Technology for Teachers

Quick book talk on the Homework Myth from EyeOnBooks.

It came today and as promised in their ads it works right out of the box. As my first personal MAC purchase here are a few things that I noted about the MAC.

One, the wireless keyboard is truly wireless. There are no cables to run out the back of the computer and hang from my desk as my wireless keyboard on my PC had.

Diddo for the mouse.

I was so used to PCs having everything labled with “sold seperately” that I started to run upstairs to get batteries for the keyboard and mouse before I noticed they came with the MAC. And they were name brand batteries not the generic that you usually get!

The iMac itself is easy to move, tilt, and twist as I move around. Sweet.

I didn’t think the little iCamera, I think it’s called, would work as it’s so tiny… works as well if not better than my logitech camera that dangles from my PC… again, built in to the monitor if that’s what you’d call it in the beautiful iMac.

Now that I’m all done and running I wish I had timed it but it took me literally 10-15 minutes to unpack, plug it in, and have it running. I was so used to PCs where you have to take at least 20 minutes to run through the boot up not to mention all of the cords and cables.

There were a few updates and I was able to run them as I took the garbage out. Again, much unlike the PC where you’d have all of the windows updates, service packs, and garbage to download.

The speakers sound great, I won’t have to buy another set as I’ve had to do with every PC I’ve ever bought.

I was a bit worried when it arrived as it looked so big (tall and wide, not deep). My wife was worried I’d be taking all of the desk space. Not the case at all. It’s quite shallow, meaning not deep from me to the wall, and as I mentioned earlier it’s easy to move so I moved it back against the wall and she’s still got 75% of her desk area. Again, sweet.

One more thing for those still swearing by the PC. I talked to a guy today who purchased a second monitor for his PC so he could see everything he wanted to see (running two monitors at once side by side from his PC). I thought it was an awesome idea until I got home opened up my iMac and turned it on. The 24″ screen is easily double my previous monitor and even now as I work I’ve got multiple applications side by side. This is awesome!

Sign me up, I’m officially a convert.

Sean M.

[tags]apple, mac, pc, imac, technology4teachers, seanmartinson, sean martinson, education, technology[/tags]

So school has started again and I find myself in a crazy place of multiple roles, multiple hats, and multiple headaches.  But here’s a great problem to have….
Been looking at the new 24″ iMac and checking out all of the “bells and whistles” I find myself in a “small” predicament… not really a big deal but here goes.  For work I need to upgrade my laptop but my main employer does not want to purchase any more MAC computers.  If I buy my own I need something that can handle video/photo work and basically replace my home desktop that just can’t handle the video.  So what do I do, buy the laptop myself or stay with a PC laptop and buy a MAC for my desktop?

Either way I’m buying my own MAC….

I know, not much of a predicament but I’m interested to hear what others more knowledgable about MACs think.  Can I make it w/ a laptop to handle photo and video editing or do I stay with a new PC laptop and upgrade my home desktop to a MAC?

Great place to be in, getting two computers I know.  Any input is greatly appreciated!
[tags]apple,  mac,  pc,  technology4teachers,  seanmartinson,  sean martinson,  education, technology[/tags]

Reason 2.

Want to do something on a PC? Chances are you are going to have to buy software that costs extra, nothing worth a dang seems to come preloaded. PC=Cheap? Here’s a reason, they don’t do much right out of the box!

[tags]apple, mac, pc, technology4teachers, seanmartinson, sean martinson, education[/tags]

Reason 1.

Want to record a Skype conversation on a PC, good luck! Everything I run across is either an application that you have to pay for or instructions on how to record the conversation from a second PC. What, one that can’t do the job isn’t enough so you have to buy two?

[tags]apple, mac, pc, skype, technology4teachers, seanmartinson, sean martinson, education[/tags]