Actually, it was well worth the money. Its a P4 1.7 GHZ with 256MB ram, and it runs every software application I need it to: Matlab, Maple, PSpice, Labview, and of course basic word processing and web browsing. The battery life is about 2.5-3 hours (depending on usage) and with the wireless card, I can use it anywhere to get my work done on campus.
But I take care of it. Little Johnny in the 7th grade might not be so responsible. When he gets to college in 6 years, he's going to need a new one anyway. Buy him a cheap Dell, he'll learn much more about computers that way.
When I was in high school, one of the kids in my Biology class had a laptop that his parents bought for him. Fairly new, high speed, great machine. He brought it to class every day, and took notes. Everyone noticed (to the point where it became a distraction).
One day, he came to class without it. We all asked him where his laptop is, since we had grown so used to seeing it everyday. His response? He had stacked a bunch of school books on top of it at home and cracked the screen.
Ask yourselves a question: If your child can't treat his other toys, gear, anything he/she owns with the care that it deserves, what makes you think they can take proper care of an expensive machine?
I'm sure eBay has several low-quality craptops for $$$cheap, if you want them to learn.
Why wouldn't you simply buy your child a desktop? I know that all the things you stated in favor of your child's laptop are things that can be learned from a traditional desktop as well. I learned to type on my father's Commodore 64, I learned the internet on our 486DX2 66, and by the time we had our first Pentium III I was either at or past his own level.
Now that I'm graduating college, I've built several of my own computers and own a laptop that my college (http://www.rose-hulman.edu/) requires incoming freshman to have. I feel like my experience with computers as a child prepared me for owning a laptop. I never felt left out because I had never had the portability or usability of a laptop.
And yet, I can find exactly what I need to know about my website by searching Google. In fact, for referal origins, google is completely dominating Yahoo.
Now, unless the largest majority of Yahoo users also block referrer, then I think those stats show something. You can argue that my site is small and doesn't generate that much traffic, only 9081 page serves since 18 Jun 2005. But I think the results are fairly conclusive.
Also quite disappointing, however:
Explorer: 804 (68.25%)
Firefox: 224 (19.02%)
Which is probably mostly myself and friends representing firefox.
One of my most frequented bars is adjacent to an ISP in town. They offer free wi-fi to all their customers, which most likely only gets used during the school year or during the dead periods after lunch but before night. I have seen some guys in there playing counterstrike and drinking a few beers, having a good time.
Free wi-fi probably hasn't increased traffic to the bar, but I'm sure it has played a role in getting some customers to come and stay for a while.
I'm sure you expected at least a few replies, but I also own a Gamecube. I bought it the day it came out because I was expecting quality games. I don't play XBox or PS2 at all, and none of their games interest me (most are either remakes or copied ideas), so I don't own either system. I find Halo frighteningly boring.
I don't know if I'll even buy a next-gen system, but if I do, it will likely be another Nintendo.
Another problem with console games in the market today: Most of those titles you listed are sequals (many of them 3rd or 4th sequels). The real question we should be asking, where is the innovation?
Nintendo has consistently shown innovation, and MS and Sony consistently get rewarded for regurgitating the same crap.
If I had mod points, you'd get them. Your post was very insightful right up until the end where you said "Jihad Society", at which point I started laughing. Good post!
Make sure the feds don't track your UID...
The problem with a paper trail from an electronic machine is that the same thing could happen, and the machine would print out a reciept verifying the message on the screen, but still mark the vote the other way.
The solution to that problem is for the voter to turn in the printed ballot to a slot-loading ballot counter (similar to the counters many voting precincts already have). This would provide an anonymous paper trail that can be checked against the electronic tally, while at the same time preventing voters from choosing the wrong candidate (no hanging chads from a computer system).
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, it was well worth the money. Its a P4 1.7 GHZ with 256MB ram, and it runs every software application I need it to: Matlab, Maple, PSpice, Labview, and of course basic word processing and web browsing. The battery life is about 2.5-3 hours (depending on usage) and with the wireless card, I can use it anywhere to get my work done on campus.
But I take care of it. Little Johnny in the 7th grade might not be so responsible. When he gets to college in 6 years, he's going to need a new one anyway. Buy him a cheap Dell, he'll learn much more about computers that way.
When I was in high school, one of the kids in my Biology class had a laptop that his parents bought for him. Fairly new, high speed, great machine. He brought it to class every day, and took notes. Everyone noticed (to the point where it became a distraction).
One day, he came to class without it. We all asked him where his laptop is, since we had grown so used to seeing it everyday. His response? He had stacked a bunch of school books on top of it at home and cracked the screen.
Ask yourselves a question: If your child can't treat his other toys, gear, anything he/she owns with the care that it deserves, what makes you think they can take proper care of an expensive machine?
I'm sure eBay has several low-quality craptops for $$$cheap, if you want them to learn.
Why wouldn't you simply buy your child a desktop? I know that all the things you stated in favor of your child's laptop are things that can be learned from a traditional desktop as well. I learned to type on my father's Commodore 64, I learned the internet on our 486DX2 66, and by the time we had our first Pentium III I was either at or past his own level.
Now that I'm graduating college, I've built several of my own computers and own a laptop that my college (http://www.rose-hulman.edu/) requires incoming freshman to have. I feel like my experience with computers as a child prepared me for owning a laptop. I never felt left out because I had never had the portability or usability of a laptop.
My own anecdotal experience shows me that Yahoo has raped my website this year. For my relatively small website, the stats (reset on 18 Jun 2005):
Yahoo: 2407 (66.02%)
Ask Jeeves: 377 (10.34%)
MSN: 354 (9.71%)
Google: 160 (4.39%)
And yet, I can find exactly what I need to know about my website by searching Google. In fact, for referal origins, google is completely dominating Yahoo.
images.google.com: 119 (17.32%)
www.google.com: 61 (8.88%)
search.yahoo.com: 51 (7.42%)
Now, unless the largest majority of Yahoo users also block referrer, then I think those stats show something. You can argue that my site is small and doesn't generate that much traffic, only 9081 page serves since 18 Jun 2005. But I think the results are fairly conclusive.
Also quite disappointing, however:
Explorer: 804 (68.25%)
Firefox: 224 (19.02%)
Which is probably mostly myself and friends representing firefox.
Huzzah, a voice of reason among a sea of flamebait! All hail the Flying Spaghetti Monster!
Free wi-fi probably hasn't increased traffic to the bar, but I'm sure it has played a role in getting some customers to come and stay for a while.
I'm sure you expected at least a few replies, but I also own a Gamecube. I bought it the day it came out because I was expecting quality games. I don't play XBox or PS2 at all, and none of their games interest me (most are either remakes or copied ideas), so I don't own either system. I find Halo frighteningly boring. I don't know if I'll even buy a next-gen system, but if I do, it will likely be another Nintendo.
Another problem with console games in the market today: Most of those titles you listed are sequals (many of them 3rd or 4th sequels). The real question we should be asking, where is the innovation? Nintendo has consistently shown innovation, and MS and Sony consistently get rewarded for regurgitating the same crap.
If I had mod points, you'd get them. Your post was very insightful right up until the end where you said "Jihad Society", at which point I started laughing. Good post! Make sure the feds don't track your UID...
Did you ever wonder about the poor guys who beta tested preparations A through G? That had to be a crappy job...
One might even say that job was a pain in the ass!
67.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.