You can also do some research before you buy Apple products, too. Just because Apple doesn't make announcements about products coming up doesn't mean you can't turn to other sources. One source I have found helpful is the MacRumors Buyer's Guide (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/). They track the release cycles of hardware, and take into account the rumors that float about new releases; based on that information, they give the various Apple hardware ratings from "Don't Buy - updates soon" to "Buy now - just updated"). I think it's a pretty cool system myself. Not foolproof, obviously, but you can at least make a slightly more informed purchase when it comes to hardware. As I mentioned, this site is for hw only, so it wouldn't help with a sw purchase, but it's a nice resource to have anyway.
Do you think that the only thing that students are using their laptops for is to type up reports in Word? There is a LOT more that goes on in schools with Student Laptop Programs than just composition, though increasing writing is an important part of improving student achievement. A number of recent studies have shown that 1:1 laptop ratios can have a very positive effect on student achievement rates (as well as increasing student engagement, reducing drop-out rates and school truancy...)
If you implement right (plan it fully, have professional development ready for teachers, fully communicate to students AND parents what appropriate use is for the machine - e.g. no games, no IM, etc. - and enforce it), laptops can positively impact schools.
Ohhh.. I don't think you can totally disown "aboot" -- I am originally from Sault, Michigan, and after being home for only a weekend, I even catch myself saying it (though I think it might better be spelled "aboat"!)
From the description that the repair guy gave, it sounds like she wasn't in a panic about it, which I think I would be if it had been an accident. "She also kept every single key. She told us that they popped off while it was in the oven and she dug through to save every one." Sounds pretty "pre-meditated" to me. I am surprised that no one has posted this scenario to explain her actions: perhaps it's a revenge thing? Picture this: Wife finds out that her husband is cheating so she decides to take it out on his prized possession? Maybe he's cheating with someone he met online (hence taking it out on the "source" of the problem)? Sounds an awful lot like a variation on the "selling hubby's super-expensive sports car for $1" story to me!
Actually, it doesn't specify that you have to submit proof that you are taking any development courses; you have to be 18+, and they request your student ID number and school name, but that's it. I am pretty sure that student privacy laws would keep them from acquiring a copy of your class schedule without your knowledge. I also can't imagine that they would lock out student developers from this membership who weren't "officially" learning programming from some institution.
If you take a look at the actual wording of copyright law http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wci, you'll see that creators hold exclusive rights to To reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords, prepare derivative works based upon the work and distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending.
As I see it, CleanFlicks and other companies doing what they do are in violation of copyright because they are making derivative works and selling/renting them without permission of the creators. The exception for derivative works applies only for parody and criticism, covered under Fair Use provisions.
CleanFlicks' purposes don't seem to fit under either of those, or under any of the other purposes listed under Fair Use provisions: "comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research".
And even if they were doing it without making a profit, they could still be found in violation of the law. Brad Templeton has an excellent site on the "10 myths about copyright" that explains not-for-profit violations (Myth #2).
Finally, the purpose of Copyright is not to protect the economic rights of a creator; the actual Article from the Constitution (Article I, section 8), states The Congress shall have power... To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.
By giving protections to creators, there is incentive for them to create and share those creations with the rest of society "to promote progress of science and useful arts".
On a side note, if you ever have an opportunity to take a course/workshop/etc. on copyright, I highly recommend it. I took a 2 1/2 course last summer though the U of Mich and it was fascinating -- I didn't know how much I didn't know!
Is he a big fan of SNL's Nick Burns, "your company's computer guy"? I know I have seen at least one Nick Burns skit where he LOLd out loud. Funny when it's a skit, but to think there are real people out there among us that do this with all seriousness makes me cringe...
