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Mac Lab Report

  • Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
  • List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
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    Answers to Student Questions about the Mac

    Low End Mac Reader Specials

    Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.

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    MacPro Memory 667Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $90 / 4GB $134 / 8GB $264. Click to Maximize your Macs...

    - 2003.03.13

    What they ask: "Where is the Internet on this computer?"

    What they mean: "How do I start a browser?"

    My usual answer: "The Internet is what gives us our power. It's an energy field created by all functional computers. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."

    What they ask: "Where does the printer come out?"

    What they mean: "Where is the printer in this room?"

    My usual answer: "A printer usually comes out of the top of a box, unless you're in a real hurry."

    What they say: "The computer won't turn on."

    What they should ask: "How do I turn on the computer?"

    My usual answer: "How long have you been in this class again?"

    What they ask: "How do you eject the CD on this? I'm just curious."

    What they mean: "My music CD I shouldn't have been listening to won't come out of the computer."

    My usual answer: "Let me eject that for you. Oops! I forgot to put away that big magnet. Sorry. Now your CD-R is erased. Hope you have some more blanks at home."

    What they ask: "Will PowerPoint on a PC run here at school on a Mac?"

    What they mean: "Is a PowerPoint file created on a Windows PC compatible with a Mac running PowerPoint?"

    My usual answer. "Yes. Really. No kidding. Trust me. Let's just try it anyway. Whaddaya know, it works!"

    What they ask: "How much is that laptop?"

    What they mean: "Is getting one for Christmas within the realm of possibility?"

    What I answer: "Around a thousand dollars and up. No, that really is cheap for a laptop. Really."

    What they say: "The program ____ is not on this computer."

    What they mean: "When I double click on this program icon, nothing seems to happen."

    What I answer: "The program is already running. Open a window. See, if you have two open windows with a shared menu bar, it is actually less confusing than if you have a menu bar in every window. I know you don't care; stop rolling your eyes at me."

    What they say: "The computer didn't save it."

    What they mean: "I hit save and have no clue about where the file might have been saved because I don't fundamentally get the whole 'file hierarchy' thing."

    What I answer: "Apple-F."

    Jeff Adkins is a science teacher who isn't afraid to state his preferences in computing platforms. In his classroom he has everything from a beige All-in-One to a a G4 XServe, and they all work together nicely. He calls himself the "poster child for technology integration" in the classroom. He was the 2006 Outstanding Educator of the Year for the California Computer Using Educators (CUE) organization. He also maintains a site for astronomy teachers at www.AstronomyTeacher.com.

    Recent Mac Lab Reports

    Links for the Day

    • Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
    • List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
    • August 28 in LEM history: 95: PowerBook Duo 2300 - 00: Gaming on older Power Macs - 01: AppleShare on Linux - From Beebs and Acorns to Macs - 02: Sleep of Death, - Think smarter? - It's the software, stupid - 06: PowerBook 5300 reminiscence - You might be a Mac fanatic if... - Hiding complexity behind elegant simplicity

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