Re: IIgs stuff to sell / give away

[phoenyx <phoenyx@texas.net>]

Obsbedia2 wrote:

> << Louis Cornelio wrote:
>
> > Ok, it is not a popular idea in school that just "upgrade because" -- and
> > I DO think kids deserve MODERN computers, but there is plenty of use in
> > these machines.
>
> Sure, and lets teach the next generation that 'new' is better and 'old' is
> useless.
>
> I think there's a lot of value left in the old systems. They are easier for
> most students to use. Lots of great software still available, much of
> it free!
>
> Phoenyx
>  >>
>
> The problem may be that those in charge of the purse strings like to buy the
> way they buy:  Whole systems that don't require thought.
>
> They don't have to be knowledgeable about the product, they just have to but a
> complete system so that it will work out of the box--and let's face it; a lot
> of those boxes are never even opened, let alone plugged in.
>
> I've already written a grant for upgrading the Apple IIs at school.  Nothing
> fancy, just hard drives, mice and BeagleWrite.  It died and I was told that it
> would die long before it was issued.
>
> I did get a site license for BeagleWrite and here is how:
>
>         I bought a copy, became proficent at it, bought all the add-ons (extra fonts,
> desk accessories, Picture Manager), became pretty proficent at them as well
> (Picture Manager is still troublesome for me), and THEN showed off the program
> to students.
>
>         They liked it!  They told their teachers.
>
>         They liked it!  They asked me to give a workshop.  They loved it.
>
>         I talked the High School into (well, begged on my hands and knees for five
> months actually) to let our school use the 29 Apple IIes that they had
> disassembled in an empty classroom.  They finally said, "Come get them."  Eight
> truck loads later, they were in the classrooms.
>
>         My principal asked, "What do the teachers need to make use of these
> computers?"
>
>         "Well, they already have a lot of programs for basic skills, but if we'd like
> to raise our writings scores, I'd suggest we purchase BeagleWrite.  It turns
> the Apple II into a Macintosh.  The teachers already know the program and like
> it.
>
>         "What does it cost?"
>
>         "My copy cost $59.00, but a site license is $199.95."
>
> We had a site license before you could swear at Steve Jobs.
>
> The lesson of this tale is to get grassroots support.  The powers that be don't
> like to add money to old systems, but if you lay the ground work first with the
> faculty and students, then the purse strings are loosened just as much as it
> you had asked for IBM with the works.
>
> Jay

Well done. If more educators could do as great a job as the two posted here
our schools would be a better place for learning.

BTW if my original post sounded a bit snobbish it was not intended that way.

Phoenyx