"Computers are made and marketed as all-purpose machines, but for a lot of people they have a rather limited job description: Web browsing, e-mail, MP3s, digital photos, the occasional letter . . ." So what do you choose, Mac or PC?
I started on PC (1985), when to Mac (1990), on to Unix, back to PC (1995) and am now pretty much cross platform. I have both Apple and Windows computers. For myself, I would chose to go all Mac, especially now that Boot Camp exists and Apple has gone to Intel processors (yes, I know about Parallels, but it has limitations).
But for an institution to go all or primarily Mac would be a difficult decision for me to back. Mac does not have the market share PCs do, only about 2% of computers world-wide are Macs. Not all people are comfortable going back and forth in computer platforms. We need to expose students to the platform they most certainly will encounter in their work world: Windows.
So for the average person, if you are doing a lot of graphics or media, Mac is great, but Windows also does this pretty well. And if you are doing a lot of spreadsheets and documents, Windows is great, but Macs also do these pretty well.
3 comments:
Lisa, great comments on selecting the right computer! I think your comments on the decision-making process are true for all tech purchases. The user must first determine how he or she will use the hardware or software, before they buy it! :)
Teachers have a responsibility to expose students to a wider world of computers. Choosing Windows just because it currently has market share is a great way to cripple students in the long run assuming the world will not change.
Do students a favor and let them see tools like Open Office, linux, mac and web based systems. Don't assume windows is the only tool used in industry.
to be where the students are means being able to use both PC's and Macs- I have used both extensively over the years. My first lap top was an Apple, then I got a Dell, and then a Sony and now back to a Mac. All of my desktops were PC's until I got my latest MAC--4 years ago. Now I will replace this with another MAC--I a stickler for both function and design--and the folks at Apple are also very design oriented. I own two macs, 3 ipods and one ipod hi fi speaker systgem--you can see where my I am drifting--But I still use a PC on my desk at the College--which in all liklihood will be replaced by my home desktop when I get a new computer
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