MacDailyNews - Where Mac news comes first

So sad.

One day they'll feel a bit like the publisher that turned away someone called Rowling with a book about a Harry somebody...

Well if they think the Macs were costly to maintian wait till they need 20 PC techs on call 24 hours a day. Then they'll know what costly really is.
The Macs should have been replaced in a 3 year cycle anyways. They will find out the hard way as they waste $20,000.00 on those PC's.
The next story will hear from here is Parents and students outraged that the money they spent on PC's was a waste as they can't use them do to spyware and viruses.

"received donated computer equipment"

Switchers getting rid of their old equipment in favor of new Macs.

So, switching to Windows PC...

Is it a 'swear' education? So they can say f**k everytime they get a BSOD

Magic word says it all...... Trouble!!

Computer education in schools is so basic that PC's will be fine. How many people take full advantage of what a Mac can do anyway?

The kids will research behind a firewall and write a paper on Word and that will be about it. Then when they go home from school, they can feel comfortable gaming all evening on a similar Windows machine.

You have to also wonder how many of the PTA members have ever managed photos, edited a movie, worked with music, done a file seach, or broused without fear. They are sad clueless sheep.

So where is the lawsuit?

my guess is that one guy with a disk warrior cd, or basic knowledge of disk util could have fixed all those macs... assuming their running OSX, which I doubt...

Poor kids!

MW: sort - like sort of stupid parentdecision!

Wisconsin!?! I got the sh*t kicked out of me in Wisconsin...

Ok class, it's time for our Math lesson...Now, if it takes 15 minutes for your new PCs to become infected with viruses and your PC has already been on for 12 minutes, how many more minutes until your PC is crippled by a virus? (Hey! PCs are good for our classrooms!)

Parents know best, right?

There are so many errors in what Lisa Ash said it's hard to know if she has 2 brain cells to rub together.

Mac - Virus free, UNIX based OS
PC - Virus laden, buggy, sloooooow, outdated OS

Which would you choose to educate your child on? I think a lawsuit should be launched just like Cobb County.

"7 Year old Mac" ...

I'd like to see the how the 7 year old PC's are holding up. (or these PCs in 7 years)

MW army, as in the army of Mac faithful should pelt these fools with rocks for the abuse they are about to incur on their children.

I told you Apple was going down. The end is near. God save their souls. The parents I mean. You know, from their perspective they are doing the right thing. They have their best interests in mind and they are taking the initiative. That's great. A 7 year-old Mac may not run Tiger too well and XP on a new PC might be better-off in the short term.

In two years they'll be wondering how long they should wait to switch back to Mac and why they didn't see the sea change in the first place.

Don't dispair kiddies. It's one very small school. Most of em are using PCs anyway. For every story like this there are 50 others that we don't see. Apple is delivering the goods and they'll all come around in the end.

The way I see it is that most parents think a computer is a windows pc. Most of them don't even bother learning to use that so there's no hope in hell they'll take the time to research and learn about macs and the great alternative they offer.

Unfortunately the windows pc has given the world at large such a low expectation in respect of cumputers that they're resigned to them being a chore. As a result all they look at is cost and windows pc's look cheaper out of the box than a mac. Since they know nothing about macs the fact that on a windows pc they will have to pay more for antivirus software, spend time removing spyware etc is lost on them.

Similarly because expectation is so low, computer usage is basic at best, word, a bit of internet, email that sort of thing. The advanced features (of any platform) are rarely looked at so the added in box value of apple is again overlooked.

It's depressing really.

mw: else. There is something else other than windows. If not OS X, linux even.

Well I guess the schools never sat down and calculated the value of those 7 years of Mac's go them now did they?

And I guess they just "forgot" all the agravation their PC machines bring infected 4 minutes on the internet and how it costs much more money to maintain them.

Parents certainly don't teach their kids how to use computers, it's more like the other away around.

It's good for kids to learn multiple platforms and different ways of doing things, it's the parents who get stuck in their ways and like lemmings follow each other to the throne of Microsoft suffering.

Since the PTA had to raise the money, they obviously went with the cheap PC route, what they don't know is it will cost $20,000 a year just to maintain them.

