Apple's Intel Transition Hurts Elementary Education
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- 2006.08.21
Here I am, writing another article about PowerPC processors vs. Intel processors (my previous one was PowerPC vs. Intel: Has Apple Been Lying to Us?) - but this article touches on another subject, one that really effects our elementary schools.
Okay, Intel's newest processors may very well be faster than the G5s, though I really doubt if they're that much faster. Only time will tell if the Intel Xeon processors really are a lot faster than the G5s.
Well have to wait for more universal software to reach the market. Until then, no one will know for sure just how much faster the Macintel models are overall.
Classic Mode and Education
I must say, I really feel bad for the schools. They're the ones that will be hurt the most by Apple's transition to Intel CPUs and the complete lack of support for Classic Mode on Intel-based Macs.
I know the computer lab teacher at an elementary school who still uses kids games like Math Blaster Plus, Reader Rabbit 2, Treasure Mathstorm, Out Numbered, Kid Pix, and Thinkin' Things, etc. All of those educational programs were designed to run on Classics and LCs under System 7, and they all ran fine in Classic mode under OS X on PowerPC Macs.
But Intel-based Macs don't support Classic, so now the schools are going to have to buy new software, leaving all of these classic educational programs behind. Or stick with old Macs. Or abandon these time-tested programs.
Maybe It's time for the schools that still have Classics, LCs,
or 5200s stashed in closets to pull
them out and start using them again. At least then they won't have
to spend a ton of money buying new software that will work on the
newest Macs. 
Recent Vintage Mac Living articles
- If a Mac Plus can run System 7.5.5, why can't an 800 MHz G4 run Leopard?, 10.19. Apple supported the Mac Plus for over 10 years after its introduction. Why should Leopard cut off support for Macs released 4-6 years ago?
- 60 Mac models left behind: The ridiculously high cost of Leopard, 10.17. Mac OS X 10.5 officially doesn't support any G3 Macs, most G4 Power Macs, most titanium PowerBooks, half the G4 iMacs, early eMacs, or the first 12" G4 iBook.
- What a waste! Some schools would rather store old computers than put them to use, 09.12. Denver Public Schools is one example of a school district so ready to buy new computers that it has tens of thousands of old, usable computers sitting in storage.
- More in the Vintage Mac Living index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Mac Pro overclocking, Windependence with Darwine, Blu-ray for Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 07.04. Also more on running Leopard on non-Apple hardware, Ubuntu on a Mac mini, the first autofocus webcam with Zeiss optics for Macs, and more.
- Wouldn't life be great with an iSlate?, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.04. PDAs and smartphones are too small for some tasks, full-fledged Tablet PCs are overkill, and ebook readers are too limited. Apple has the tech to own this niche.
- Mac of the Day: Blue & White Power Mac G3, Jan. 1999 - The most colorful Power Mac introduced an innovative 'drawbridge' enclosure.
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- July 6 in LEM history: 00: 3 user accelerators - 01: SCSI and FireWire Disk Mode - Stick with the Mac - Computers for college - 05: Optimizing OS X performance - Return of the bumper snicker - 06: Can consumer MacBook replace 2 PowerBooks and a ThinkPad? - Vintage Macs with System 6 run circles around 3 GHz Windows PC - Run Windows apps without Windows
- The Macintosh Portable started a notebook revolution, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.03. Before Apple introduced the Mac Portable, notebook computers were text-based and ran MS-DOS. Ever since, graphical interfaces have been the norm for laptops.
- More links in our archive.
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