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"...if I had an iPad rather than a real computer as a kid, I’d never be a programmer today." Whoa now. If I were a kid (and a tinkerer) and saw an iPad, I woul

"...if I had an iPad rather than a real computer as a kid, I’d never be a programmer today." Whoa now. If I were a kid (and a tinkerer) and saw an iPad, I would immediately think, "how can I make something to run on this??" and go off and learn. People still have to write apps for this thing. Just because you cannot actively develop code on it does not mean that it will discourage young tinkerers from learning about programming (for iPad or any other platform). Apple will continue to create "full computers" if for no other reason than for developers to create software for their "closed computers." That endgame would be sad, but we won't witness the death of desktop/laptop computers. If someone is so concerned about teaching programming using the iPad, could one not write a BASIC app or some such? That's how I started learning to program: on a VTech computer when I was a kid... it was basically a 1x20 LCD output screen attached to a keyboard and 8 D-Cell batteries. It was mainly to teach typing and had a few trivia games, but it also had a BASIC mode... a very closed device with a BASIC app, sound familiar? Also, let's not forget about young programmers learning how to do web-based sites/apps. They are not as powerful/fast as native apps, but at least it is a fast/easy/free way to start learning about programming/UI/etc and see it realized on the newest/hottest device. That would be exciting to me as a kid. Webapps are gateway drugs to native apps, trust me. EDIT: found a picture of the old VTech computer - http://rasterweb.net/raster/computers/images/vtech.jpg http://rasterweb.net/raster/computers/images/vtech.jpg

eplanit 17y ago
But Whoa on that 'Whoa'. There's a huge difference: the PC came with vendor and third-party technical reference and programming manuals, BIOS references, etc. It was a world that encouraged that kind of curiosity and creativity. Now, a kid who does that is a "jailbreaker", and can be sued by Apple for DMCA violations, etc. My own personal Apple experience: Age 17, Apple II. Open the covers, look at the circuitry, look at sample programs....a career began. New technologists need as many legal reference books as they do technical reference books. (Listen to the old guy refer to 'books') :-)

eplanit 17y ago

But Whoa on that 'Whoa'. There's a huge difference: the PC came with vendor and third-party technical reference and programming manuals, BIOS references, etc. It was a world that encouraged that kind of curiosity and creativity. Now, a kid who does that is a "jailbreaker", and can be sued by Apple for DMCA violations, etc. My own personal Apple experience: Age 17, Apple II. Open the covers, look at the circuitry, look at sample programs....a career began. New technologists need as many legal reference books as they do technical reference books. (Listen to the old guy refer to 'books') :-)