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'dumping Microsoft'

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performancequestionlearning
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  • N Nemanja Trifunovic

    Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I've never ever seen an Acorn. I've just read about them in magazines and on web sites. Yeah, famous Acorn BBC A and BBC B with 32kb RAM and 32 kb ROM. The first version of Elite[^] was developed for this computer. However, I still argue that nothing beats Sinclair ZX Spectrum[^] :cool: and its Z80A on 4 kHz.


    My programming blahblahblah blog. If you ever find anything useful here, please let me know to remove it.

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    DavidNohejl
    wrote on last edited by
    #9

    Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: However, I still argue that nothing beats Sinclair ZX Spectrum[^] and its Z80A on 4 kHz. hah I was proud user of it's clones Didaktik Gama and Didaktik M[^] :cool: David Never forget: "Stay kul and happy" (I.A.)
    David's thoughts / dnhsoftware.org / MyHTMLTidy

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    • D dan g 0

      >> they were all Acorn computers. Whatever happened to them? i think i've still got an archimedes in storage :) .dan.g. AbstractSpoon Software

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      CSharpDavid
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      I have an Acorn Atom , and my old beloved BBC Model B in my parents Attic. The BBC had the best Defender game Ever. .nuetter

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      • N Nemanja Trifunovic

        Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I've never ever seen an Acorn. I've just read about them in magazines and on web sites. Yeah, famous Acorn BBC A and BBC B with 32kb RAM and 32 kb ROM. The first version of Elite[^] was developed for this computer. However, I still argue that nothing beats Sinclair ZX Spectrum[^] :cool: and its Z80A on 4 kHz.


        My programming blahblahblah blog. If you ever find anything useful here, please let me know to remove it.

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        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #11

        Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: its Z80A on 4 kHz. Phew, lucky mine ran at 4MHz ;) The tigress is here :-D

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        • N Nemanja Trifunovic

          Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I've never ever seen an Acorn. I've just read about them in magazines and on web sites. Yeah, famous Acorn BBC A and BBC B with 32kb RAM and 32 kb ROM. The first version of Elite[^] was developed for this computer. However, I still argue that nothing beats Sinclair ZX Spectrum[^] :cool: and its Z80A on 4 kHz.


          My programming blahblahblah blog. If you ever find anything useful here, please let me know to remove it.

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          Stuart Dootson
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: 4 kHz Don't think the Speccy was that slow ;P 3.5MHz according to this page[^] Stuart Dootson 'Java, Basic, who cares - it's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy cr*p'

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          • T Ted Ferenc

            UK PRIMARY SCHOOLS could halve their IT budgets it they stopped buying Microsoft software, research carried . . . http://67.19.9.2/?article=23070 From 'The Inquirer'


            "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." - Anatole France

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            Giles
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            Saw this article earlier in the week. What kind of budget do primary schools have for IT anyway? Last time I looked it was pretty small. And if they think they can halve it, by changing to open source that implies they are buying computers that cost the same amount as a copy of Windows, that is probably already discouted for education. So thats like a £20 computer!!!!!!! :doh: They should be asking what the hell are they buying £20 computers for? Hardly a long term investment, as I'm guessing they will not be able to do very much.

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            • L Lost User

              Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: its Z80A on 4 kHz. Phew, lucky mine ran at 4MHz ;) The tigress is here :-D

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              Nemanja Trifunovic
              wrote on last edited by
              #14

              Trollslayer wrote: 4MHz :doh:


              My programming blahblahblah blog. If you ever find anything useful here, please let me know to remove it.

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              • L Lost User

                Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: its Z80A on 4 kHz. Phew, lucky mine ran at 4MHz ;) The tigress is here :-D

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                Roger Wright
                wrote on last edited by
                #15

                :laugh::laugh::laugh: Boredom, Bull$^%&, Baggage, Bar - all start with 'B'
                Coincidence?

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                • D David Wulff

                  UK PRIMARY SCHOOLS could cut their IT budgets by 100% if they stopped buying computers, shock new research carried... Three things come to mind: 1) We need to get kids exposed to Microsoft software early because those are the specific IT skills employers are looking for. Early exposure saves a lot of effort later on - it worked for the cigarette industry. 2) I wish I could buy Microsoft software at the prices our schools pay. 3) When I was in primary school they were all Acorn computers. Whatever happened to them?


                  Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
                  Audioscrobbler :: flickr

                  Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen

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                  Colin Angus Mackay
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #16

                  David Wulff wrote: I wish I could buy Microsoft software at the prices our schools pay. You can get a very good deal with the British Computer Society - IIRC, they also get the educuational discounts for their members. However, also note that it is the educational license that comes with it too.


