It is hard to remember back to my first exposure to computers. My dad is a bit of a computer junky so we have had computers in our home since I was a little kid. I remember using them for games such as Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, and others. We eventually got dial up internet. I remember my parents getting a second phone line so we didn't tie up the phone line while using the internet.
I think I started to use computers for word processing around 7th grade. In high school, we used computers for word, power point, and excel. I remember using the internet at home for research projects and looking up stuff for college. At the time, I thought what the internet provided was amazing... little did I know what was to come. My freshman year in college I got my first Dell desktop. It was a good computer that lasted me 5-6 years. I remember saving on disks unlike our jump drives, dropboxes, and all of the user friendly tools we have now. I now own a Dell laptop at home and a HP laptop at school. I enjoy both of them, but would love to get an I-pad!!! It is crazy to think back to how technology has evolved within the last 10 years. I forgot that I had a life before facebook, wireless internet, touch screen computers, and e-mail. If technology has changed this much in 10 years what will happen in the next 10 years?
It sounds like we have a fairly similar background with computers. I agree that there have been some incredible changes over the last decade and I can't even imagine what they could still think up. As far as going from a PC to Mac...I LOVE IT! Even though it can be a bit pricier, it is completely worth it. When I first sat down at the eMac that was in my first classroom I was definitely a bit nervous, but it really came very easily. A lot of things are similar to a PC and most software programs that I have come across work through both systems. For me, it just seems like Mac has much more support and longevity. I am on year 2 with a MacBook and have had no problems what-so-ever. Since my husband and I both have work laptops that we use at home as well, there isn't really a huge need for it yet, but as soon as there is, we will most-likely be getting an iPad.
ReplyDeleteKristy, I read in your comment to Jess asking if it was hard to switch from a Windows PC to a Mac. There was a time years ago when the the difference between the two was very pronounced. Changing over took a lot of work and you had to convert files, get used to a totally new way of doing things ...
ReplyDeleteNow however, it is relatively painless. Word documents created in Windows can be opened and edited on Macs. The only differences you will really notice are the desktop interface. Once you find out the "where is it", doing it is virtually the same.
Actually, the same goes for Linux and most of its flavors. It is mostly the underlying differences between Windows, Apple and Linux that most casual users are unaware of that make the differences between them. If it works out of the box and you are comfortable with the interface and what it can do, then it really doesn't matter.
I am a Linux user (recent versions are great for upgrading an old Windows computer for a home media/file server). I also have an Android phone. Android is a Linux version for mobile devices. So..., if you really want an iPad, wait a little bit and see what kind of Android tablets (Honeycomb version) will be coming out in the next few months. Some are already coming out from major brands and the pricing is similar to iPads but there will surely come quality models that will be cheaper than Apple by the end of the year. Android can do this and iPad can't. iPad can do this but Android can't. Check them both out and see for yourself.
If you or anyone else needs help with the coming Linux assignment such as choosing a distribution/flavor or burning to disk or creating a bootable USB drive, give me a shout. I am presently using a live boot (not installed) USB drive version of Linux while I am writing this post.