iPad compulsory at school

[Gepard]

My first grade teacher was deeply concerned about my poor penmanship.

Not much has changed.

Same here. I had all the cursive writing workbooks and did tons of penmanship exercises all throughout elementary school. My handwriting still looks like it belongs to a five-year-old.

In a not unrelated matter, I gave up on drawing a long, long time ago, and it's only with the advent of computers than I can create a straight line to save my life.

 

[RoJoHen]

Can you guys draw?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Can you guys draw?

Give me something to draw and we'll find out.

 

[RoJoHen]

Draw a cow.

 

[Gepard]

Can you guys draw?

Yes, if I beat my head against the desk and go crazy trying to get the lines right. Needless to say, I don't do it unless I have to.

 

[RoJoHen]

I was mostly wondering if it has something to do with fine motor skills. I have always been able to draw fairly well, and my handwriting is damn near perfect.

 

[Gepard]

I'm sure it's related – I have about as hard a time drawing as I do making nice-looking letters. It can happen, but you shouldn't count on it. As far as fine motor skills go, I'm better with manipulating physical objects, like doing arts and crafts, but placing lines on paper is a crapshoot.

 

[RoJoHen]

Sometimes I wonder if people were just never taught the proper way to hold a pen.

 

[Sheep]

I'm curious if this will be a repeat of my elementary school days decades ago where students were taught computer usage primarily on Apple computers, but once families started buying their own computers, Windows was the dominant platform and Apple was practically invisible, with this trend continuing into the business world where Windows is the enterprise platform of choice.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm curious if this will be a repeat of my elementary school days decades ago where students were taught computer usage primarily on Apple computers, but once families started buying their own computers, Windows was the dominant platform and Apple was practically invisible, with this trend continuing into the business world where Windows is the enterprise platform of choice.

You forgot the end of that story, where the kids get tired of their Windows computers and make the switch to MacBooks.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Except for smart kids, who got their Linux machines.

 

[RoJoHen]

That always sounded like way too much work.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Sometimes I wonder if people were just never taught the proper way to hold a pen.

As I said up thread, they aren't.

Also, something like 80% of people write with their wrists instead of arms. Any self-respecting art teacher will show his students how to do both on the first day.

So there's definitely a correlation.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

That always sounded like way too much work.

Linux is stupid easy nowadays.

And I still need to draw that cow, I'm just procrastinating. You'll all get some lulz from my cow-drawing efforts, I'm sure.

 

[iguana_tonante]

That always sounded like way too much work.

A little more work, a lot more reward.

If you just need to do mundane stuff, a Linux machine works exactly like a Windows computer (but way more stable) or a Mac (but significantly less pricey). But if you need to run something that's a little more arcane or self-made, it's almost impossible to do it on Windows or Mac, but quite easy on Linux.

That's my experience at least. I'm sure people will disagree.

 

[sidious618]

A little more work, a lot more reward.

That's what she said!

 

[CorporalClegg]

Linux is stupid easy nowadays.

Tux + beer and you're good to go.


Take that anyway you want.

 

[Sheep]

I'm curious if this will be a repeat of my elementary school days decades ago where students were taught computer usage primarily on Apple computers, but once families started buying their own computers, Windows was the dominant platform and Apple was practically invisible, with this trend continuing into the business world where Windows is the enterprise platform of choice.

You forgot the end of that story, where the kids get tired of their Windows computers and make the switch to MacBooks.

Is that why Apple's OSX marketshare is an astounding 7%?

As for the Linux thing, I gave dual-booting a try for a bit 3 years ago. Linux works well for basic tasks like email and web browsing, but the "RTFM or find it on the internet, you noob!" attitude from experienced users when you needed help because something wasn't working was a big turnoff.

Then I decided to convert my PC into a DVR and media center that's compatible with my Xbox 360 and PS3 and haven't touched Linux since.

As for the whole cursive debate, thankfully it's dead. Even before it was dead, it seemed pointless since there are so many variations of it that it tended to get in the way of understanding rather than enhance it in any way. Faster to write but harder to read (even with GOOD handwriting) = no go.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'm curious if this will be a repeat of my elementary school days decades ago where students were taught computer usage primarily on Apple computers, but once families started buying their own computers, Windows was the dominant platform and Apple was practically invisible, with this trend continuing into the business world where Windows is the enterprise platform of choice.

You forgot the end of that story, where the kids get tired of their Windows computers and make the switch to MacBooks.

Is that why Apple's OSX marketshare is an astounding 7%?

Apple can't afford to be too popular, or it'll ruin their hipster cred.

 

[iguana_tonante]

A little more work, a lot more reward.

That's what she said!

And boy, was she right!