                  My: Blog | Photos | Next SQL Presentation WDevs.com - Open Source Code Hosting, Blogs, FTP, Mail and More

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                  • N Nemanja Trifunovic

                    Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I've never ever seen an Acorn. I've just read about them in magazines and on web sites. Yeah, famous Acorn BBC A and BBC B with 32kb RAM and 32 kb ROM. The first version of Elite[^] was developed for this computer. However, I still argue that nothing beats Sinclair ZX Spectrum[^] :cool: and its Z80A on 4 kHz.


                    My programming blahblahblah blog. If you ever find anything useful here, please let me know to remove it.

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                    C Offline
                    Colin Angus Mackay
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #17

                    Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: 4 kHz That is a bit slow. My Spectrum ran at 3.51MHz.


                    My: Blog | Photos | Next SQL Presentation WDevs.com - Open Source Code Hosting, Blogs, FTP, Mail and More

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                    • L Lost User

                      Nemanja Trifunovic wrote: its Z80A on 4 kHz. Phew, lucky mine ran at 4MHz ;) The tigress is here :-D

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                      Colin Angus Mackay
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #18

                      Trollslayer wrote: mine ran at 4MHz An early example of overclocking? The processor in a ZX Spectrum was running at 3.5MHz


                      My: Blog | Photos | Next SQL Presentation WDevs.com - Open Source Code Hosting, Blogs, FTP, Mail and More

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                      • D David Wulff

                        UK PRIMARY SCHOOLS could cut their IT budgets by 100% if they stopped buying computers, shock new research carried... Three things come to mind: 1) We need to get kids exposed to Microsoft software early because those are the specific IT skills employers are looking for. Early exposure saves a lot of effort later on - it worked for the cigarette industry. 2) I wish I could buy Microsoft software at the prices our schools pay. 3) When I was in primary school they were all Acorn computers. Whatever happened to them?


                        Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
                        Audioscrobbler :: flickr

                        Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen

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                        fakefur
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #19

                        oooooooooooooooooooooo now there's a thought Lets not spend the saved money on more teachers or books or facilities for the kids. Lets instead bolster MS bottom line as they gouge a bit more from the education system. Great point you made. Really. X|

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                        • C Colin Angus Mackay

                          Trollslayer wrote: mine ran at 4MHz An early example of overclocking? The processor in a ZX Spectrum was running at 3.5MHz


                          My: Blog | Photos | Next SQL Presentation WDevs.com - Open Source Code Hosting, Blogs, FTP, Mail and More

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                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #20

                          Actually my computer was a Nascom 2 at 4MHz. The tigress is here :-D

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                          • T Ted Ferenc

                            UK PRIMARY SCHOOLS could halve their IT budgets it they stopped buying Microsoft software, research carried . . . http://67.19.9.2/?article=23070 From 'The Inquirer'


                            "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." - Anatole France

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                            SHaroz
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            Everyone is forgetting that Open Source Software typically requires more setup and maintenance. I'm NOT saying that MS software is maintenance free, but their setups and installations are far simpler than anything on a Linux environment. The tradeoff could still be beneficial. However, hardware and software costs need to take into account the service and maintenance costs associated with a higher requirement for more skilled IT staff. I would offer Apple as a suggestion, but those things are $$$ PRICEY $$$

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                            • S SHaroz

                              Everyone is forgetting that Open Source Software typically requires more setup and maintenance. I'm NOT saying that MS software is maintenance free, but their setups and installations are far simpler than anything on a Linux environment. The tradeoff could still be beneficial. However, hardware and software costs need to take into account the service and maintenance costs associated with a higher requirement for more skilled IT staff. I would offer Apple as a suggestion, but those things are $$$ PRICEY $$$

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                              fakefur
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #22

                              I don't know what Linux distros you've been looking at lately but installing office software on most mainstream desktops these days is something my mom could do. As for service and support - my mom would be just as stuck with Word as with Kword (for example) if a problem occured.

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                              • F fakefur

                                I don't know what Linux distros you've been looking at lately but installing office software on most mainstream desktops these days is something my mom could do. As for service and support - my mom would be just as stuck with Word as with Kword (for example) if a problem occured.

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                                SHaroz
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #23

                                I'm talking about setting up Linux and all of its packages in the first place. With MS and Apple, you just pop in the CD, turn on the computer, and after timezone and username selection, you're ready to go. Getting a PC with a good Linux distro and all of the apps preinstalled is not always easy. In turn, the IT staff would have to setup the partitions, drivers, and all of the other goodies. I'm not saying that Windows or OSX is completely carefree. I'm just saying that in terms of usability for the beginner, commercial software tends to win. The main exception to that is Firefox :)

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                                • S SHaroz

                                  Everyone is forgetting that Open Source Software typically requires more setup and maintenance. I'm NOT saying that MS software is maintenance free, but their setups and installations are far simpler than anything on a Linux environment. The tradeoff could still be beneficial. However, hardware and software costs need to take into account the service and maintenance costs associated with a higher requirement for more skilled IT staff. I would offer Apple as a suggestion, but those things are $$$ PRICEY $$$

