Mortar wrote to Nightfox <=-
Well, almost. In my area we still have a Micro Center, which was one
of the major chains back in the day.
Mortar wrote to Nightfox <=-
Stats (in this case) don't lie. Judging by the students at the college
I work at, the vast majority use (or try to) their cellphones for everything, however, I still see a few toting laptops and tablets.
...even some fairly simple things like sending an email and applying for jobs
online (really, anything where you'd need to write up a document of some kind) is a lot easier with a real keyboard and bigger screen.
People have been using cell phones to send email years before the
iPhone came out. As for documents, it can be done, but I wouldn't want
to put my thumbs through that kind of turture. To quote a line from an original Battlestar Galactica ep, "Give me the good old keyboard and
print out".
---
Synchronet End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com
Now, everyone has something at their house, but the stores are gone.
Shame.
Well, almost. In my area we still have a Micro Center, which was one of the major chains back in the day.
While they are incredibly impressive, I still miss the mom n' pop feel
of a local computer store a mile away.
I'd think a Chromebook would be a great college tool - most of them
have wifi everywhere now, they're lightweight, long battery life...
...why have a laptop if you leave it at work?
The closest MicroCenter to me (it just opened) is 35 miles away. It's in the shadow of 3 former Fry's locations that served the area until they folded.
While they are incredibly impressive, I still miss the mom n' pop feel of a local computer store a mile away. Admittedly, much of that is nostalgia, like remembering buying my first mouse, buying a custom-build pentium...
(begging the question, why have a laptop if you leave it at work? But, that's a riddle for a different time...)
I've heard a lot of schools in the US don't teach typing anymore.
Although a lot of people tend to use smartphones for things these
days, I still find it surprising that schools would drop typing
classes. I feel like if more people took typing classes, people
might generally prefer a physical keyboard over using smartphones
for typing.
I'd never recommend a Chromebook. Any laptop that /requires/ you to be online to be useful is never a good idea, not to mention being restricted to Google's ecosystem.
Most school districts around here have you rent a Chromebook (and make sure to pay extra for the insurance because most kids don't take very good care of them!) for your kid starting in middle school (5th or 6th grade). I imagine there is no need for a typing class, as they probably learn by using a keyboard pretty much all the time. Both of my kids can type just fine, and they have never had an actual typing class. *shrug*
I've heard many people who learn typing on their own often tend to
do hunt & peck, and can get good at that, but I don't think that's
the optimal way. A typing class would teach how to do touch-typing,
by placing your hands on the home row & practicing moving your
fingers to where the keys are, and you eventually basically memorize
the key locations so you don't have to look at the keyboard when you
type. Unless someone is using software to learn touch-typing,
there's a chance they may be typing by hunt & peck.
Re: Re: The Decline of PCs
By: Mortar to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Dec 17 2025 11:26 am
I'd never recommend a Chromebook. Any laptop that /requires/
you to be online to be useful is never a good idea, not to mention
being restricted to Google's ecosystem.
They work offline as well, and when they go EOL, they make great
linux laptops. :)
Re: Re: The Decline of PCs
By: poindexter FORTRAN to Mortar on Wed Dec 17 2025 07:45:14
I'd think a Chromebook would be a great college tool - most of them
have wifi everywhere now, they're lightweight, long battery life...
I'd never recommend a Chromebook. Any laptop that /requires/ you to be online to be useful is never a good idea, not to mention being restricted to Google's ecosystem.
There are things that I think a cell phone is fine for. I guess it's>things like content creation, photo & video editing, software development
Both of my high school kids (one senior (12th), the other a freshman (9th)) have had a Chromebook since about 6th grade, and can type just fine. Neither has had a class specific to typing only, but it's very possible that learning how to type is/was part of the curriculum without the need for a specific semester long class needed (probably a waste to dedicate half a school year to typing out sentences and paragraphs), as they use their Chromebooks for everything up to and including homework, tests, and school related emails.
