Kurt,
Yes, I actually agree with you that this is probably not a good 1:1 device, at least not if you expect students to really be able to create and produce. I feel the same way about netbooks. They have a place, and are useful for certain things, but if I'm going to base a full-time take-home 1:1 program around a device, it would be a real fully-functional laptop. I can see some educational uses of the iPad (or a netbook, or an iPod touch, or.), but I'm thinking of certain specific applications, not as general purpose machines. My feeling is that its main benefit is to push technology in a certain direction that might really develop into something. I mean, remember the Apple Newton? It didn't amount to much on its own, but it sure pushed technology in a direction that's become very important today. I'm looking for these 'slate' devices to morph quickly into the next generation of handheld computing devices. --- Timothy A. Limbert Technology Coordinator Newell-Fonda CSD 712.272.3324 --- <http://newell-fondatech.blogspot.com> http://newell-fondatech.blogspot.com iChat/AIM: tlimbert65 Twitter: limbert65 Skype: limbert_65 From: info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us [mailto:info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us] On Behalf Of McKenney, Kurt Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 8:27 AM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: RE: [info-tech] iPad pro/con I've investigated the specs, and put some thought into this, and I've come to certain conclusions. How many of you remember when the original NES came out? It was designed and intended to be the first practical home computer. Sure, looking at it now you may be thinking, WTF? No networking, no keyboard (virtual or otherwise), no printer, 8 bit graphics, no word-processing, basically nothing for which we would use a computer for now. And yet strangely, in 1985, that was all ok. We wrote letters by hand. We did double entry bookkeeping, and the internet was something the military and a few computer nerds at colleges played with. Now we "can" do all kinds of things with computers. We can control our homes, we can remote control ROV's, we can design mega-scrapers, we can produce blockbuster movies. But how many people actually do these things? This is the computer Grandma has been waiting for. I don't want one. I really don't. But, I think Apple may have figured something out about the way most people use computers. They are not looking for multitasking, they don't want to figure out the pros and cons between one office suite and another. They are not running endless searches based on a batch file appending to a text output. They want to do email, look at cute kittens, and check the weather. Maybe they want to look at pictures of the kids and of their vacation, but maybe not. I don't think this will make a good one to one system. We demand too much of our computers, too many oddball programs that are not going to make it through the various official apple approved outlets, and carrying around a laptop and an Ipad, on a personal level is not worth it to me. Carrying around a laptop is a major PITA, I mostly do not do it. But I do think the Ipad, assuming it survives the copyright wars, will be a system to take note of. I will predict the next generation will be a more full featured system though. _____ From: info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us [mailto:info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us] On Behalf Of Timothy A. Limbert Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 3:24 PM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: RE: [info-tech] iPad pro/con And here's a website that sort of makes your case, Kurt. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/01/ars-ipad-reax.ars Tim From: info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us [mailto:info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us] On Behalf Of McKenney, Kurt Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 2:19 PM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: RE: [info-tech] iPad pro/con Ok Tim, I will agree that you ar not a mindless fanboi of Apple's. Actually all of the techs in the AEA are top notch, we couldn't survive under these conditions if we weren't. But there is something about the mindless masses and their obsession with Apple. It's disturbing. Last april, I met a guy who had bought an Iphone because he wanted to run an app that allowed him to zero in a sniper rifle more quickly. Those of you that know me know that I consider this a useful app for a portable computer. The problem was this guy did not own a gun, but he went on and on about how great this phone was for snipers. I know, you're thinking this was not a healthy person, and you are right. But you see a lot of this sort of thing (if you ride a bike you know it's not limited to computers), and the hype turns me off. Ok, I haven't done all that much research into the ipad, but here's where I see the problems being for education and pretty much anyone else. As I understand it, there really isn't any practical way to place content on the ipad except through Apple approved vendors. Let's leave out what that means for porn consumption, and consider that you will have be regimented into approved software, and possibly content. While you may like the software, I like the choice, it's none of their damn business how I use my computer. Also, I understand this thing will not multi-task. What's up with that? Does that mean I can't run my browser while doing a batch convert of pics while watching a movie and monitoring my email? If so, did I just step into a time warp to 1993? What's the deal with no SD slot? SD is kinda the default medium of the modern age. I have SD in my camera, my phone, my TV, and my next car will probably have it. Apple is not looking all that cutting edge. Honestly the new MSI tablet is looking way better, and that doesn't hold a candle to the Levono offering. _____ From: info-tech-ow...@aea8.k12.ia.us on behalf of Timothy A. Limbert Sent: Thu 1/28/2010 9:57 AM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: [info-tech] iPad pro/con I agree with Kurt and Tony that people shouldn't just lap up anything Apple throws out there. I'm a big fan of Apple's stuff, but it's not perfect, and I use a lot of non-Apple stuff (to the frequent irritation of my Apple reps). However, I also agree with Lance that Apple provides some great hardware and software tools that fit well into our educational goals, and the price issue is not as clear as it seems at first glance. Contrary to popular belief, Apple users are not generally stupid, and we do look at the pros and cons of stuff before investing good money. --- Timothy A. Limbert Technology Coordinator Newell-Fonda CSD 712.272.3324 --- http://newell-fondatech.blogspot.com <http://newell-fondatech.blogspot.com/> iChat/AIM: tlimbert65 Twitter: limbert65 Skype: limbert_65
