OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

Thu Jun 19 15:39:04 EST 2008

My iPod Touch can surf the web at home, at school and in the city, when I go traveling I can book hotels on it instead of going to internet café and plugging my credit card details into their computers. It will play videos, play games, browse photos, display artwork, collect my email, store my contacts and calendar items, check the weather, maps, calculator the list goes on and on and on and on especially when hacked and running installer.

My iPod nano can track the speed and distance of my running and then map and store it online for me.

I do agree with some complaints regarding radio and removal batteries but the pros outweigh the cons for me. How many file formats do you seriously have that you can't easily convert to suit??? 

Disclaimer: I am an Apple fan along with my Macbook...

________________________________

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Anderson, Stuart L
Sent: Thursday, 19 June 2008 3:18 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

I will NEVER own an ipod. Why would you pay nearly double the price to get an mp3 player that attempts to restrict the file format you can use?

________________________________

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Kent Beveridge
Sent: Thu 19/06/2008 1:57 PM
To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: RE: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

Toys and attitude? Never! (but...its obvious Ros does rather like her Mac!) 

I used to be totally non Mac but, I have always been open to new ideas so perhaps I am just getting soft in my experienced years...hmmm? 

Ok, fess up folks...how many of you IBM clone geeks out there own an iPod?  (I dont..YET!)

Kent.

Kent Beveridge,

I.T. co-ordinator

St. Brigids Catholic Sec. College

Horsham

email.. kbeveridge at stbc.vic.edu.au

|<3|\|7  b3\/3r1D93 ?  ;-)

PARTY..PARTEE,..PARTIE,...PARTAY!!

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________________________________

From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Stephen Digby
Sent: Thu 6/19/2008 10:22 AM
To: 'Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List'
Subject: RE: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

Do the words "toy" and "admin" indicate an attitude ?

====================================================
Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager
mailto: digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au <mailto:digby.stephen.p at edumail.vic.gov.au>   
Cheltenham Secondary College www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au <http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au/> 
Ph: 613 955 55 955  Fx: 9555 8617 Mb: 0431-701-028
====================================================

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson 

________________________________

	From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Roland Gesthuizen
	Sent: Thursday, 19 June 2008 1:02 AM
	To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
	Subject: Re: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

	We trialed a MacBook for the past six months with no major burning issues. Wireless was tricky but only because we had to re-read the manual how it is done. Mark is right that the odd control-alt-fruit combo key mapping might make some users eyes pop out. I am curious as an XP user who is familiar with a three button mouse might fare. One of my visually impaired and very talented IT contacts doesn't even need or use Windows, OSX or even a monitor. I suppose it is about the freedom to work the way that suits your interests, passions and background with due dignity and tech support to all valid options.

	Admin staff want an iPhone. I keep getting cuttings on my desk and hints on the whiteboard. I must admit to being impressed when I saw one at the VITTA office last week. Now, there is a cute toy to bundle with the next round or add to the executive jewelery that IT teachers can wear around their necks :-)

	Regards Roland

	Meadows, Roslyn M wrote: 

	Hi Robyn

	As DEECD offers the option of the MacBook I don't know whether you can
	prevent staff from choosing that option, and in fact I believe you MUST
	offer the choice AND the support to those who use macs.

	Staff at Bentleigh have been using department provided macs since 2000
	(remember the pretty bubblegum coloured ones??) with little support from
	the tech. Everything works, there are never any problems with them and
	considering the large numbers of mac users (about 25%) there is rarely a
	problem, compared to the several IBM's that we are forced to fix each
	day. Most staff who use the macs got them because they also got a free
	iPod, not because they were mac enthusiasts.

	I have emailed the notebook team to clarify the DEECD view on whether
	staff can choose (even if the school says no macs) and whether support
	should be given for those who choose macs.

	Cheers
	Ros

	Roslyn Meadows
	Head of ICT Implementation
	Head of Assessment and Reporting
	Bentleigh Secondary College
	| 9579 1044 | 0412 614 062 |

	Please consider the environment before printing this email
	In some cases, all it requires is that you rationally point out that
	there is a problem.
	In others, all you can do is turn the other cheek.
	At the far end of the spectrum are those for whom the only appropriate
	response is to carve out their still-beating heart and force them to eat
	it. (Marc Carlson)

	-----Original Message-----
	From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
	[mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Robyn Dunn
	Sent: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 5:04 PM
	To: itapps at edulists.com.au
	Subject: RE: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

	Just wanted to share with you something we have decided on. We are going
	to allow one person to be a guinea pig and let them have a Mac,
	something we have never allowed before. We will get them to sign a
	waiver saying we can't guarantee full functionality with our network
	(although we are fairly sure it will be OK) and see how it goes. I'll
	let everyone here know how it goes in about 6 months!

	Ms Robyn Dunn
	ICT Co-Ordinator
	Camberwell High School
	email: du at camhigh.vic.edu.au
	phone: 98360555
	fax: 98360194
	Please consider carefully before printing this email.

				"Meadows, Roslyn M" <Meadows.Roslyn.M at edumail.vic.gov.au> <mailto:Meadows.Roslyn.M at edumail.vic.gov.au>  06/18/08

	4:49 PM >>>
	Mark

	Did you have the MacBook or the previous iBook?

	The MacBook was only first released in the rollout of March last year,
	staff who are coming up for renewals now have the iBook.

	The MacBook is a long way ahead of the iBook as it is intel based, it
	has an eject key, page up etc keys, and the delete key works for me, and
	there are about 4 ways of right clicking. I have had no problems
	accessing wireless anywhere or anytime (school, cafes, airports etc) In
	fact I have had none of the problems you discuss.