HAHAHAHAHA fools, stupid PC fools.

The world is full of them, absolute frigging low level mindless slugs.

All the smart folks use Mac's, 16 years VIRUS FREE!

Beat that with a stick!

If ignorance is bliss, I guess they'll be the happiest people on earth

Just for the record - It's not hard to maintain a windows machine for a classroom and keep it virus free -

You just put a disk image on a network drive (or dvd) and re-image the machine EVERY MORNING

Well, I am the first to admit I am saddened to hear that another school is switching to PC (The Scarborough Board in Toronto switched a couple of years ago, and instead of donating the Macs, litterally threw them all in the garbage!), I can only think that 7 year old macs (think original iMacs or older) were in fact a huge pain to keep alive without being upgraded. I am assuming they were probably using some flavour of pre OSX (maybe even system 7?), which, understandably would be very cumbersome to have to use on a daily basis at this point. As people have already stated, it is pretty impressive that Macs bought 7 years ago were still kicking - I haven't heard of people using a PC past 4 without serious usability issues...

Yeah, going PC might have actually been a sexy option to 7 year old Macs, but they obviously didn't research what owning a current Mac with OSX running would have been like for learning and productivity. I could see myself being happy using Tiger well into the 2010's...

Sad sad sad...

I wonder if it's the parents that need to go back to school instead of the students.

I used Macs throughout my school career and had a PC at home along with others. No brain damage so far. =P

Seriously, can these parents wake up!

Wisconsin? Isn't that the place where they put big pieces of cheese on their heads to go to a ball game?

but of course when 2010 rolls around I'll being using OSXI "Spotted Snow Leopard", or "Jungle Cat" or whatever..

Parents just don't understand.

Quote:
"my guess is that one guy with a disk warrior cd, or basic knowledge of disk util could have fixed all those macs... assuming their running OSX, which I doubt..."

We actually did that on a campus where I used to work. The district had gone away from Macs because the technology coordinator knew nothing about them. Our techs knew nothing about them. When a Mac had a problem, the tech would show up, see that the Mac had an issue, and instruct the principal to get rid of it. These computers were anywhere from OS 8 - 9. We would fix them with an old version of Norton, and pass them around to teachers who were interested.

I can just imagine what a lot of the parents thought though. It was probably something similar to the situation my little sister faced when she said she wanted to get a Mac for their first family computer (She had seen how much Mom and I were enjoying being on Macs). Her husband started out by saying things like -

"There is no way we are getting a Mac. I already know how to use a PC from work. The only people in the world on Macs are your brother and your mother. There is no software for the Mac."

She asked me to help and I sent him some information. Meanwhile she dug her heels in and told him that SHE was going to be the one who used the computer most because he already had his laptop from work. She also told him that Jack (me) had promised to help her learn how to use it and guaranteed that it would have few or no problems and would not get infected with viruses and spyware. Well, I think he took one look at his experience with PCs from work and realized that he was setting himself up for years of grief - everytime there was a problem with the computer it would be his fault because he insisted on getting a PC. And hey, if I was that confident and willing to take full responsibility, then maybe there was something to this Mac thing. Long story short, they now have an iMac G5 and he has been amazed how easy everything has gone so far and is fast becoming a Mac fan as weeks and months pass with no problems.

I think the parents dumping off their old PC equipment at this school (and probably using it as a tax write off) should be forced to commit to maintaining them for a year or two. Not just dump the boxes on the schools door step and run off leaving the teachers and the students to deal with the windoze headaches.

MW: "class" As in a computer with 'class' should be the computer for the 'class'.

7 year old Macs that quit running?? Maybe a new $40.00 hard drive would do away with that funny noise. PS this sometimes works on PC's

Very small school districts can be a bit weird a times - my wife worked in one for a while - aghhh!

The first rule is that they will buy locally, meaning Joe's Computer Shop will get the order and build some white boxes with some rather cheap parts. The fan will sound like a 747, but no one will care - especially Joe who made a lot more profit off of the clunkers than Dull ever does.

For the same $20,000 they could have had new eMacs, wireless and Power School. A good PTA to avoid joining.

