorry, I don't follow. The documentary was just an easy to access example for those not familiar with deaf culture. My opinions are in no way formed exclusively form that one documentary!
If you're interested, I recommend searching through deaf blogs and forums about AB 2072.
Most of them, I'd wager. The "deaf community" is very hostile to cochlear implants -- they actually think being deaf is a good thing.
There's a neat documentary (it's watch instant on netflix) called "Sound and Fury". If you didn't hate "deaf culture", you will after watching this eye-opening documentary.
Never mind the rampant illiteracy and extraordinarily low unemployment, these idiots think that being deaf is perfectly normal and that they're not limited in way. Thus, they refuse their children the one technology that will make their lives easier.
Hell, one deaf school fired it's superintendent for not being deaf from birth. These people are evil.
Re:RIM will never fail. Canadian pride is at stake
on
RIM Struggles Continue
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· Score: 1
I do find it relatively interesting that any story about RIM or Blackberry or the Playbook where user comments are allowed is invariably full of comments that utterly sing the praises of the company.
Except this one... and all of the other slashdot stories proclaiming the death of RIM. Are you new here?
They are usually way out of proportion to any negative comments, and usually any negative comment is directly addressed and challenged post for post.
Except this one... and all of the other slashdot stores about RIM.
Nothing goes unchallenged. I never, ever see this for anyone else, not for Apple or Microsoft or anyone.
Really? You've not see the point-counter point on EVERY Apple article for the past few years? How about the flame-wars in the comments section of nearly every Android article?
My suspicion is that RIM is actively seeking out those sorts of comment forums and perhaps encouraging positive messages. OK I will just say it: I think they are paying people to do this. And they are rather clumsy and obvious at it. No, no proof, of course.
Well, if they're paying people to shill on forums, they're doing a horrible job. Perhaps the relatively few pro-RIM posts stick-out among the same repeated-to-death posts you see on every RIM story? Perhaps when you read "RIM needs to adopt andriod" (stupid, BTW) fifty times, you start to think of it as just one post.
The media is seriously over analyzing RIM's woes. It takes 5 minutes of hands-on use to see that Blackberries are woefully behind iPhones and Android devices.
Funny, It also takes about 5 minutes of real-world use to see that iPhones and (most) Android devices are woefully inadequate for messaging and any task involving text.
Yeah, the keyboard and trackpad make all the difference. The Droid Pro tried with it's blackberry-clone keyboard, but without that trackpad selecting text and positioning the cursor is just an exercise in frustration.
Sure, they're lagging in the hardware department, but who cares? You gain more from having a boring phone with days of battery life and a UI focused on productivity than you do from having the fastest hardware or the best games.
RIM needs to focus on what it does best and deliver in actual products. This slow-drip of new phones is killing them.
Do people really like the BlackBerry keyboards? Really???
Yes. They're the best on the market. They have been for years. Their best effort to date is the keyboard on their Bold line.
I have to carry a BlackBerry and I find the keyboard to be poorly designed and difficult to use.
You're alone on that one. Even people who hate BB readily admit that it has the best keyboard around. Even the Droid Pro keyboard is a blatant copy (though it's more on-par with the torch, it's not nearly as good as the bold keyboard).
also use a Palm Pixi. Its keyboard is about 15% smaller than the BlackBerry and I can whale out messages on that tiny keyboard. As a matter of fact, everybody plays with my Pixi for a few seconds comments in amazement at how nice the keyboard is, especially compared to the BlackBerry keyboards.
The pixi keyboard is nice -- which is amazing considering how bad the keyboard on the Pre was. I think what people really like is the 'click' you get from it, not that it's particularly easy to use, but more 'satisfying' if you catch my meaning. Still, I have no explanation for how you can use it well, and still struggle with a BB keyboard.
Hell, I don't even need to look at my BB keyboard to type.
RIM released a tablet computer that has none of their strengths in corporate phones, no email, no 3G connectivity and the usability was criticised too, O2 in the UK refuse to sell it for that reason.
Their strength in business isn't email, it's incredibly secure email (among other things). Personally, I thought the lack of native email was a great idea -- just link it to my already-secure and managed phone. No need to manage another device. You can share devices between team-members and each one gets instant access to their data, and their data alone.
It seemed like a smart and sensible decision to me. Who knew the tech-press would stomp all over it?
On the 3G issues. Who needs 3G when you can just use your phones existing data plan? (Meh to 3G in any case. Wi-Fi only tablets outsell their 3G counterparts.)
