Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 09:36:18 +0000
Reply-To: mstrand@arb.ca.gov
Sender: "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From: Muriel Strand <mstrand@ARB.CA.GOV>
Subject: Re: Mac Vs. PC's
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
re: Steve Garrison's comments (ref below)
it's not at all clear to me that microsoft products now are better
than the mac os was 10 years ago, but then i'm not a bells-&-whistles
type.
it's also not clear to me that the brain investment required to learn
new/upgraded software is really worth it, especially as i advance
into middle age. the realities of increasing entropy (flexibility
vs. structure) lead me to conclude that my basic preference for
learning things that won't change (or minimally) is the most
economical approach, professionally and intellectually.
i might also mention the wall street journal article awhile back
which stated that ordinary companies were failing in droves to
upgrade win3 to win95 as the cost/benefit picture simply didn't
justify the investment.
muriel strand
*******
I agree with Gerry about the Mac vs. PC issue. Are we professionals
that adapt and change, as the tools we use improve? Software and
hardware is evolving, improving-I think.
Isn't this the mark of a literate and professional person, that as
technology in one's field changes we keep up, because we are not rooted
in the attitude of "that's the way I always did it"? Being educated
means having the flexibility to accept new things, or to switch to new
technologies as needed.
Let's get back to discussing statistics and the way that SPSS can help
us in our professions.
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Steve Garrison, Ph.D Anchorage School District
Research Associate Anchorage, Alaska
907-269-2211
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