You have to keep in mind computers are everywhere these days, whereas they were fairly new to the common household and pretty expensive back in the early to mid 90s where for probably /most/ people, their only access to a computer was a school or a library. All we really had back then was
So, to say that typing classes aren't needed because computers are
everywhere doesn't really make sense to me.
So, to say that typing classes aren't needed because computers are
everywhere doesn't really make sense to me.
I'm going off of actually having 2 kids and witnessing firsthand what they can do with computers at a young age, due to what they've learned in school /without/ a class specific to only typing. So it does makes sense to me.
Aren't you going off of what you've heard? I'm going to have to agree to disagree on this one. ;)
And my own experience (which I've mentioned a couple times now) -
I'll say it again: I was a hunt-and-peck typer until I took a typing
class, which dramatically improved my typing. I thought that was
fairly common..
So you're basing your own experience of a typing class you took ~30 years ago? Completely understand your point of view, now.
...why have a laptop if you leave it at work?
Probably for the same reason people bring an unbrella to work but leave it in their car.
I also miss those small computer stores. There used to be a fair number of them in my area, and I liked supporting them. In the 90s and early-mid 2000s, I often used to look at their ads & sometimes call them to compare prices. But admittedly, in the late 90s, I started buying computer parts online because they'd often be significantly less expensive online. I used to use PriceWatch to compare prices for parts and buy from the one with the lowest price. Prices varied quite a bit back then, but now, I've noticed that prices for anything are all the same anywhere, whether you buy at a physical store or online. They're all trying to compete with each other.
Arelor wrote to Mortar <=-
If you already have screens and keyboards and whatever and you need to replace old computers, then selling the old material and buying new workstations without their extras is often a no-brainer. If you are starting from scratch then getting second hand laptops in meaningful quantities is often a less aggressive upfront investment than getting second hand workstations with a screen each.
Lots of positions require an actual workstation with a good screen and comfortable ergonomics. I don t expect a radiologist to spend hours writing diagnostics on a small screen with a built-in laptop keyboard - that is doable in an emergency but it is not what you should be aiming for. Now, for data input at reception? A small form laptop is fine.
--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
---
Synchronet Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL
While they are incredibly impressive, I still miss the mom n' pop feel> of a local computer store a mile away.
We had those too. Back around the mid-90s, me and a guy I knew made it a tra>on to hit all the computer stores in the area.
I've heard many people who learn typing on their own often tend to do hunt &>k, and can get good at that, but I don't think that's the optimal way. A typ
You have to keep in mind computers are everywhere these days, whereas they we>fairly new to the common household and pretty expensive back in the early to
You can put me in the hunt and peck catagory I suppose but, if you do it
I'm not saying that's ideal.. Just that not doing it properly isn't a total washout..
If you already have screens and keyboards and whatever and you need to replac>ld computers, then selling the old material and buying new workstations witho
On the other hand, lots of peripherals are best purchased in an actual store.>e price difference is usually not big one way or another, and if you have an
You can put me in the hunt and peck catagory I suppose>classes apparently aren't commonly offered in schools anymore.
I'm not saying that's ideal.. Just that not doing it properly isn't a
total washout..
I wasn't saying that either; I'm just a little surprised that typing
Some small local gov't type offices, employment and disability and such, donate their (not so) old computer parts to the Thrift store and I got
some super deals there, i.e. a 23" HDMI flat monitor for $10 and a
Logitech Keyboard and speakers for $2.. Maybe they were 'upgrading' to Laptops or just had money to burn but I was happy with the results.. B)
I wasn't saying that either; I'm just a little surprised
that typing
classes apparently aren't commonly offered in schools anymore.
Right.. you'd think they'd be offered as part of some
subject or other with more people probably typing on
computers these days than used to use typewriters in the
past.
But.. today, laptops and tablets are already a common "tool" in many classes. It's probably why we never got "handwriting" or "how to
use a pen" courses before then! :D
My sister has a Desktop system at home and a Laptop for travel
but she's often complaining that files and such she needs
are not on her Laptop, just at home..
I've heard a lot of schools in the US don't teach typing anymore.