It seems like just business win after business win: No need to manage another device, seamlessly share devices between team members, and no need to pay for an additional data plan. It's added portability is just icing on a very tempting business tablet cake.
As for usability, the UI is... amazing. I don't know that I've seen any serious criticisms, or could even identify a fault. The only think I could come up with was that a few of the bezel gestures needed to be learned (the swipe up to turn on, the swipe down for menu. Of course, those seem obvious once you've seen them.)
I did watch a video of a 2-year old using the PB like she was a pro, even effortlessly multi-tasking.
Every sales figure I've seen shows Droid and iPhone battling for the top two spot and Blackberry at number three and falling further behind
Apple and Andorid only recently (this year) passed RIM -- though in the case of Apple still within the margin of error.
BlackBerry is new to the #3 spot, I can only assume that you started following things this year?
They really need to get their act together if they want to stay at #3, let alone knock Apple out of it's newly acquired #2 spot. The weak offerings last year and the "still no new phones" this year are killing them.
They've made some really smart acquisitions over the past 18 months. They're debt-free and they've got the talent, cash, experience, and the brand to survive this transition.
So, yes, they can and are going toe-to-toe with Apple and Google, turning a profit all the while.
Well, sorry to say, but based on the current state of RIM's products it appears that they're being designed by PHB's with no clue what people actually want. I mean, seriously, wtf is up with the Playbook?
Seriously, WTF is wrong with the PlayBook? Of all the tablets on the market, it's the only one I find attractive.
I know, "native email" -- which I don't care about even a little bit. As a BB user, I have neither the need nor the desire to have native email support on the tablet. Bridge gives me everything I want, with company-friendly security. Outside of that, and a buggy launch, it's a ridiculously good tablet.
Releasing an Android just doesn't make any sense to me -- they'd be "just another Android tablet". The UI is astonishing, and you'd only get hate for trying to push an new UI on Android, even one as slick as that seen on the PB.
I shouldn't need to sell QNX to a slashdot user, so I won't bother. Honestly, RIM release an Android tablet -- absolutely ridiculous.
my BB is great at email, but not so great at just about anything else (except SSH)
Their strength is in communication/messaging. Email, sure, but messaging is so much more than that now (social networking, as one example). I won't go into detail, as you can very easily check that out on your own.
This is why BB is so popular with women and business users -- it's simply the best phone for communication. Add to that the astonishing battery life, and you've got a winner.
The Torch, while it still has excellent battery life, isn't nearly as good as their curve and bold line. Still, it's ridiculously good at handling word/excel/powerpoint documents (both editing and creation) due to it's larger screen. The torch keyboard isn't as good as the curve/bold, but still beats the Palm Pre and Droid Pro.
Now, even with an extended battery, the right software, and a keyboard at least as good as the Droid Pro, I still couldn't switch. I've found that without that trackpad, doing virtually anything with text is an absolute nightmare. It also really helps take the pain out of web browsing that many touch-screen phone users have experienced.
Music and videos are handled as well as any other phone. The only real problem RIM has is with games -- which are lacking in abundance, diversity, and quality. Of course, that's not why I have a phone. If I wanted lots of games, I probably switch to Android.
As it stands now, RIM offers phones that meet my needs the best. None of the competitors offer a handset that gives me all of the features I think are important, or do them nearly as well. I really want them to stick around!
lol. justify everything with jobs or infrastructure or decreased use of fossil fuels.
Not everything, just this specific project. Read much?
cut programs, raise taxes
Isn't this exactly what I was advocating? Did you even bother to read my post?
"I dont care if we dont have the money to pay for it. . . think about the environment!"
When did I say anything about the environment? Oh, that's right, I didn't.
Perhaps you should work on your reading comprehension before repeating nonsense you heard on whatever idiotic right-wing blog you frequent.
To which i respond "Think about a defaulting treasure auction", but no one wants to talk about that, which WILL happen in the next 10 years
This is how I know you're an idiot. "defaulting treasure auction" -- it's "treasury". Honestly, I doubt you even know what a treasury auction is.
Infrastructure and renewable energy are smart investments for the reasons I stated earlier. Remember: This is money already allocated for the loan guarantee program. Moreover, it's a *loan* not a grant. Even if it wasn't, we'd still see a positive return on that investment from the high-quality jobs created (and that's just one reason).
It's typical of the right to make a lot of noise about an issued, then do nothing about it. (Didn't I hear "jobs jobs jobs" during the midterms only to see nothing job-related happen once they took over the house? Oh, yeah, they were too busy making *really* sure that federal funds don't pay for abortion. Small government, unless it's a "moral" issue -- then more regulation and more intrusion is okay in their twisted minds...)