	Maybe you were holding it upside down??? Lol

	I just know that to use my MacBook is a pleasure in every way. It's like
	driving a brand new BMW! The blinkers may be on the wrong side but you
	eventually get used to it! And then you find it hard to go back...

	Cheers
	Ros

	Roslyn Meadows
	Head of ICT Implementation
	Head of Assessment and Reporting
	Bentleigh Secondary College
	| 9579 1044 | 0412 614 062 |

	-----Original Message-----
	From: itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
	[mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark Kelly
	Sent: Wednesday, 18 June 2008 8:45 AM
	To: Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List
	Subject: OFFTOPIC Re: [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

	Hi all.  This thread is offtopic, but as long as it doesn't hang around
	long we can live with it.

	While I'm here, I had a Macbook in the last rollout but have reverted to

	a PC:

	- I detest the Macbook dwarf keyboard (no true DELETE key [it's actually

	a backspace], no PGUP or PGDN etc, Control in the wrong place).  I had
	to use a utility to remap keys to give me proper functionality.
	- The lack of a proper right-click
	-The way it shows every mark on its pristine white skin
	-The lack of hard disk space on each partition when dual-booting
	-The OS melt-downs (3 times in 6 months the whole Windows partition
	turned into tapioca)
	-And finally, the overheating which jams optical disks in the drive and
	refuses to eject them until it cools down!  Of course a manual eject
	button would spoil the sexy look, the drive is not user-removable, and
	there isn't even an emergency eject hole for the paperclip manoeuvre.
	- And I never really needed the Mac side anyway
	- It amused me how Filemaker 8.5 would not run under Leopard, while
	Windows ran it fine
	- Installing Leopard instantly killed wireless access through Edupass
	- There was no Office 2007 for Mac

	I'm a happier camper now I've thrown off this Mac tendency, and a few of

	our Macbook staff are reverting to a Lenovo on the next rollout.

	Jock Garnsworthy wrote:

		If you think about it, there is no choice !
		I converted to mac in the last rollout cos I got a free Ipod - still
		going strong.
		Best marketing strategy for yonks.
		Apple have it all covered.
		Best of all worlds.
		Have used Virtual PC for markbook, access and VB. YUK very slow and

	clunky.

		Now with Parallels who can argue !

		Can't wait for the rollout to actually happen.

		Cheers,

		Jock
		__________________________
		Jock Garnsworthy
		Pasco St.
		Williamstown High School
		(03)93971899

		On 17/6/08 4:28 PM, "Russo, Frank R"

	<Russo.Frank.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> <mailto:Russo.Frank.R at edumail.vic.gov.au> 

		wrote:

		    I have always taught on Windows PC's and have only been exposed to
		    iMAC in the classroom this year I do remember teaching databases

	on

		    an Apple IIe but that was many moons ago.

		    I have always opted for the Apple option with the Laptop Program

	and

		    have had no problems being able to do everything I have needed to
		    except for Visual Basic.

		    Now with Parallels even that will be taken care of.

		    Welcome to the club !!!

		    As my schools Notebook Rep there seems to be a swing amongst staff
		    over to Apple (especially those whose Thinkpad died on a monthly

	basis)

		    Frank Russo
		    ICT ~ Teaching & Learning
		    Monterey Secondary College

	------------------------------------------------------------------------

		    *From:* itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au
		    [mailto:itapps-bounces at edulists.com.au] *On Behalf Of *Roland

	Gesthuizen

		    *Sent:* Tuesday, 17 June 2008 3:54 PM
		    *To:* Year 12 IT Applications Teachers' Mailing List; eLearning
		    mailing list
		    *Subject:* [Year 12 IT Apps] Parallel thinking

		    With the current round of notebooks for DEECD teaching staff, and
		    after many years teaching VCE IT with Toshiba, ACER, IBM and then
		    Levono laptops, I have decided to opt for the Apple notebook

	option.

		    Last week I was really impressed with a colleague running

	Parallels

		    who was able to seamlessly switch between OSX to XP applications

	(or

		    Ubuntu Linux) using a little used feature called Coherence.
		         link to a blog entry with details about this feature

	<http://lifehacker.com/software/parallels/hack-attack-how-to-run-windows <http://lifehacker.com/software/parallels/hack-attack-how-to-run-windows-and-mac-apps-sidebyside-with-parallels-221002.php> 
	-and-mac-apps-sidebyside-with-parallels-221002.php> <http://lifehacker.com/software/parallels/hack-attack-how-to-run-windows-and-mac-apps-sidebyside-with-parallels-221002.php> 

		    It didn't really matter what operating system we use .. shift
		    happens. I saw this myself at the VITTA conference last year after

	a

		    day long session demonstrating programming with Python in the

	Apple

		    lab. It didn't matter. A lighter weight and better design are also
		    factors I am considering .. bluetooth, perhaps Apple iPhone
		    integration??

		    With due dignity to all users and systems, I do not wish to turn
		    this into a mac / windows flame or debate about incremental
		    advantages. Jokes about one or two button mice mean nothing when
		    both systems plug and play just about anything you throw at them.

		    Somebody once described this to me as how we learn to play chess.

	It

		    doesn't matter if your pieces are made of finely crafted glass or
		    bottle tops. It doesn't matter if the chess board is made of ivory
		    or newspaper. What matters more is the game that you play.

		    Is anybody thinking along the same path?

		    Regards Roland

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