Mac or PC in educational environments?

edX

edX

mac shaman
i love this article that a guy who teaches on pc's wrote for zd net. What is really funny is that this time the pc users are storming the gates with rebutals claiming 'foul' and insinuating he doesn't know what he's talking about.

again, just thought i would share. ;)
 
Over the years I've watch many people deal with Windows (all versions) and noticed something interesting when Windows 95 was released: Mac users knew how to work with it better than Windows (3.1) users. I still come across people today that either use Windows in the same way that they did in Windows 3.1 or they have no idea how to work with Windows out side of the few applications (they wouldn't be able to find anything on their hard drive if you asked them unless they did it from something like Word).

The question that comes to mind is why haven't these people learn/explored their computer environment? The answer is very clear: fear. People are scared to look into anything on their Windows systems. I can't blame them, few things look like they are named using english and from the day they start using a computer they are told not to touch anything (maybe with good cause, but still). On a Macintosh everything is out in the open. Everything looks easy to deal with.

And then there is my favorite feature, rootless applications! What is a rootless application? Everything (except some games) on a Macintosh. When you open an app on a Mac, you can still see the desktop in the background, maybe even other open apps. In Windows, every application is restricted to a window that usually takes up the entire display. I have come across people with 20" monitors who open each file system window so that it takes up the whole screen (even if it only has one or two icons in the window)! The idea of "drag-n-drop" is completely lost on these people. But more important, they see the computer as just one or two applications because they don't see the rest of the environment. The idea of having two documents open in two applications side by side so you can work on both at once is completely foreign to Windows users (in general).

People who start out on a Mac (who are not techies to begin with) are usually better with their computers (both Windows and Macs) than the same type of person who has only worked in Windows. I started out on a Mac, and I now feel completely at home in any of the operating systems that has been around in the last 15 years. This has a lot to do with playing around with my Mac, and then feeling empowered to try the same with everything else I could get my hands on.

As I have said it before, and I'll say it again. Windows systems require more maintenance than any other operating system I have ever come across. Even though my Mac clients out number my Windows clients by a 3 to 1 margin, more than half of my calls are from Windows users. And phone support is very hard when people are afraid to look closely at anything on their systems. But hey, it does pay the bills though.
 
I'd have to dissagree with you on the ease of use on a windows machine but I'll use the same arguments you used. I Feel very forign in the windows enviroment. I try to poke around and it feels like I have one of those toddler leashes on that stops me from going anywhere. I just can't do the things on a Windows machine like I can on a Mac. Maybe I am more intuitively familiar to the windows system than a native windows user but it makes me all the more frustrated that I can't do things as easily.


*continues to be amazed that people still buy into this crap*
 
posted by Koelling
I'd have to dissagree with you on the ease of use on a windows machine but I'll use the same arguments you used.
Click to expand...

I don't think I was saying that Windows was easy, just that Mac users have an easier time taking advanage than of the system than some long time Windows users (mainly because Windows has tried to copy as many features as possible from the Mac OS). But yes, Windows is not the friendliest of places to play in. :D
 
hehe... here i come, 2 blow the whole thing open again!

until last month, i had never used a Mac Before ... Only Seen them, from time 2 time ... so that meant, i have lived, and breather from Win 95 --> XP

Now... For me, moving 2 mac, Well i am @ Halfway right now ... was ummm... an Experience ... it allows u 2 open u're eyes in many respects, and take a broader look @ things...

Personally... i feel, in many respects, that i have learnt many "techniques" 2 complete tasks, the hard way!
For instance, the 7 or 8 Clicks, and So forth, it takes ... 2 Uninstall an App ...

But, in other aspects, i am completely Lost, on OS X... in comparison 2 Windows ( i know i am new! ...) But things seem, More Complicated than they shud be, esp when a lot of Apple's methods are usually Easier 2 cope with, than on Windows ..

Overall ... i am certain, if more peeps were brought up on Mac's and had the "Choice" of Systems, they would choose Mac! But, B'cus a lot of Peeps, have NEVER Used one, this is not the case!
Also, a lot of people, who have never touched are very naive, in that they are scared 2 try it... and simply say "mac's Suck".

But, Growing With Windows... i Don't find it weird, laid out in a weird fashion, @ all ... as i dont' with OS X ...

maybe there's an advantage 2 moving from a fairly skilled PC User, 2 Mac?! :p :D

NeYo
 
neyo - i think that's a pretty fair assesment you made. it is probably true that an advanced user has the advantage switching from either platform than the other. and is probably going to have the hardest time in some areas as well because their habits are so ingrained. Even switching to osx from os 9 and before was difficult for me at first. and i still cuss at unix things that i haven't mastered yet.
but i also remember the first few times i used windows. It took my prof about 2 mins to show me how drives work and another to show me how to navigate back and forth to the desktop and after that i was fine. every now and then i would have to ask a few questions about to find a specific function and the answer was never too complicated. in fact i was starting to think i should have bought a pc because they had changed so much since my previous experience with them. and i somehow had this myth in my head that pc's didn't crash. But of course it did in due time and i learned how to reboot. after a series of those i was glad i made my choice a mac. at least i knew what to do when the dreaded bomb appeared on my mac.
and i found out how good those school pc's were when my stepdad bought a pc. It made the ones at school look stable.
i can use both, but my habits work faster and easier on a mac. I think the 'unlearning' is the hardest part of switching. The learning of new ways is easier than forgetting old habits (like whicch corner to you reach for to access your apps,etc)
glad you're getting there:)

racerx - nice informative piece. i learned some things from it. thanks!!
 
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