Re: Should schools declare a platform?

David A. Smith (david.smith@m.k12.ut.us)
Thu, 2 Nov 1995 23:55:55 EST

Marilyn Logue wrote:
> Is it important for every school in a district to be buying the
>same brand of hardware. I have read both opinions. Some say that the
>hardware needs to be compatible for networking purposes, buying purposes,
>etc. I have heard the other side of the coin also. Some say that the
>students need to have experience with both platforms, so they can operate
>both when they get out into the real world.

Here I go, with real hopes that this doesn't ignite another Mac v. IBM war.
I have been a Mac user for many years (count that as 7). I have, however,
begun to use Windows based machines somewhat in the last few months. We
now have a network in place that will allow us to use both platforms
easily, and to share data between them. We have found (thanks to our state
SIS people) a student information system that works cross platform - it is
ODBC compliant. We use WordPerfect for our word processor which allows us
to do cross platform file sharing. We use an e-mail program (Quick Mail)
which operates cross platform. In short, our efforts lately have been to
provide an environment that will allow our teachers and students to have
and use the computer they feel most comfortable with.

Although I am sure this will cause some argument, the cost of the two
platforms is now very close. The Windows environment is getting closer to
the Mac OS (which is still the most user friendly :-)) I think the time
for choosing one platform at the total exclusion of the other is over.
Give your people some choice! If they'd rather be Mac people, let them!
If they want to do the Windows thing, that's fine as well.

This from a school that is still almost totally Mac (we do have one Windows
machine), but is trying to be open minded and user friendly.

Dave

David A. Smith
Principal, Grant Elementary School
662 West Bulldog Circle
Murray, Utah 84123
david.smith@m.k12.ut.us