Take a look at the link I sent earlier. It seems that the American people can do a better job at cutting spending that our congressional moral majority. How did they manage to find more money?
They did exactly what the GOP refuse to do, they cut defense and INCREASED spending on job training, higher education aid, energy conservation, and renewable energy. Yes, Social Security is okay, as is Medicare, and other social programs that the American People find valuable.
See, Real Americans want America to be great -- that means good jobs, renewable energy, strong infrastructure, and social programs that allow ALL Americans equal opportunity.
End the pointless wars (the foreign ones and the one on drugs) and increase taxes. End the ridiculous military contracts, and close a whole bunch of military bases. Just for starters.
I'd also say kill the wasteful private prison system.
Oh, you weren't serious? Figures.
2 billion isn't a whole lot, and it's an investment that will pay for itself in infrastructure, jobs, and decreased dependence on fossil fuels. This project is just good stewardship.
Teaching school-age children computer programming necessarily also entails teaching them to think differently.
Damn Apple fanboys!
All kidding aside, I couldn't agree with you more. You don't teach kids computer programming so that they can all go out and write computer programs. Well, you put it best:
It teaches them to break a task down into its constituent steps. It teaches them to know exactly what they are doing and to know that they know exactly what they are doing. These are life skills that are useful to very nearly anybody, even if they don't use it to control their own hardware.
It's all about critical thinking and reasoning. Just about every educator I know claims that they "integrate critical thinking skills" into their lessons -- but I've yet to find one who can articulate how. It's more "the right thing to say" than something that they actual do. By teaching computer programming, we have a chance to actually teach those skills.
Why? I'm willing to bet that a significant portion of this sites users we're writing BASIC programs on their micros before the age of 10.
I also recall a number of studies in the 80's introducing computer programming to younger children via Logo.
I just don't see the need to waste nonprofessionals' time by teaching them perishable skills they will not use.
Don't be obtuse. Programming is a skill that is entirely separate from the language you used to learn it. Those skills ALSO transfer seamlessly to non-computer areas; I can think of no better way to teach critical thinking and reasoning than through computer programming.
It should be taught in elementary school and be part of the curriculum all the way through high-school.
Between iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads, there are more iOS devices than android devices. What you've proven is that Android vendors are perpetually a year and a half behind Apple.
That doesn't make any sense at all. The first sentence not only has nothing to do with the parent, but it is completely unrelated to your second sentence. It looks like you're trying to make some kind of argument, but it's too incoherent for me to be certain.
These aren't new players in the electronIcs field either. Why are they all playing catch up?
Catch up to who? RIM? Apple has yet to catch up to RIM* in smart phones, despite RIM being "dead" and Apple "in the lead" (which has never been true, BTW).
Ignorning that for the moment... what would your point have been? With a slot, I can have as many 32gb cards as I can stuff into my pocket. In theory, I never run out of space. I just buy more. (My mp3 player has a microSD card slot, and I find it very convenient to have multiple cards with different things on them.)
If I had a tablet (which I don't see a need for) I imagine that I'd have different work and home cards, possibly a few music and movie cards for flights. Why wouldn't I want or need tons of built-in storage when I have an SD card slot?
Slashdot Mirror
It's the UID -- Chances are the BASIC he was using is very different from the BASIC you were using.
Still, I agree. I also found assembly and BASIC to be very similar. It makes me laugh when someone brags about learning assembly after a brief stint with BASIC on their micro
Microsoft Small Basic
It's the best learning tool I've found so far -- it's simple and has an excellent help system. The auto complete has descriptions along side the text (encouraging exploration and discovery), the sidebar help automatically displays help for the current command, and the PDF tutorial is well-designed and simple enough for a bright child to understand.
Some of the changes are a bit odd, but they make sense. Next has been replaced by EndFor, for example, but this does keep things consistent with EndIf, EndWhile, etc.
The program itself is small (6mb download) and incredibly simple -- no weird options or anything to get in the way. It actually makes tools like Scratch look complicated!
Microsoft actually did this one right. I give it my full endorsement.
no, it sounds EXACTLY like a documentary on religion in society.
I only mentioned the video in passing as I thought it would be a good introduction for those not familiar with the controversy.
Oh, the deaf school bit isn't from the documentary. You might want to watch it before you pass judgement and comment on its contents.
Anyhow, it doesn't take much searching to find any number of similar stories about jobs lost for not being "deaf enough". You might even remember the recent (2006) Gallaudet protests.
