I don't know about you guys, but I'm able to check out MS products (including visual studio + MSDN) for free from my library. I can also purchase MS OS's / Office for 10 bucks at my university bookstore. It's all legitimate and obviously quite cheap.
If they're going to offer it at such affordable prices, why wouldn't I take them up on it?
Linux may be free, but most of the US population doesn't know how to use it. It's going to take awhile before it becomes common place in K-12 when a lot of teachers and parents don't know how to support their students/children. Most of the places around here (Ohio) still use Macs (and very old macs at that) in the schools even! As far as usability goes, Linux isn't very intuitive and not very usable (IMO), and it would take a great deal more time to teach than a mac / windows system. Why don't you spend the time that you would otherwise spend teaching the students how to use Linux and spend it educating the children on core subjects? The quality of education in a lot of places around the US is highly lacking.
How about we focus on a better education before we go throwing linux at students.
My university, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, offers a Computer Art Degree through the college of arts and sciences and the school of art that is completely independant of a graphics design degree.
Check it out:
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/art/computerart/de scription.html
Sure, the primary intent of the union is rather grand. However, due to simple human nature, sometimes the reality isn't in tune with the primary cause. I think a lot of people are ignoring the idea that something (perhaps a union) can work in certain arenas and not work in others. It's all entirely contextually dependant.
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I don't know about you guys, but I'm able to check out MS products (including visual studio + MSDN) for free from my library. I can also purchase MS OS's / Office for 10 bucks at my university bookstore. It's all legitimate and obviously quite cheap. If they're going to offer it at such affordable prices, why wouldn't I take them up on it? Linux may be free, but most of the US population doesn't know how to use it. It's going to take awhile before it becomes common place in K-12 when a lot of teachers and parents don't know how to support their students /children. Most of the places around here (Ohio) still use Macs (and very old macs at that) in the schools even! As far as usability goes, Linux isn't very intuitive and not very usable (IMO), and it would take a great deal more time to teach than a mac / windows system. Why don't you spend the time that you would otherwise spend teaching the students how to use Linux and spend it educating the children on core subjects? The quality of education in a lot of places around the US is highly lacking.
How about we focus on a better education before we go throwing linux at students.
My university, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, offers a Computer Art Degree through the college of arts and sciences and the school of art that is completely independant of a graphics design degree. Check it out: http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/art/computerart/de scription.html
Sure, the primary intent of the union is rather grand. However, due to simple human nature, sometimes the reality isn't in tune with the primary cause. I think a lot of people are ignoring the idea that something (perhaps a union) can work in certain arenas and not work in others. It's all entirely contextually dependant.