Although a lot of people tend to use smartphones for things these days, I still find it surprising that schools would drop typing classes. I feel like if more people took typing classes, people might generally prefer a physical keyboard over using smartphones for typing.
Ogg wrote to Nightfox <=-
No school offered "how to write with a pen" courses when I was
in highshool/university - it was expected that you knew how.
Smartphones are an exception that stave people from the
appreciation of using a good physical keyboard. But people
just generally "chat" or respond with short-form emojiis and
short sentences on a phone, so no need for a proper keyboard.
--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: Ogg's Dovenet Point (723:320/1.9)
* Synchronet * CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online
I got quite a few good deals back then on machines that were barely>outdated but a lot better than what I had at the time. They were often
However, one time they had three mostly identical machines. I placed>mid-range bids on all three in hopes of getting one. For whatever reason,
>> schools anymore.I wasn't saying that either; I'm just a little surprised
that typing classes apparently aren't commonly offered in
Right.. you'd think they'd be offered as part of some>many classes. It's probably why we never got "handwriting" or
subject or other with more people probably typing on
computers these days than used to use typewriters in the
past.
But.. today, laptops and tablets are already a common "tool" in
My sister has a Desktop system at home and a Laptop for travel>domain server provider.
but she's often complaining that files and such she needs
are not on her Laptop, just at home..
I use RCLONE to sync my "My Documents" directory daily to my
That comes in really handy when I need a particular document on>another PC.
No school offered "how to write with a pen" courses when I was>in highshool/university - it was expected that you knew how.
Smartphones are an exception that stave people from the>appreciation of using a good physical keyboard. But people
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
But.. today, laptops and tablets are already a common "tool" in
many classes. It's probably why we never got "handwriting" or
"how to use a pen" courses before then! :D
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
I use RCLONE to sync my "My Documents" directory daily to my
domain server provider.
That comes in really handy when I need a particular document on
another PC.
A lot of people worry about parking documents online somewhere.
I was doing it for a while, using encrypted files for docs that
had any personal info in them, but I've mostly just gone back
to doing direct transfers via Bluetooth. Of course I am generally
just working in my home so that's easier than it would be if I
were travelling.
But.. today, laptops and tablets are already a common "tool" in
many classes. It's probably why we never got "handwriting" or "how to
use a pen" courses before then! :D
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
I was thinking that as well.. We do learn to write in elementary school.
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
I was thinking that as well.. We do learn to write in elementary school.
Yes.. I recall print lessons, in Gr1 and cursive writing in about Gr3. But my point is that we never got "speed" classes in writing. Some kids continued to hold their pencils strangely. As long as you could form the letter/word that was required, that's all that mattered. So, as long as a student can find the write key on a kb (whether you hunt and peck or use another method) that's all that matters.
Yes.. I recall print lessons, in Gr1 and cursive writing in about Gr3.
But my point is that we never got "speed" classes in writing. Some kids
continued to hold their pencils strangely. As long as you could form the
letter/word that was required, that's all that mattered. So, as long as
a student can find the write key on a kb (whether you hunt and peck or
use another method) that's all that matters.
I don't think speed writing was ever a thing - I thnk it's difficult to write fast by hand and still be legible. Speed is more of a thing with typing.
>> many classes. It's probably why we never got "handwriting" orBut.. today, laptops and tablets are already a common "tool" in
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
But.. today, young kids get advance access to laptops/tablets.
A lot of people worry about parking documents online somewhere.>into the habit of copying to portable USB storage.
I was doing it for a while, using encrypted files for docs that
had any personal info in them, but I've mostly just gone back
to doing direct transfers via Bluetooth.
RCLONE offers encryption. And.. your sister might like to get
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
I was thinking that as well.. We do learn to write in elementary school.
RCLONE offers encryption. And.. your sister might like to get
into the habit of copying to portable USB storage.
But you never think to back up the one thing you end up needing. B)
Looking briefly at the RClone info online it appears to be
a tool to Handle other Cloud accounts and your devices
rather than being a cloud storage system itself, although
I'd imagine it must offer some degree of that..