Let me see...If I read this correctly, they're changing over to PeeCees because their 7 year old Macs are broke because they were not being maintained.

As Bugs would say..."what a bunch of maroons"

It's a shame you can't sue someone for being an idiot. You can however, recall them

why not just replace your "7 year old macs" to iMac G5s?

Guys...it's not the IT department at the school making the switch...it's the friggin PTA for Pete's sake. Obviously this school system hasn't made computing a top priority for whatever reason...probably cost being at the top of the list. I think it's great that the parents decided to do what they had to do to ensure that their kids at least have access to something remotely modern and useful. They've got 30 7-year old machines for the entire school to use and almost of quarter of them no longer function. They most likely run system 7...'nuff said there.

They only want the best for their kids and these are just parents we're talking about here. This is probably their only exposure to Mac for the most part and if I were in their shoes I'd be pretty loathesome myself. They probably all use Doze PCs at work and at home and are constantly bombarded by Dell and HP commercials on TV, in print and on the radio. Heck, even Microsoft is currently pounding the television pavement with Windows XP commercials (gag me).

If you want to blame anyone besides the school system, blame Apple for ignoring just about everyone that's not already seeking them out. They have absolutely zero presence in the mindshare of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Household. Yeah, alot of their kids might have iPods or are at least begging for one but that's it. Apple needs to educate consumers everywhere. They have a solidly superior product and they should be pushing it everywhere, especially in the schools. Apple needs to lose this "build it and they will come" attitude if Steve Jobs ever hopes to take back what he once had. Otherwise, expect to see plenty more stories like this.

Also, on a side note...MDN really needs to stop immediately throwing the "virus and malware" hyperbole whenever someone mentions Windows. Yes, calling Windows virus-prone is most certainly an understement and spyware/malware is most certainly a pain but just how much of it is overplayed hype? I've worked in some rather extensive Windows enterprises and very rarely ever encountered a true virus outbreak. Enterprise-level antivirus solutions have really gotten quite good over the years. In fact, the only time I've really ever encountered a virus it was in our quarantine database and because we used Lotus Notes, it didn't affect us at all. I've owned plenty of PCs and begrudgingly work on one every day and I have not had a single encounter with viruses or malware. I even went months without running antivirus software at all. Like it or not, XP SP 2 has really gone a long way towards making Windows safer...which still doesn't say much when compared to Mac.

While it is a nice point to make when comparing mac to windows, why not focus on more apparent benefits like stability, superior memory management, remarkably intuitive UI, seamless integration of software and hardware, award winning support (the genius bar is sorely underrated and under-promoted to the rest of the world), access to powerful integrated tools i.e. Unix, graphing, etc., iLife, iWork, etc...an overall heavenly computing experience compared to the alternative?

Give the local PTA a break. If their school had PC's then they would know all about spyware and virus protection and would have factored that into the equasion. Using Macs previously, of course, they have no idea what a mess the just got themselves into. I hope some of the parents are certified IT people.

we were on our way over to the bingo parlor - you know, to the YMCA - well, one thing led to another and the directions got all fouled up, there, and ...

The snide little comments that MacDaily editors leave behind on stories that have any kind anti-Mac flavour to them are at best childish. It's apparent that everyone who doesn't see things your way is either stupid, misinformed, behind the times, etc. The PTA made what amounts to a rational decision and they had some good reasons for making that choice. Rather than slam them with puerile comments you might take the time to offer some constructive commentary or perhaps a suggestion like "maybe they should include some Macs in their purchase so that their children are familiar with both platforms".
You guys need to get over yourselfs because you are as dogmatic as any Muslim/Christian fanatic. I'm certain that if you were running the country we'd all be forced to compute on Macs. There could be worse fates but I do like to have the choice and the PTA has that freedom to. It's called democracy.

Hey sagelike -

Here's some constructive commentary:

"yourselfs' is not a word - it's 'yourselves'

Sagelike has a good point. name calling doesnt add to the conversation. the PTA made a decision and they have the right to do so. the only thing i have to say (as others already have, but hey, it bears repeating) is that once they get into the World of Windows Computing and suddenly find that they're encountering problems that they've never had to deal with before, such as malicious attacks on their systems and the Windows Virus of the Week and end up having to lock down the computers so tightly that have problems just accessing everyday things they'll realize that they had a much better computing experience on the other side... and this is going to come from the administrators, teachers and students who have to use them everyday... not the parents who do NOT use the computers.