I was given an iPad 2 and tried it for book reading - gave up on it. Granted I haven't tried the Kindle, but if it is anything like the iPad for reading it is not going to kill books any time soon.
The e-ink display makes it is a completely different experience. Really, I don't know how people can stand to read books on an iPad or Nook Color.
I really recommend you try one out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Just what in the documentary made it possible to claim that about several million people?
Sorry, I don't follow. The documentary was just an easy to access example for those not familiar with deaf culture. My opinions are in no way formed exclusively form that one documentary!
If you're interested, I recommend searching through deaf blogs and forums about AB 2072.
How many resources are wasted on curing deafness?
Most of them, I'd wager. The "deaf community" is very hostile to cochlear implants -- they actually think being deaf is a good thing.
There's a neat documentary (it's watch instant on netflix) called "Sound and Fury". If you didn't hate "deaf culture", you will after watching this eye-opening documentary.
Never mind the rampant illiteracy and extraordinarily low unemployment, these idiots think that being deaf is perfectly normal and that they're not limited in way. Thus, they refuse their children the one technology that will make their lives easier.
Hell, one deaf school fired it's superintendent for not being deaf from birth. These people are evil.
I do find it relatively interesting that any story about RIM or Blackberry or the Playbook where user comments are allowed is invariably full of comments that utterly sing the praises of the company.
Except this one ... and all of the other slashdot stories proclaiming the death of RIM. Are you new here?
They are usually way out of proportion to any negative comments, and usually any negative comment is directly addressed and challenged post for post.
Except this one ... and all of the other slashdot stores about RIM.
Nothing goes unchallenged. I never, ever see this for anyone else, not for Apple or Microsoft or anyone.
Really? You've not see the point-counter point on EVERY Apple article for the past few years? How about the flame-wars in the comments section of nearly every Android article?
My suspicion is that RIM is actively seeking out those sorts of comment forums and perhaps encouraging positive messages. OK I will just say it: I think they are paying people to do this. And they are rather clumsy and obvious at it. No, no proof, of course.
Well, if they're paying people to shill on forums, they're doing a horrible job. Perhaps the relatively few pro-RIM posts stick-out among the same repeated-to-death posts you see on every RIM story? Perhaps when you read "RIM needs to adopt andriod" (stupid, BTW) fifty times, you start to think of it as just one post.
The media is seriously over analyzing RIM's woes. It takes 5 minutes of hands-on use to see that Blackberries are woefully behind iPhones and Android devices.
Funny, It also takes about 5 minutes of real-world use to see that iPhones and (most) Android devices are woefully inadequate for messaging and any task involving text.
Yeah, the keyboard and trackpad make all the difference. The Droid Pro tried with it's blackberry-clone keyboard, but without that trackpad selecting text and positioning the cursor is just an exercise in frustration.
Sure, they're lagging in the hardware department, but who cares? You gain more from having a boring phone with days of battery life and a UI focused on productivity than you do from having the fastest hardware or the best games.
RIM needs to focus on what it does best and deliver in actual products. This slow-drip of new phones is killing them.
Do people really like the BlackBerry keyboards? Really???
Yes. They're the best on the market. They have been for years. Their best effort to date is the keyboard on their Bold line.
I have to carry a BlackBerry and I find the keyboard to be poorly designed and difficult to use.
You're alone on that one. Even people who hate BB readily admit that it has the best keyboard around. Even the Droid Pro keyboard is a blatant copy (though it's more on-par with the torch, it's not nearly as good as the bold keyboard).
also use a Palm Pixi. Its keyboard is about 15% smaller than the BlackBerry and I can whale out messages on that tiny keyboard. As a matter of fact, everybody plays with my Pixi for a few seconds comments in amazement at how nice the keyboard is, especially compared to the BlackBerry keyboards.
The pixi keyboard is nice -- which is amazing considering how bad the keyboard on the Pre was. I think what people really like is the 'click' you get from it, not that it's particularly easy to use, but more 'satisfying' if you catch my meaning. Still, I have no explanation for how you can use it well, and still struggle with a BB keyboard.
Hell, I don't even need to look at my BB keyboard to type.
RIM released a tablet computer that has none of their strengths in corporate phones, no email, no 3G connectivity and the usability was criticised too, O2 in the UK refuse to sell it for that reason.
Their strength in business isn't email, it's incredibly secure email (among other things). Personally, I thought the lack of native email was a great idea -- just link it to my already-secure and managed phone. No need to manage another device. You can share devices between team-members and each one gets instant access to their data, and their data alone.
