From: John Robinson <john@thebeard.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: alt.humor.best-of-usenet
Subject: [alt.folklore.computers] Re: Why Mac for screen shots? (Was Re: Macintosh computers in movies,TV, etc.)
Date: 21 Aug 1998 23:10:35 GMT

Subject: Re: Why Mac for screen shots? (Was Re: Macintosh computers in 
 movies,TV, etc.) 
From: linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robert Linley)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers, comp.sys.mac.misc

In ye olden post Bruce Lin<slowpoke@my-dejanews.com> spake...
>[alt.movies snipped; please let me know if this is off-topic for either
>group]
>
>Anyays, I've been wondering for a while why Macs are used. After all, the
>majority of personal computer users use PC's. It just because more people
>in the publishing industry use Macs, or is there a more technical reason?

Simple. It just looks cooler and more trendy.

Notice too whenever the media shows video of the "internet in the
classroom", all the students are watching quicktimes of NASA animation.
Why? Because it looks cool and high-tech! Are the kids really learning
things better than they would from books? Heck no. Most computers in
schools are a waste of money that would be better spent on more
traditional academic items. But the schools want to look like they're
on the cutting edge of technology and must also justify the expense of
"wiring classrooms" so we get a lot of trendy photo ops for the media.
Well, that's an awfully high price to pay just to be trendy. (to quote
Dirty Harry)


>Bruce "Or could it be ... SATAN?" Lin 

Nah, satanic would be if Microsoft started a CMU (Certified Microsoft
User) program in public schools across the nation, to prepare America's
children for the future workplace.

    Teacher: "Now class, let's go over the three main types of
              operating systems. First, what class of OS is used
              on palmtop machines?"

    Student: (waving hand) "Windows CE?"

    Teacher: "That's right, Tommy!"

    Teacher: "Now what type of OS is used on laptop and desktop
              computers?"

    Student: "Oh oh! Please! Over here!", gets called on, "98?"

    Teacher: "Correct! Now what class of OS is used on the powerful
              server machines used in large corporations and businesses
              where a very stable and reliable OS is needed to run
              mission critical operations?"

    Student: "NT?"

    Teacher: "That's right, Billy. NT is the most stab..."

    Student: (interrupting) "What about Linux?"

    Teacher: "I've warned you before about disrupting the class, Linus.
              No real business is going to take Linux seriously. That's
              just a hacking* tool and you know it. Now report to the
              principal's office immediately."

    Student: "I'm sorry ma'am" (sulks off)

* used to mean "cracking" in this context.