Where are our laptops?

[Davoo!]

I know this is old but the students in NSW have all been given free laptops by the Rudd Government. Where are ours?

[/0]

just campaign hype or something of that nature... pay no heed

[cardiovascular]

You need to understand that this is a six year program, we are not even two years into it yet. The program is being rolled out on need basis, in terms of student to computer ratio. Also schools choose what format they would like which means many schools may never purchase laptops. "The Australian Government is investing $2.1 billion through the Fund, to provide for new or upgraded information and communications technology (ICT) for secondary schools with students in years 9 to 12. The aim of the Fund is to achieve a 1 to 1 computer to student ratio by 31 December 2011." Long way away, for us year 12 students we probably won't see them.

National Secondary School Computer Fund

[rhjc.1991]

I can pretty much tell that the laptops are going to be well used as a distraction for students (porn probs)

[cardiovascular]

I disagree, laptops are a great idea, makes it way easier to do things if everyone has access to a computer, unlike my school where there are rarely enough computers working in the computer rooms for everyone in the class to have access. Btw what school can you access porn at anyway?

[dcc]

I think, since I am no longer in secondary school, laptops are a bad idea.

Free laptops for university students studying national priority areas, however.  I think I'm onto something.

[doboman]

I think, since I am no longer in secondary school, laptops are a bad idea.

Free laptops for university students studying national priority areas, however.  I think I'm onto something.

Haha! QFT.

Honestly though, once you hit university, laptops *almost* become a neccessity. Constantly having to check your student portal, student emails ect ect. Also; printing out lecture notes (most of the time this being 5 mins b4 class whilst you rush through the library). And not to mention the waiting time one would have to suffer if they didnt have a laptop at uni. Is it just me; or has the need for a laptop increased since going to uni?

EDIT: 400th post. Taken a while..but i got there

[Glockmeister]

I dont have a laptop and I've survived. Although it does get frustrating not being able to get on computers in the library, 'cause everyone has a compulsive need to visit facebook.

[dcc]

I use my phone to do all of those things.

[doboman]

I use my phone to do all of those things.

I use my laptop. Makes life so much easier.

[xXNovaxX]

Our school already has laptops. Sometimes during classes when we aren't in a computer room (e.g. for english, and vis comm etc you don't really use a computer room), we can get laptops, and return it back end of the class. I think the delay in spreading them out

[Nic K]

I am not sure how related this is but why are Primary School students getting laptops from the government? I mean, why do they need them? I just think it's ridiculous that they're getting laptops before older students.

[QuantumJG]

In uni you HAVE to have a laptop! At uni they may have a lot of computers, but trying to get one is crazy (damn uni forcing us to use their computers to print). I hate facebook users on the computers when all I need to do is print lecture notes.

I have a laptop but it's too heavy for uni, so I'm investing my Christmas money on a netbook (all I need to use it for, is to use word and surf the net). I think my sisters get a laptop next year (I hope so because when I come home they are using it for facebook - how ironic).

Primary school students don't need laptops, but high school students need one.

[amirite?]

My school has a laptop program but I dont think it gets much aid from the government. The program basically taught me EVERYTHING I know about computers, the internet, etc. In that regard it was a blessing as being computer literate is obviously a necessity these days but it also got me addicted to the internet and I wasted a lot of time at school playing COD or whatever flash game was the latest craze. This year (11) I stopped taking it too school (even though its "required") and I have definitely been 4000% more efficient. The time spent turning on your laptop, loading up everything, etc. takes away from learning time and the temptation for students to play games, watch porn, surf the net (proxies), watch movies, listen to music is way too attempting. Would you rather do year 9 science or get kicked out the classroom and do whatever youre doing as you read this? Laptops should be for home use only and everyone should have access to the internet, for research purposes. If they are to be used at school they need to be brought to class by the teachers or something so theyre not personalised with the distracting crap we all have on our personal laptops.

[xXNovaxX]

Yeah, tbh at our school we have a mix of laptops and computers.

I ALWAYS choose computers, I really dont see the need for everyone to have a "personal laptop"

Okay, not everyone can afford one at home, well use the school/library computers thats what I did before I brought a computer (it took me like 4-5 years after they became 'norm')

Like, there's no need to have personal laptop because then students think EVERYTHING needs to be done on them, handwriting does exist you know....