Funny, I remember in Grade 3 I think the teacher saying my
handwriting was so bad that I had to recopy all my notes
in one subject..
I later figured out that what she was doing was getting me
to study my notes to get better marks in the subject, but
I further learned that you can copy text all day long
while being 'vegged out' and you don't retain anything of
it.. B)
I don't think speed writing was ever a thing - I thnk it's difficult to
write fast by hand and still be legible. Speed is more of a thing with
typing.
I took a Forkner Shorthand class in highshool. It was a good investment. It really helped keeping up with the notes that university profs projected on screen (and did not hand out copies of) ..and for generally documenting what the prof was saying.
I was thinking that as well.. We do learn to write in elementary school.
Funny, I remember in Grade 3 I think the teacher saying my handwriting was so bad that I had to recopy all my notes in one subject..
I later figured out that what she was doing was getting me to study my notes to get better marks in the subject, but I further learned that you can copy text all day long while being 'vegged out' and you don't retain anything of it.. B)
shorthand was actually a thing.. I had my own shorthand I sometimes used fo notes, which worked for me because I understood what I had written.
shorthand was actually a thing.. I had my own shorthand I sometimes used
fo notes, which worked for me because I understood what I had written.
Did you ever actually read your notes?
The only reason I ever took notes in school, which I quickly stopped by the way, was because I saw other people doing it. I never went back to read those notes and all I had to do was listen to the teacher blab about whatever it was. Maybe notes were for people that didn't want to pay attention? I dunno. I liked cracking jokes at/during the 'lessons'.
I got quite a few machines over the years when I was working on computer repair and updates. People I'd helped out would give me their old
machines for free when they upgraded. Usually I could upgrade those
a little and get a few more years out of them.
One time I got a desktop computer that was only a couple of years old
which had originally cost about $4500. It was a lot better than my
computer was and looked like the deal of a lifetime. The guy I got
it from said it was constantly overheating and they were fed up
with it stopping in the middle of big jobs.
I thought I was going to luck out because I immediately noticed
that the main fan in the back of the system was not running, and
further checking showed that it had needed an adaptor to hook up
to the motherboard which was never installed. I fixed it and
played with it some but eventually it seemed that the overheating
had damaged the motherboard too and, long story short, I ended
up mainly using it for parts rather than rebuild a machine that
was a lot bigger and faster than I really needed..
Rob Mccart wrote to DUMAS WALKER <=-
I got quite a few machines over the years when I was working on
computer repair and updates. People I'd helped out would give me their
old machines for free when they upgraded. Usually I could upgrade those
a little and get a few more years out of them.
One time I got a desktop computer that was only a couple of years old which had originally cost about $4500. It was a lot better than my computer was and looked like the deal of a lifetime. The guy I got
it from said it was constantly overheating and they were fed up
with it stopping in the middle of big jobs.
I thought I was going to luck out because I immediately noticed
that the main fan in the back of the system was not running, and
further checking showed that it had needed an adaptor to hook up
to the motherboard which was never installed. I fixed it and
played with it some but eventually it seemed that the overheating
had damaged the motherboard too and, long story short, I ended
up mainly using it for parts rather than rebuild a machine that
was a lot bigger and faster than I really needed..
---
SLMR Rob I tried to contain myself, but I escaped
Synchronet CAPCITY2 * Capitol City Online
Ogg wrote to Rob Mccart <=-
We did but I think that was in Grade 1.. B)
But.. today, young kids get advance access to laptops/tablets.
I basically use "rlone sync" at the top level My Documents>every once in a while. The process traverses the whole sub-
Funny, I remember in Grade 3 I think the teacher saying my>residence room rewrite it into full form. That helped in the
handwriting was so bad that I had to recopy all my notes
in one subject..