It seemed like a smart and sensible decision to me. Who knew the tech-press would stomp all over it?
On the 3G issues. Who needs 3G when you can just use your phones existing data plan? (Meh to 3G in any case. Wi-Fi only tablets outsell their 3G counterparts.)
It seems like just business win after business win: No need to manage another device, seamlessly share devices between team members, and no need to pay for an additional data plan. It's added portability is just icing on a very tempting business tablet cake.
As for usability, the UI is ... amazing. I don't know that I've seen any serious criticisms, or could even identify a fault. The only think I could come up with was that a few of the bezel gestures needed to be learned (the swipe up to turn on, the swipe down for menu. Of course, those seem obvious once you've seen them.)
I did watch a video of a 2-year old using the PB like she was a pro, even effortlessly multi-tasking.
Every sales figure I've seen shows Droid and iPhone battling for the top two spot and Blackberry at number three and falling further behind
Apple and Andorid only recently (this year) passed RIM -- though in the case of Apple still within the margin of error.
BlackBerry is new to the #3 spot, I can only assume that you started following things this year?
They really need to get their act together if they want to stay at #3, let alone knock Apple out of it's newly acquired #2 spot. The weak offerings last year and the "still no new phones" this year are killing them.
They've made some really smart acquisitions over the past 18 months. They're debt-free and they've got the talent, cash, experience, and the brand to survive this transition.
So, yes, they can and are going toe-to-toe with Apple and Google, turning a profit all the while.
Well, sorry to say, but based on the current state of RIM's products it appears that they're being designed by PHB's with no clue what people actually want. I mean, seriously, wtf is up with the Playbook?
Seriously, WTF is wrong with the PlayBook? Of all the tablets on the market, it's the only one I find attractive.
I know, "native email" -- which I don't care about even a little bit. As a BB user, I have neither the need nor the desire to have native email support on the tablet. Bridge gives me everything I want, with company-friendly security. Outside of that, and a buggy launch, it's a ridiculously good tablet.
Releasing an Android just doesn't make any sense to me -- they'd be "just another Android tablet". The UI is astonishing, and you'd only get hate for trying to push an new UI on Android, even one as slick as that seen on the PB.
I shouldn't need to sell QNX to a slashdot user, so I won't bother. Honestly, RIM release an Android tablet -- absolutely ridiculous.
my BB is great at email, but not so great at just about anything else (except SSH)
Their strength is in communication/messaging. Email, sure, but messaging is so much more than that now (social networking, as one example). I won't go into detail, as you can very easily check that out on your own.
This is why BB is so popular with women and business users -- it's simply the best phone for communication. Add to that the astonishing battery life, and you've got a winner.
The Torch, while it still has excellent battery life, isn't nearly as good as their curve and bold line. Still, it's ridiculously good at handling word/excel/powerpoint documents (both editing and creation) due to it's larger screen. The torch keyboard isn't as good as the curve/bold, but still beats the Palm Pre and Droid Pro.
Now, even with an extended battery, the right software, and a keyboard at least as good as the Droid Pro, I still couldn't switch. I've found that without that trackpad, doing virtually anything with text is an absolute nightmare. It also really helps take the pain out of web browsing that many touch-screen phone users have experienced.
Music and videos are handled as well as any other phone. The only real problem RIM has is with games -- which are lacking in abundance, diversity, and quality. Of course, that's not why I have a phone. If I wanted lots of games, I probably switch to Android.
As it stands now, RIM offers phones that meet my needs the best. None of the competitors offer a handset that gives me all of the features I think are important, or do them nearly as well. I really want them to stick around!
lol. justify everything with jobs or infrastructure or decreased use of fossil fuels.
Not everything, just this specific project. Read much?
cut programs, raise taxes
Isn't this exactly what I was advocating? Did you even bother to read my post?
"I dont care if we dont have the money to pay for it. . . think about the environment!"
When did I say anything about the environment? Oh, that's right, I didn't.
Perhaps you should work on your reading comprehension before repeating nonsense you heard on whatever idiotic right-wing blog you frequent.
To which i respond "Think about a defaulting treasure auction", but no one wants to talk about that, which WILL happen in the next 10 years
This is how I know you're an idiot. "defaulting treasure auction" -- it's "treasury". Honestly, I doubt you even know what a treasury auction is.
