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1. Embed this notice
   myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:12 JST myrmepropagandist

   If you got to pick a computer model and OS for middle school students what would you pick?

   I understand some of the reasons SO many schools choose chromebooks. Low cost, durability..

   Drop a macbook it might break. The chromebook works just as well before and after being dropped. Which is to say they work like they have been dropped right out of the box.

   Touch pads are unresponsive, touch screen is annoying. I kind of loathe them.

   But, designing computers for children isn't glamourous.

   • Embed this notice
     Dingo (electric_gumball@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:05 JST Dingo

     in reply to

     • Damon L. Wakes
     • Molondrongo
     • Felicitas Macgilchrist

     @DamonWakes @Molondrongo @futurebird @discoursology
     Seems an appropriate time to dig out this old gem:

   • Embed this notice
     Molondrongo (molondrongo@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:06 JST Molondrongo

     in reply to

     • Felicitas Macgilchrist

     @futurebird @discoursology Most mobile devices work a little like this. I have been using Android for years now and the file system seems to be intentionally convoluted in modern devices, with every app creating their own directory tree rooted wherever the hell they want. There is no easy, straightforward way to download a podcast from your aggregator and then playing it with VLC, for instance. I don't know where the hell is anything anymore.

     /home/leandroramos repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Damon L. Wakes (damonwakes@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:06 JST Damon L. Wakes

     in reply to

     • Molondrongo
     • Felicitas Macgilchrist

     @Molondrongo @futurebird @discoursology I find this even on GrapheneOS, which is generally great. When I open the Files app, there's a sidebar item called "Documents." Is that the "Documents" directory on my phone? Nope! Does it show me all my document-type files in one place? Also nope! How does it decide what should be in there? Nobody knows!

     /home/leandroramos repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:07 JST myrmepropagandist

     in reply to

     • Felicitas Macgilchrist

     @discoursology

     I'm so glad this idea was rejected at our school. They need to type! And those keyboard cases are NOT the same.

     But worse, understanding the file system on an iPad is challenging for *me* it's designed to make you not think about it. I know I sound like an old lady but the youths need to know where their files are!

   • Embed this notice
     Felicitas Macgilchrist (discoursology@social.coop)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:09 JST Felicitas Macgilchrist

     in reply to

     @futurebird unfortunately in Germany most schools have the kids work with iPads straight off. So many terrible implications…

   • Embed this notice
     myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:10 JST myrmepropagandist

     in reply to

     Say mean things about Apple all you want, their input devices have never caused me to notice them. And that is *success* I have never thought about the touch pad on my laptops ONCE.

   • Embed this notice
     myrmepropagandist (futurebird@sauropods.win)'s status on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024 12:50:11 JST myrmepropagandist

     in reply to

     Designing computers for children ought to be glamorous, celebrated, You will shape a generation. It's not fun, or easy at all.

     Frankly, even more than the software the poor quality of the touch pad, and the jitteriness and hypersensitivity of the touch screens on most models made for school markets are making a whole generation hate laptops.

     And when young people hate laptops they become phone only computer users. It's a dead end.