I think this is a step forward, there were several times when I wished we could use programs such as Matlab in class, instead of a TI89 or similar. Our school doesn't require computers in class, so while we could use Matlab to do our homework, we couldn't use them on quizzes and exams. Requiring laptops would allow professors to let us use more powerful programs rather than having to resort to the clunky 89.
As far as Thinkpad goes I agree with other posters that it should just be a minimum requirement but I have a feeling the school can offer them at a discout to its students and that it will simplify repairs too, laptops are much easier to break than calculators.
No one carries a pizza with them on a daily basis. They could have made a better choice of disguises. As already pointed out, you would have to carry it horizontally or else you would really stand out.
When I was about 8 my grandfather gave me an old 486 to play with and showed me the inside and I was absolutely fascinated. He gave me several more computers and I loved to take them apart and put all the good components in one machine. Around this time I got a BASIC book and taught myself how to program in QBasic (these were all DOS and Windows 3.1 machines). I loved making the computer tell my little brothers things...I would program it to tell they're ugly and print out their name and things like that!;) I don't think it matters what operating system the computer has or even if it's modern, give them a few pentiums to play around with, since it doesn't matter if they break anything. I got hooked at computers and here I am ten years later and I still can't tear myself away from them.
It is also possible to disable it in 95,98, or 3.1 (I think) using zonealarm, a freely available firewall on the web (www.zonealarm.com) which allows you to control which applications have access to the internet or your local network.
Slashdot Mirror
I think this is a step forward, there were several times when I wished we could use programs such as Matlab in class, instead of a TI89 or similar. Our school doesn't require computers in class, so while we could use Matlab to do our homework, we couldn't use them on quizzes and exams. Requiring laptops would allow professors to let us use more powerful programs rather than having to resort to the clunky 89.
As far as Thinkpad goes I agree with other posters that it should just be a minimum requirement but I have a feeling the school can offer them at a discout to its students and that it will simplify repairs too, laptops are much easier to break than calculators.
No one carries a pizza with them on a daily basis. They could have made a better choice of disguises. As already pointed out, you would have to carry it horizontally or else you would really stand out.
When I was about 8 my grandfather gave me an old 486 to play with and showed me the inside and I was absolutely fascinated. He gave me several more computers and I loved to take them apart and put all the good components in one machine. Around this time I got a BASIC book and taught myself how to program in QBasic (these were all DOS and Windows 3.1 machines). I loved making the computer tell my little brothers things...I would program it to tell they're ugly and print out their name and things like that! ;) I don't think it matters what operating system the computer has or even if it's modern, give them a few pentiums to play around with, since it doesn't matter if they break anything. I got hooked at computers and here I am ten years later and I still can't tear myself away from them.
Maybe Hitler will rise again...armed with POTATO CANNONS = Potato Holocaust.
they probably didn't add a larger hard drive because they don't want sales to fall for the dvd-r camcorders.
It is also possible to disable it in 95,98, or 3.1 (I think) using zonealarm, a freely available firewall on the web (www.zonealarm.com) which allows you to control which applications have access to the internet or your local network.