Slashdot Mirror
You can also do some research before you buy Apple products, too. Just because Apple doesn't make announcements about products coming up doesn't mean you can't turn to other sources. One source I have found helpful is the MacRumors Buyer's Guide (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/). They track the release cycles of hardware, and take into account the rumors that float about new releases; based on that information, they give the various Apple hardware ratings from "Don't Buy - updates soon" to "Buy now - just updated"). I think it's a pretty cool system myself. Not foolproof, obviously, but you can at least make a slightly more informed purchase when it comes to hardware.
As I mentioned, this site is for hw only, so it wouldn't help with a sw purchase, but it's a nice resource to have anyway.
Do you think that the only thing that students are using their laptops for is to type up reports in Word? There is a LOT more that goes on in schools with Student Laptop Programs than just composition, though increasing writing is an important part of improving student achievement.
A number of recent studies have shown that 1:1 laptop ratios can have a very positive effect on student achievement rates (as well as increasing student engagement, reducing drop-out rates and school truancy...)
If you implement right (plan it fully, have professional development ready for teachers, fully communicate to students AND parents what appropriate use is for the machine - e.g. no games, no IM, etc. - and enforce it), laptops can positively impact schools.
Sources:
Detroit Free Press
New York Times
Montana Associated Technology Roundtables
Public Policy Institute: Laptop for Every Student?
Ohhh.. I don't think you can totally disown "aboot" -- I am originally from Sault, Michigan, and after being home for only a weekend, I even catch myself saying it (though I think it might better be spelled "aboat"!)
The Newseum has a couple examples of their exhibit based on this book available on their website -- it's pretty fascinating!i n_wall/censorship.htm
http://www.newseum.org/cybernewseum/exhibits/berl
From the description that the repair guy gave, it sounds like she wasn't in a panic about it, which I think I would be if it had been an accident. "She also kept every single key. She told us that they popped off while it was in the oven and she dug through to save every one." Sounds pretty "pre-meditated" to me. I am surprised that no one has posted this scenario to explain her actions: perhaps it's a revenge thing? Picture this: Wife finds out that her husband is cheating so she decides to take it out on his prized possession? Maybe he's cheating with someone he met online (hence taking it out on the "source" of the problem)? Sounds an awful lot like a variation on the "selling hubby's super-expensive sports car for $1" story to me!
Actually, it doesn't specify that you have to submit proof that you are taking any development courses; you have to be 18+, and they request your student ID number and school name, but that's it. I am pretty sure that student privacy laws would keep them from acquiring a copy of your class schedule without your knowledge. I also can't imagine that they would lock out student developers from this membership who weren't "officially" learning programming from some institution.
Actually, if you're a student in the US, you can get a high-end TiBook for $2400! You just need to pay for a 1 year membership as a student developer ($99), and then you can order through their ADC Hardware Purchase Program.
Details:
Student Developer Membership
Student Hardware Purchase Program
TiBook in the Hardware Purchase Program
As I see it, CleanFlicks and other companies doing what they do are in violation of copyright because they are making derivative works and selling/renting them without permission of the creators. The exception for derivative works applies only for parody and criticism, covered under Fair Use provisions.
CleanFlicks' purposes don't seem to fit under either of those, or under any of the other purposes listed under Fair Use provisions: "comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research".
And even if they were doing it without making a profit, they could still be found in violation of the law. Brad Templeton has an excellent site on the "10 myths about copyright" that explains not-for-profit violations (Myth #2).
Finally, the purpose of Copyright is not to protect the economic rights of a creator; the actual Article from the Constitution (Article I, section 8), states
The Congress shall have power... To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.
By giving protections to creators, there is incentive for them to create and share those creations with the rest of society "to promote progress of science and useful arts".
On a side note, if you ever have an opportunity to take a course/workshop/etc. on copyright, I highly recommend it. I took a 2 1/2 course last summer though the U of Mich and it was fascinating -- I didn't know how much I didn't know!
Is he a big fan of SNL's Nick Burns, "your company's computer guy"? I know I have seen at least one Nick Burns skit where he LOLd out loud. Funny when it's a skit, but to think there are real people out there among us that do this with all seriousness makes me cringe...