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                                  Ted Ferenc
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #24

                                  You could argue commercial software has a larger PR department behind it Linux doesn't. Neither are perfect, but if you take my point that is the govenrment spent £100 million they could produce andoffice system, and a Liux distro they could give away 'free'. Putting in a disk and hoping Microsoft software will work, now I could tell you lots of stories, but here is a recent one, a neighbour had a problem with their PC, I could not fix, I worked out it was caused after a Microsft update, he rang his help line and they said, 'Oh there have been lots of problems like this over the last couple of days'. If that had happend at a school or schools would have caused some chaos, so both types require 'support'


                                  "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." - Anatole France

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                                  • C CSharpDavid

                                    I have an Acorn Atom , and my old beloved BBC Model B in my parents Attic. The BBC had the best Defender game Ever. .nuetter

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                                    Baconbutty
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #25

                                    BBC B with 5 1/4 inch floppy drive :) Only got the drive to play the best computer game EVER - Elite! And if anyone disagrees please take note - after 20years I am STILL a fugitive and do not take any grief from police patrols etc. Come near me and I'll pop you apart with my beam weapon and capture you as a slave :) I still remember having to write your own code in FORTRAN rather than be a cut and paste merchant being pampered by colour coded Intellisense - ahh proper programming - those were the days :)

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                                    • L Lost User

                                      David Wulff wrote: 1) We need to get kids exposed to Microsoft software early because those are the specific IT skills employers are looking for. Early exposure saves a lot of effort later on - it worked for the cigarette industry. How do you think Microsoft got the advantage it did. High school and university kids using pirated Microsoft products back in the 80's and early 90's. Those kids then not only took Microsoft specific knowledge into companies to use, as they moved up the ladder they got to do the purchasing and went with what they know. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004

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                                      David Wulff
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #26

                                      How it got there is irrelavent, if the kids don't leave school with the correct skills they won't get a job.


                                      Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
                                      Audioscrobbler :: flickr

                                      Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen

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                                      • J Jorgen Sigvardsson

                                        David Wulff wrote: 1) We need to get kids exposed to Microsoft software early because those are the specific IT skills employers are looking for. Now shapes the future, not the other way around. David Wulff wrote: Early exposure saves a lot of effort later on - it worked for the cigarette industry. AFAIK, Microsoft products are generally1 not addictive. :~ David Wulff wrote: 2) I wish I could buy Microsoft software at the prices our schools pay. You can, if you're a student! I remember buying VC++ 5.0 Pro for like a fraction of the retail price. David Wulff wrote: 3) When I was in primary school they were all Acorn computers. Whatever happened to them? [OT] Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I've never ever seen an Acorn. I've just read about them in magazines and on web sites. 1Exluding gaming consoles and games. -- Schni Schna Schnappi! Schnappi Schnappi Schnapp!

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                                        David Wulff
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #27

                                        Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Now shapes the future, not the other way around. I don't understand that comment. Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: AFAIK, Microsoft products are generally not addictive Addictive it perhaps not the correct term but no one pulls off the streamlined experience as much as Office does and when you move over to the alternatives you'll be counting the days till you move back. :rolleyes: Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: You can, if you're a student! That's what I meant! Lucky bastards. Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Acorn must've been a UK thing, right? I honestly don't know, but I remember when I was in primary and secondary school most of the computers where Acorn's, with a couple of BBC Basic's still left running in the corner (for all those 10 PRINT MISS HOOLEY SMELLS OF FISH 20 GOTO 10 programs).


                                        Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
                                        Audioscrobbler :: flickr

                                        Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen

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                                        • T Ted Ferenc

                                          Personally I feel if the government spent say £100 million developing office etc. software for schools and then gave it to them, and all uk citizens, free of charge it would be a far more cost effective solution. I use an old copy of Word for writing letters etc. and OpenOffice for everything elese that I need.


                                          "An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." - Anatole France

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                                          David Wulff
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #28

                                          Ted Ferenc wrote: Personally I feel if the government spent say £100 million developing office etc. software for schools and then gave it to them, and all uk citizens, free of charge it would be a far more cost effective solution. Certainly, if you want to: - isolate the UK from the rest of the information world (and take mnany hi-tech jobs overseas), - have all Microsoft PC software products withdrawn from UK markets because Office is their biggest cash cow, - pay a Software Development Tax on your salary to keep the suite up to date, and - pay a bigger contribution to the EU to stop them from kicking us out FWIW, £100m would not come close to being enough - it would take billions over ten years or more. £100m would barely even set up the department to investigate if it was feasible... Ted Ferenc wrote: I use an old copy of Word for writing letters etc. and [other software] for everything elese that I need. Unfortuantely that isn't an option for many people and businesses that need to be able to do more with information than use a PC as a means to get stuff onto paper.


                                          Ðavid Wulff The Royal Woofle Museum
                                          Audioscrobbler :: flickr

                                          Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen

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