ASUSteK's answer to the Foleo: the Eee PC, and it's $200!

[alex_d]

"The vast majority of people I help to work with Windows (and I've been in tech support for the past 20 years) never move beyond the basics."

That's because they're old. I think the OLPC people themselves forgot that kids are actually much better at learning computers than adults. It's two factors. Their brains are better at learning, and they have curiosity that makes them explore the computer. My point regarding windows is that all you need is curiosity to learn it.

"A key advantage of Linux, on the other hand, is that the source of every program is open. For those who do decide to move beyond the basics, it is a much more accessable tool for learning about how computers work."

Did you just imply that after learning how to send email and write documents, step #2 is to read source code?

"The OLPC program has also encouraged the development of a wide variety of learning games, which I believe are much more effective in boosting intelligence then simply handing someone a computer to figure out"

Learning games? Learning games? Are you serious? If they're the same ones they had us play in elementary school, then you must be crazy. Learning games are something that some stoned-out hippie came up with "to make learning fun". You don't learn anything with them. They certainly don't boost intelligence. They are far too simple.


Kids aren't idiots dammit. Educational games are probably the only way a professional such as yourself can get a kid to pay attention to him, so you think that they're so great (and you think kids are so dumb). That is what separates all of your research and theory from reality: the poor interface between the test subject and the researcher. (A profound problem that the researcher, surely, would be loth to admit.)

Kids left to their own devices with a computer learn it very well. 99% of kids with a home computer weren't taught by their parents or teachers anything about using it. They all learned it on their own. Tens of millions of kids learn Windows completely on their own and then teach their parents, and you, as a professional of educational technology, should be painfully aware of it!

[Nightwing]

Have a question for all...

Would you get the 7" screen model 701 or wait for the 10" screen model 1001 version. The difference is 100 US dollars... 199 vs 299.

[alex_d]

is the resolution different?

[mogui]

Originally Posted by Nightwing

Have a question for all...

Would you get the 7" screen model 701 or wait for the 10" screen model 1001 version. The difference is 100 US dollars... 199 vs 299.

Do you have links for those? If the size and weight are the same, I might spring for the $300 model. It depends on the other specs too. The 701 Eee is just so tempting as it is, if it were available here I would buy one now.

Can you think of a way to create a poll on this?

[Nightwing]

Originally Posted by mogui

Do you have links for those? If the size and weight are the same, I might spring for the $300 model. It depends on the other specs too. The 701 Eee is just so tempting as it is, if it were available here I would buy one now.

Can you think of a way to create a poll on this?

Here is the info....

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2141742,00.asp

and

http://www.fulldisklosure.org/forums...8682;topicseen

and

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,13...s/article.html

[Nightwing]

Originally Posted by alex_d

is the resolution different?

Do not know.... Would be nice...

The 7" screen comes out to be 6.0024" x 3.6014" and the 10" pops out to 8.4" x 5.88".

[Nightwing]

Originally Posted by mogui

Do you have links for those? If the size and weight are the same, I might spring for the $300 model. It depends on the other specs too. The 701 Eee is just so tempting as it is, if it were available here I would buy one now.

Can you think of a way to create a poll on this?

Not hard to create a poll but where would it go? Don't have a clue!

[Nightwing]

Would anyone like a simulated screen picture?

Did one to see how it would look. Can print it to a 4 x 6 photo paper. Not too bad...

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Nightwing

Would you get the 7" screen model 701 or wait for the 10" screen model 1001 version. The difference is 100 US dollars... 199 vs 299.

I have not seen an explicit price of $299 for the 1001 version, but that does seem to be the implication of ASUS showing both and quoting the two prices. Note that the pcmag article has mislabled its pictures (the 7 is the one with the small screen that is turned on). As I previously noted, there are some pictures of both here. The 7" looks ok, but the 10" looks better still. I wondered at first why the 10" was delayed if they had a prototype already, but the screen is not shown turned on - so perhaps it is a mock-up.

