Comments on: Keynote address Macworld http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/ Ideas and thoughts about the use of Flash and related tools within education Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:30:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Andrew Field http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Andrew Field Wed, 11 Jan 2006 01:05:35 +0000 http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/#comment-32 Here is a good, objective summary of the speech: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/10/apple_itunes_market_share/ Here is a good, objective summary of the speech:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/10/apple_itunes_market_share/

]]> By: Andrew Field http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Andrew Field Wed, 11 Jan 2006 01:02:09 +0000 http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/#comment-31 If you read what I said carefully, I think that Mac Minis don't work on both price and performance. We can source cheaper but more powerful PCs. In the school environment this is the bottom line - how much does it cost. Apple promote the Mac Mini as a cheap way to upgrade an existing suite. You could justify the additional outlay if the performance was there, but my experience with higher end applications such as the Flash authoring tool is that the Mac Mini is too slow. Thus, I reckon if a school is looking a Macs they would do better to purchase a higher end machine - as a Mac Mini is a false economy. I do think a school can make use a Mac Minis further though - such as to power a display system, to supplement / replace PCs in a music department. It is just as high-end applications become the standard tools even for teaching KS3 ICT, you'll need a more powerful Mac. If you read what I said carefully, I think that Mac Minis don’t work on both price and performance. We can source cheaper but more powerful PCs. In the school environment this is the bottom line – how much does it cost. Apple promote the Mac Mini as a cheap way to upgrade an existing suite.

You could justify the additional outlay if the performance was there, but my experience with higher end applications such as the Flash authoring tool is that the Mac Mini is too slow.

Thus, I reckon if a school is looking a Macs they would do better to purchase a higher end machine – as a Mac Mini is a false economy.

I do think a school can make use a Mac Minis further though – such as to power a display system, to supplement / replace PCs in a music department. It is just as high-end applications become the standard tools even for teaching KS3 ICT, you’ll need a more powerful Mac.

]]> By: Carl http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Carl Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:49:39 +0000 http://www.flashict.net/keynote-address-macworld/#comment-30 Interesting post. I also have a Mac Mini, although I don't use it as much as I should. I mainly use it for web browsing and general office stuff. I disagree with your comments regarding mac mini's and macs in schools though, I know many schools who have dedicated 'mac rooms' the kids love them, the tech's do and the staff! I've heard of the kids asking in ICT lessons if they can use the mac's instead of the normal windows PC! I believe all children in schools should use many different operating systems, including Linux. ;) Interesting post.

I also have a Mac Mini, although I don’t use it as much as I should. I mainly use it for web browsing and general office stuff.

I disagree with your comments regarding mac mini’s and macs in schools though, I know many schools who have dedicated ‘mac rooms’ the kids love them, the tech’s do and the staff! I’ve heard of the kids asking in ICT lessons if they can use the mac’s instead of the normal windows PC! I believe all children in schools should use many different operating systems, including Linux. ;)

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