I'd take notes in Forkner shorthand in class, and later in my
I further learned that you can copy text all day long
while being 'vegged out' and you don't retain anything of
it.. B)
Yeah.. I can imagine a rebel take that stance. :D
I didn't have any shorthand classes in school, and I didn't know standardized>orthand was actually a thing.. I had my own shorthand I sometimes used for n
When I learned cursive (in 4th grade), I remember learning that teachers & in>uctors in later years would want us to use cursive for basically all of our w
Did you ever actually read your notes?>way, was because I saw other people doing it. I never went back to read those
The only reason I ever took notes in school, which I quickly stopped by the
I haven't done anything but Print since I left school, other than for a signature. My writing wasn't too terrible but I just didn't stick with it. Possibly some can write a lot faster than they can print things out but I find that speed means sloppy, regardless of what I use..
>> which had originally cost about $4500. It was a lot better than myOne time I got a desktop computer that was only a couple of years old
That is too bad. Would have been nice if you could have got away with>replacing or plugging the fan back in.
I had a machine I used for a few years that I found sitting out on garbage>day. Not sure what, if anything, the previous owner thought was wrong with
The golden age for me was my first corporate job. My boss really wasn't> technically minded and made bad decisions. Modems that didn't error
When I was asked to clean out the storage room and toss everything in> the "dumpster", it felt like Christmas day to me. :)
I put one working computer out on garbage day long ago just because it
was older and not worth much. In the past couple of years I cleaned
out a lot of my old spare systems and a number of machines that needed
only one relatively inexpensive part got 'recycled' too. At some point
you have to stop hoarding everything you outgrow or take in or buy
a bigger house.. B)
I'd take notes in Forkner shorthand in class, and later in my
residence room rewrite it into full form. That helped in the
"study" method.
In Grade 3 ? B)
I never learned short hand, never saw a need. My sister
took it in school, and typing, but not I..
I further learned that you can copy text all day long
while being 'vegged out' and you don't retain anything of
it.. B)
Yeah.. I can imagine a rebel take that stance. :D
I wasn't actually trying to not learn anything, I was just
copying the words without really reading them..
I basically use "rlone sync" at the top level My Documents
every once in a while. The process traverses the whole sub-
That sounds pretty good. I had a similar option with
Sync.com if I wanted to install the App to automate what
ends up on it using the one folder and sub-folders.
I saw there is a free version of RClone.. Is that what you
are using or a better paid option?
I put one working computer out on garbage day long ago
just because it was older and not worth much. In the past couple
of years I cleaned out a lot of my old spare systems and a number
of machines that needed only one relatively inexpensive part got 'recycled' too. At some point you have to stop hoarding everything
you outgrow or take in or buy a bigger house.. B)
No joke. I eventually went to parting out and/or e-cycling most of
what I had around. I few old cases became risers on my basement
floor. A mini fridge sits on an empty old pentium case, for example.
:D
No joke. I eventually went to parting out and/or e-cycling most of
what I had around. I few old cases became risers on my basement
floor. A mini fridge sits on an empty old pentium case, for example.
:D
when i was a kid my dream was to have a room full of 7 ft tables with computers on them. now that i'm old i got rid of most of my computers. i'm just running one and i have 2 or 2 in a tub.
I haven't done anything but Print since I left school, other than for a signature.>to use cursive anymore was that it's actually quicker to write with standard
One of the arguments my 7th-grade English teacher said when telling me not
Looking briefly at the RClone info online it appears to be a
tool to Handle other Cloud accounts and your devices rather
than being a cloud storage system itself, although I'd imagine
it must offer some degree of that..
>> out a lot of my old spare systems and a number of machines that neededIn the past couple of years I cleaned
No joke. I eventually went to parting out and/or e-cycling most of what I>had around. I few old cases became risers on my basement floor. A mini
One student in my univ. residence had the habit of transcribing>his handwritten notes in class to type-written notes. That
I knew student that would often fall asleep in class. But he>seemed to pull things off and got high grades and went on for a
Rob Mccart wrote to DUMAS WALKER <=-
Ha.. For ages I had a huge Server system with 5 full sized bays but
the hardware eventually got too old to mess with anymore and for
a number of years it ended up being an end table beside my main
computer desk. Sitting on the floor it was as tall as the desk.
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