Infrastructure and renewable energy are smart investments for the reasons I stated earlier. Remember: This is money already allocated for the loan guarantee program. Moreover, it's a *loan* not a grant. Even if it wasn't, we'd still see a positive return on that investment from the high-quality jobs created (and that's just one reason).
It's typical of the right to make a lot of noise about an issued, then do nothing about it. (Didn't I hear "jobs jobs jobs" during the midterms only to see nothing job-related happen once they took over the house? Oh, yeah, they were too busy making *really* sure that federal funds don't pay for abortion. Small government, unless it's a "moral" issue -- then more regulation and more intrusion is okay in their twisted minds...)
Take a look at the link I sent earlier. It seems that the American people can do a better job at cutting spending that our congressional moral majority. How did they manage to find more money?
They did exactly what the GOP refuse to do, they cut defense and INCREASED spending on job training, higher education aid, energy conservation, and renewable energy. Yes, Social Security is okay, as is Medicare, and other social programs that the American People find valuable.
See, Real Americans want America to be great -- that means good jobs, renewable energy, strong infrastructure, and social programs that allow ALL Americans equal opportunity.
End the pointless wars (the foreign ones and the one on drugs) and increase taxes. End the ridiculous military contracts, and close a whole bunch of military bases. Just for starters.
Check it out here
I'd also say kill the wasteful private prison system.
Oh, you weren't serious? Figures.
2 billion isn't a whole lot, and it's an investment that will pay for itself in infrastructure, jobs, and decreased dependence on fossil fuels. This project is just good stewardship.
Basic. Granted that's a God awful language to start with
Why? It seems like a perfectly good language to start with to me.
Brillaint! Any chance you can post your lesson plan & notes online somewhere?
Teaching school-age children computer programming necessarily also entails teaching them to think differently.
Damn Apple fanboys!
All kidding aside, I couldn't agree with you more. You don't teach kids computer programming so that they can all go out and write computer programs. Well, you put it best:
It teaches them to break a task down into its constituent steps. It teaches them to know exactly what they are doing and to know that they know exactly what they are doing. These are life skills that are useful to very nearly anybody, even if they don't use it to control their own hardware.
It's all about critical thinking and reasoning. Just about every educator I know claims that they "integrate critical thinking skills" into their lessons -- but I've yet to find one who can articulate how. It's more "the right thing to say" than something that they actual do. By teaching computer programming, we have a chance to actually teach those skills.
If the device had no software, it would not be able to do anything.
Just toggle in a loader with the front console switches.
Oh, wait...
Programming should be a college-level course
Why? I'm willing to bet that a significant portion of this sites users we're writing BASIC programs on their micros before the age of 10.
I also recall a number of studies in the 80's introducing computer programming to younger children via Logo.
I just don't see the need to waste nonprofessionals' time by teaching them perishable skills they will not use.
Don't be obtuse. Programming is a skill that is entirely separate from the language you used to learn it. Those skills ALSO transfer seamlessly to non-computer areas; I can think of no better way to teach critical thinking and reasoning than through computer programming.
It should be taught in elementary school and be part of the curriculum all the way through high-school.
Wow, you're an idiot.
Yeah, I know, Java, Javascript, whatever
There is a HUGE difference.
If his host runs apache, a slightly more involved index.php and some .htaccess magic and he can avoid the ugly urls.
Er, just google "Pretty URLs"
At which point, you give up and just install Drupal.
Yeah, the guy who Asked Slashdot should probably just do this too.
Between iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads, there are more iOS devices than android devices. What you've proven is that Android vendors are perpetually a year and a half behind Apple.
That doesn't make any sense at all. The first sentence not only has nothing to do with the parent, but it is completely unrelated to your second sentence. It looks like you're trying to make some kind of argument, but it's too incoherent for me to be certain.
These aren't new players in the electronIcs field either. Why are they all playing catch up?
Catch up to who? RIM? Apple has yet to catch up to RIM* in smart phones, despite RIM being "dead" and Apple "in the lead" (which has never been true, BTW).
So ... get over it.
*source
Heck, even today you can't buy a uSD card with the capacity of an iPad (64GB is not actually been released).
What about this one? It started shipping late last month.
Ignorning that for the moment ... what would your point have been? With a slot, I can have as many 32gb cards as I can stuff into my pocket. In theory, I never run out of space. I just buy more. (My mp3 player has a microSD card slot, and I find it very convenient to have multiple cards with different things on them.)
If I had a tablet (which I don't see a need for) I imagine that I'd have different work and home cards, possibly a few music and movie cards for flights. Why wouldn't I want or need tons of built-in storage when I have an SD card slot?