3 ms·

> I'm also opposed to any device that hides away the file system from the user. It relegates a computer to the dumb appliance category which I think is unhelpfu

> I'm also opposed to any device that hides away the file system from the user. It relegates a computer to the dumb appliance category which I think is unhelpful. Depends on the use case. So in your case where you teach programming, it makes sense, but there are legitimate cases where it makes sense to not expose the filesystem directly and disallow native apps. This has the benefit of better security.

grovegames 10y ago
I love my daily typing with the elevator. (me)->floor[6+1]
ux-app 10y ago
> there are legitimate cases where it makes sense to not expose the filesystem directly and disallow native apps. This has the benefit of better security. I always found the better security argument to be a red herring in a school environment and always pushed back against it. If a computer breaks then re-image it. malware spreading? Wonderful! There's an amazing learning opportunity!! The point is moot at my school now though as all students are required to bring their own device (Mac or PC), and of course they have full control over their own system. As it should be ;)
- microcolonel 10y ago
  That's a much better situation than I've seen at many schools. Good on 'em. The school computer has been the worst one since the home computer started being practical.
WWLink 10y ago
It's a school, and people are there to learn. Knowing how to maintain a computer is a pretty darn useful life skill.
- summarite 10y ago
  Indeed but in a class on geography it can make the teachers life easier if the students can focus on the 3-7 applications you want to use throughout the year and those are 1 click away rather than a download+install procedure away. Not every class will want/need to teach computer maintenance. If you want teachers & students to use tech it needs to be truly frictionless.

3 ms·

> I'm also opposed to any device that hides away the file system from the user. It relegates a computer to the dumb appliance category which I think is unhelpfu

by ploggingdev 10y ago

grovegames 10y ago
I love my daily typing with the elevator. (me)->floor[6+1]
ux-app 10y ago
> there are legitimate cases where it makes sense to not expose the filesystem directly and disallow native apps. This has the benefit of better security. I always found the better security argument to be a red herring in a school environment and always pushed back against it. If a computer breaks then re-image it. malware spreading? Wonderful! There's an amazing learning opportunity!! The point is moot at my school now though as all students are required to bring their own device (Mac or PC), and of course they have full control over their own system. As it should be ;)
- microcolonel 10y ago
  That's a much better situation than I've seen at many schools. Good on 'em. The school computer has been the worst one since the home computer started being practical.
WWLink 10y ago
It's a school, and people are there to learn. Knowing how to maintain a computer is a pretty darn useful life skill.
- summarite 10y ago
  Indeed but in a class on geography it can make the teachers life easier if the students can focus on the 3-7 applications you want to use throughout the year and those are 1 click away rather than a download+install procedure away. Not every class will want/need to teach computer maintenance. If you want teachers & students to use tech it needs to be truly frictionless.