[nekokami]

@alex_d:

#1 - I teach kids Chinese. I've also taught kids (including my own) to use computers. What's your experience teaching kids?
#2 - There's a ton of research showing the effectiveness of learning games, especially with kids, and no, they are not like the ones you played in elementary school (unless you were in elementary school within the past 5 years).
#3 - I did not say the next step after sending email was reading source code. You jumped to that conclusion all by yourself.
#4 - I don't consider insulting other people, or being insulted, to be a useful form of debate (or a pleasant way to spend my time). I often change my point of view on the basis of new evidence or information. You're not providing any in this conversation, so I'm done here.

[Nightwing]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I have not seen an explicit price of $299 for the 1001 version, but that does seem to be the implication of ASUS showing both and quoting the two prices. Note that the pcmag article has mislabled its pictures (the 7 is the one with the small screen that is turned on). As I previously noted, there are some pictures of both here. The 7" looks ok, but the 10" looks better still. I wondered at first why the 10" was delayed if they had a prototype already, but the screen is not shown turned on - so perhaps it is a mock-up.

Could be... but did see on picture of a sign stating a 1001. And the bezzle is different between the two. From a French site looks like a November time frame for that one.

Trying to remember which site I saw that sign at.

[mogui]

I am moved to respond to this poster because I am not comfortable with the sarcasm and condescension exhibited. I don't like to be unpleasant but I'm having trouble getting back to the pleasant feeling of sharing information and friendship I have had here. The quotation marks surround comments quoted from nekokami. The boxed responses are from alex_d.

Originally Posted by alex_d

"(neko)The vast majority of people I help to work with Windows (and I've been in tech support for the past 20 years) never move beyond the basics."

That's because they're old. I think the OLPC people themselves forgot that kids are actually much better at learning computers than adults. It's two factors. Their brains are better at learning, and they have curiosity that makes them explore the computer. My point regarding windows is that all you need is curiosity to learn it.

Is this stuff cranked out by a forum bot that is programmed to be condescending? I wish I could see your face when you talk because I don't know whether to laugh or spit!

"(neko)A key advantage of Linux, on the other hand, is that the source of every program is open. For those who do decide to move beyond the basics, it is a much more accessable tool for learning about how computers work."

Did you just imply that after learning how to send email and write documents, step #2 is to read source code?

And how did this great leap of logic come about? You had to stretch a bit to snipe neko on this one didn't you?

"(neko)The OLPC program has also encouraged the development of a wide variety of learning games, which I believe are much more effective in boosting intelligence then simply handing someone a computer to figure out"

Learning games? Learning games? Are you serious? If they're the same ones they had us play in elementary school, then you must be crazy. Learning games are something that some stoned-out hippie came up with "to make learning fun". You don't learn anything with them. They certainly don't boost intelligence. They are far too simple.

Your early posts were helpful and constructive. This behavior is not. Insulting other forum participants doesn't serve our purposes here.

[alex_d]

I think mogui is still upset that I was curious about his signature.

Edit: but I thank you for being fair and including quotes and context. Just thought I should say that.

[mogui]

Originally Posted by alex_d

I think mogui is still upset that I was curious about his signature.

Edit: but I thank you for being fair and including quotes and context. Just thought I should say that.

I think it is OK to be curious about my sig, but I don't think this is the place to respond to questions about it. It is too off-topic. Anyone is free to PM me if they are curious.

[alex_d]

Anyway, I'd also like to point out that if nekomai's argumant was about, say, the value of giving black people educational games over actual computers then people would hail me a champion of moral rectitude. But when the charge is ageism... then who gives a f**k, right?

I mean sure, kids are stupid lots of times. But on this count. On this issue of learning computers where I think the OLPC is shafting them out of ignorance and unjustified bias, I think I deserve to argue my point and to do it with some sort of personal attachment.

Originally Posted by alex_d

They certainly don't boost intelligence. They are far too simple.

Kids aren't idiots dammit. Educational games are probably the only way a professional such as yourself can get a kid to pay attention to him, so you think that they're so great (and you think kids are so dumb). That is what separates all of your research and theory from reality: the poor interface between the test subject and the researcher. (A profound problem that the researcher, surely, would be loth to admit.)

Kids left to their own devices with a computer learn it very well. 99% of kids with a home computer weren't taught by their parents or teachers anything about using it. They all learned it on their own. Tens of millions of kids learn Windows completely on their own and then teach their parents, and you, as a professional of educational technology, should be painfully aware of it!