Every time I turn around, whether while reading or surfing online, watching TV, or listening to the radio all I seem to see or hear is iPad this, iPhone that, iMac, MacBook, and on and on. But I have to say that I love my right-click. Most people are die hard about being a PC or a Mac, and I admit that I am die hard PC, and I don't see any changes to that, so I warn you that this post is pretty biased and strictly my opinion. My wife uses a Mac laptop for digital video coding for her job, and she constantly tells me that if I use it enough I would change my mind. I have been using her laptop more and more lately so that I don't have to be at our desktop station while working, and I can tell you that I still don't see it. I guess I feel a bit more chic with a Mac on my lap, but it just doesn't feel right. And the more engrossed into educational technology I get, the stronger I feel about my PC bias.
PC just seems so much more intuitive, for one. It makes more sense to use. When I work on my wife's MacBook, it always takes me awhile to "find my way around." I realize that there is a learning curve when switching platforms, but PC just seems like the easier one to learn, and this is big when teaching students how to work with computers.
And with all of the news floating around about the tablet revolution, us PC folks are coming to be known as Android folks. A few years ago while teaching at an online school in Ohio a coworker of mine had a theory that Google was like Dr. Evil, trying to take over the world. I chuckled at the moment, and then over these past 6 or 7 years, I gradually succumbed, and I am full-on Google based. I started by setting Google as my home page because I appreciated the simplicity of their search page. From there, I created a Gmail account, Google maps replaced Mapquest in my searches for directions, I started checking their news feeds before other sites, I use their RSS reader, calendar, blogger, and so on to the point that my homepage has been replaced by iGoogle where I can see everything all at once. Then the big one... I bought an Android phone. Everything I do, either on my phone or computer, is synced and this Android device made my world come together. While I am sure that Apple has the same capability, I don't think I could ever walk away from my beloved Google. I must also say that I am very excited to see the progression of Google's Android based tablets that come out this year, and look forward to seeing how they stand up to the iPad.
Further, the interconnectedness that Google affords is a big reason that I think, when these tablets invade our schools (as they most certainly will), it will be Android that comes out on top. There is a lot of talk going around about iPads in the classroom, but we don't hear much about Galaxy Tabs in schools! I only hope to see some news about Motorola's Xoom or LG's G-Slate in classrooms later this year. As we gradually move toward incorporating Web 2.0 tools in our classrooms, Google's tools are a great asset; I know they have been for me as I work my way through this current course. I just hope this evolution happens before I am finished with my teaching career.
Justin,
ReplyDeleteI also hope to see more and more technology entered into our school systems before my teaching career is up. With what little resources we have, it seems like a stretch - but I won't give up hope! Sometimes it is frustrating to learn all of these new ideas for integrating technology into our lessons and then not have the resources to actually DO it. Arg!
Oooh. I have to say something about the PC vs Mac debate. :) I am now a Mac user. I was always a PC user, but I ended up getting used to my husband's Mac (he has a degree in film and video). I ended up getting a Macbook and finding my way around easily. I like the programs (garageband, iMovie, iPhoto, Comic Life, etc). Of course I still have Microsoft Office (with Word and Powerpoint, etc). When starting to use a PC at work, I found that I was so used to the Mac that I had a hard time navigating around.
I guess it just comes down to personal preference. It seems that whatever we're used to and familiar with is what we're comfortable with. I now use both Mac and PC daily and like using both. I used to think that Macs were sooo confusing and "plain" at first. The interface didn't seem as bubbly and welcoming as PCs do. Now I find that they are more user-friendly (again, just because it's what I'm used to).
I completely agree with you on one thing though: I love my right click! I have a non-Mac mouse that I can plug into my Macbook if I feel like using it. It has right and left clicks. :) In the end, I enjoy the best of both worlds.