If they were 7 year-old Macs, they couldn't run iLife, let alone Mac OS X Tiger. (Mac minis were still the way to go, of course.)

I've been involved with running the computer labs and classrooms at a few schools. Those poor parents have no idea how much this is going to cost them over the next couple of years. The $20k will barely cover the costs they will incur to have the computers cleaned up on a regular basis. The labor cost will far outweigh the equipment costs. I know a few middle schools that spend about $4k every few months to have a team get all the virus and spyware off them.

After seeing what kids actually do with computers in schools I wonder why any schools have them. For the most part they are "machines that go bing" with no real value to the kids' education. Only the faculty get real use from them. The kids make pictures and google for homework answers. It's a serious waste of money for most schools. There's this misconception that computers are some sort of miracle workers.

Sic semper ignoramus

If I were a teacher in that school, I'd be looking for another job in a system where the PTA has an average IQ above 100.

Aw....they jumped just that much too soon! They should have waited for the new Intel-based Macs! Then they potentially could CHOOSE an OS to run. Oh well. Same liberal brainwashing going on in our public schools as always.

Stupid is as stupid does...

Hey , who took my freakin' chocolates!

"and get help from their parents"???? Im sure these parents don't even know how to use a PC either. Those poor kids aren't going to learn 1 damn thing.

"The parents 'have taken it on as a professional commitment,'"

Finally, a program to keep parents off the streets and out of trouble by occupying all their free time. This could be a new PTA event, heck, a whole week full of events - "Virus Night", "ID Theft Night", "Anti-Ping Night", "Ad-Removal Night", and, of course, "Defrag Night."

Free brownies for everyone.

I have just one concern: How long before the dads start bringing beer?

I am sure that the PTA doesn't know a thing about computers, although they probably think they do. Look at where the story is located - Wisconsin for goodness sake!! And I can rip on 'em all I want because that's where I grew up. Milwaukee is WI's biggest city and they still are all a bunch of hicks. I would guess that most Wisconsinites have NEVER seen a mac much less used one. They are just going with what they know and let's face it most people use Windoze on PCs. My parents know what a Mac is because of me, but have never used one. Currently though their PC doesn't work well (can anyone say virus?) and I am thinking about giving them my old G3 iMac to show them how much easier it will be for them to use. Anyway, until most businesses start running on macs it makes more sense (in the PTA's eyes) for their children to lean on PCs. In my high school we had both. Mostly PCs, but the art department had macs. Maybe they should get both so they can REALLY see the pros and cons. At least the kids will get educated about viruses!!

Hmm, sorry but it makes a lot of sense, they'll be using PC's in the real world so they might as well be learning on them. Plus, if you read the full article, the school district had already invested in laptops for teachers, and I'm pretty sure they got better deals than they would have trying to obtain Apple PB's.

Windows based "Donated computer equipment"

Enough Said

As others have said, I think it's wonderful that the parents got involved, got the donations, and at least got some modern equipment into their schools. It seems obvious to me that the school administration and/or the school board dropped the ball on this one.

That said, I have a feeling that, in a couple of years, the parents who set up the Windows machines will be in for a rude shock. It's quite likely that they'll have more than 6 machines down. It doesn't sound like the school has much of a infrastructure to take care of Windows machines--considering the problems that they had keeping Macs running.

lol, how's this for a kicker, I couldn't even post this feedback on my Mac, had to go to a PC

lol, here's a follow up to my last:

Hah, couldn't even post these from my Mac, had to switch over to a PC to get the posts to work

"they'll be using PC's in the real world so they might as well be learning on them."

That excuse has been around so long it's starting to stink. These are ELEMENTARY school kids we're talking about here. Do you really think the computers they'll be using as adults will bear any resemblance to today's Windows XP machines? If Windows is stuck at XP in twelve years, the whole world will be using Mac OS XI by then.