[kidsgames] re: a mom's eye view

[cwaddell@mail.orion.org]

Donna Said:
> 
> I am also an 'end user'  and we have a windows free house ;-)
> 
Congrats.


> > > > Windows=easy
> 
> I don't find tracking down what ever caused the last crash and
> reinstalling windows and
> all your software as part of your monthly routine, easy.
> I am one to install something new and try it on a regular basis.
> I never could do this with windows with out corrupting some other
> program.

Well, I'm not going to waste your time hawking the
non-virtues of windows.  My question still is how can my 3
year old handle it?


> 
> > > > Why do my kids play windows games? 
> 
> Because that what they are taught by TV and peers who use windows.
> My daughter is 9, she has a redhat system.

Good for her and for you.  BTW, we don't have a TV. Maybe
they do learn it at the library.
 
> 
> 
> 
> I don't know what most people in the linux community want but I
> personally think
> its better to read a little about what it is you are installing on your
> computer.
> Unfortunately I do know that most of the population could careless about
> learning.
> They want everything done for them. Now it seems that if you have to
> read anything
> to install something then its too hard.
> And to complain about something that is free, makes absolutely no sense
> to me.
> What is that old saying? 'anything worth having is worth working for'
> ???
> Well, I have found that its much easier to follow instructions, and make
> sure you have
> all the 'requires' before you try to install something, than to put up
> with all the
> blue screens and reinstalls that come with windows. not to mention the
> cost involved.


I think it is awsome to commune with people who are willing
to make an investment.  
> 
> I would be interested in what qualifies as a crashed system.
> Aside from hardware problems I have had a program or two crash a console
> and have to telnet
> in and fix it. But in those cases I could uninstall them and everything
> was right back to
> normal. With windows its almost impossible to completely uninstall a
> program with out causing
> a problem for something else.

You'll have to ask Jeff.  

> 
> Ideas are a dime a dozen. But programmers with free time ??? ha! not
> going to find many
> of those.  Its hard enough to get one away from a project long enough to
> eat dinner..

I'd say that people in general with free time are unusual
these days.

> 
> I have found that as time goes on it takes less time to get things
> working.
> For those that don't want to learn there are always RPMS. Though there
> is usually
> a wait involved if you want those.
> Why do I spend time on it?
> I do it because I want to better myself by learning to do more than just
> point and
> click. I want a stable OS that doesn't crash at the drop of a hat.
> I want programs written by people that do it because they enjoy it. Not
> by someone that
> wants my money. I want to share what I learn with others. I want my
> child to know there
> is more to computers than pretty pictures and noise. I want my child to
> use her computer
> as an educational tool. Not just a toy.
> Boy it seems like I want a lot... But look around the linux community..
> Its all there...

I want what you want. 

> 
> Linux is going to be around a while.
> So, I guess what we should be doing instead of complaining is ask ours
> selves what can we
> do to make it move faster? 
> Set a goal of learning something new each week, and maybe in time we can
> provide some
> meaningful contribution.
> 
> Donna Parker

If it sounds like I am complaining, I apologize.  That
sounds like a great goal.  Does everybody really need to
reinvent the wheel?

 > 
> I don't know if any of you have thought of this but my daughter has a
> ball conversing with
> the bot. I am still learning tcl so this is a bit slow but we are both
> having fun.
> You can make the bot a teacher of sorts too.
> This is a very simple thing to do but it takes time. and you have to
> watch them and see what
> they think the bot should do and add things daily.
> You can start with a basic AI script so you can see how things are done,
> then read about it
> and create your own.

hmmm.  sounds interesting.

Live your dreams.........
Celia> 

-
kidsgames@smluc.org  -- To get off this list send "unsubscribe kidsgames"
in the body of a message to majordomo@smluc.org