Re: My First Computer (was Computing Editorial)

[Glen <lpepicel@nycap.rr.com>]

> OK; more precisely, 99% of today's computers sold come with no
> programming language. Some do; but they are sold mainly to people who
> are already very knowledgeable about computers. Thus the languages are
> not for beginners, but for experts.


No no no no no.

Micro$oft does not put any languages in the box.  But that does not mean 
there are languages for Windows.

You can download c, c++, java, python and perl-- just to name five.  All 
under open source licenses.

To get these you can go to:

gcc.gnu.org
www.perl.org
www.python.org
www.activestate.com
www.javasoft.com

Even the microsoft version of c++, c#, and Visual Basic are only $99 for 
personal use.


Secondly it is true that linux _was_ designed for experts.  

However, there are efforts to make Linux easier to use including kde and gnome

(www.kde.org www.gnome.org).

If you don't mind buying a $25 book on linux you should be fine.

Secondly, anyone who has ever worked in an office setting knows that 
most people don't "know" windows anymore than they know Linux.  They 
just have learned to bare minimum they need to know the play games and 
write spreadsheets.  They have "work experience" in windows which just 
means they have logged a lot of hours behind a windows box.


> >
>
> Let's think about children. Think about yourself when you first
> encounted computers. You wouldn't know enough to pick a programming
> language. And then, you wouldn't know where to look for it. And then,
> how would you learn it? There *are* lots of languages available for
> free; but does this do a beginner any good?
>
> I'll quit here for now, and see what others think.

Programming is slow and tedius in any language.  Kids are likely to get 
frustrated.  You can't just sit them in front of cumputer and command 
them to learn programming anymore than you could give them some pipes 
and tell them to learn about pluming.  If you want a kid to be a 
programmer you should probably wait until he/she is about 14-15 to push 
it on them.  Before then you should get the child read and write well. 
Because (believe it or not) programming is just another form of writing.

If you have a kid (or even an adult) who can't write a 2000 word essay 
than you can't expect him/her to write you a 2000 line program.

When I was in 4th grade I was choosen as one of the kids in the Logo 
program.  The school literally just sat my in front of a Apple 2 running 
logo.  They provided no books or instruction.  Nice "education" huh?


Glen.