Intel iMac from work...

[onlyonemac]

Well, dad's work. One of his clients are giving it away because they're finished with it apparantly.

Mom says it's a waste of space (but then she says that about every computer except the main one), and dad says it'll be good for "learning to use a Mac".

I'm looking forward to trying to program the thing, but currently it looks like it's not coming. And if it does it'll be mom's computer anyway.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

onlyonemac

 

[Cosmo]

You said it's intel and it's free, so it's very much still useable for sure. Make sure to point your mom it's easier, safer to use compared to PC's. It's compact, nice looking, decorative. As well make the point that you'll get to learn more programming, possible future career even.

 

[snuci]

You'll have to change your username Congrats.

 

[Gorgonops]

I'm looking forward to trying to program the thing, but currently it looks like it's not coming. And if it does it'll be mom's computer anyway.
Thoughts?

Uhm... hearty conditional congratulations on the thing you may or may not be receiving?

 

[Cory5412]

And may not be permitted to use anyway?

Keep us posted, I suppose.

 

[onlyonemac]

Well it's not available for a few weeks still.

 

[CC_333]

Why is your mother so restrictive of your hobby, anyway?

It doesn't seem like she's being entitrely reasonable about it, from what you've said.

Anyway, please let us know how it goes.

c

 

[Cory5412]

To be fair to the mother, young hobbyists that have a fairly big and intensive hobby are often placing a strain on some resource that they aren't aware of, and/or are acting in a way that the parents didn't originally predict.

My parents got a lot more "cool" with it once I started speaking with them about why the systems were interesting, and helping to develop a limit on it, like, "I'll use this particular space for it, and if I want something new that doesn't fit, I'll toss it out to make room."

I think one of the biggest factors in re PAF (parental approval factor) back in the day really was the notion that because these things were so cheap and plentiful at the time, it wasn't uncommon that somebody would come back with a carload of stuff for like $20, and most parents don't want their kids' things spilling over into public spaces. (Although I've also learnt that that particular bit is extremely dependent on the individual family, and I have a friend whose kids' rooms are for homework and sleeping, and they do everything else together in a family room/den.

 

[IIfx]

I must have been really lucky. Both mom and dad were highly approving of my hobby. Mom would nag about the clutter, but she supported it otherwise.They both realized that learning computer stuff is more valuable than a whole plethora of other things I could have been doing. Not to mention it kept me happy in a time that I was pretty depressed overall. (When the hobby began 10+ years ago)

I learned more experimenting and repairing these old computers than I did in most of my High School classes. (Not joking. HS was so easy, I could get B+ on tests without even studying in most classes, excluding Science and Math)

Not to mention, keeping my interest alive in these things set me on a good career path. I have moved from wanting to be an Electronics Engineer over to Computer Science. Programming is now more interesting to me, and the career prospects are better. EE seems like something that's being increasingly outsourced outside of top-secret work (which I dont want to do).

Its unfortunate that your Mom is so dis-supportive of your hobby - its not like you have tons of equipment like I do. It may seem strange and foreign to people. "Why do you collect that old crap?"

But to put it another way, there are much more unproductive things you could be spending your time doing. Your Dad seems to be more open to the idea of the hobby. Ah, family-unit politics.

Post in nutshell - Interest in Computers is good. Its a healthy hobby *(if you dont hoard)



I suppose Parental Approval is a unifying factor most of us have had to or still have to deal with in our lives.

 

[snuci]

They both realized that learning computer stuff is more valuable than a whole plethora of other things I could have been doing.

I just want to say that this is the smartest thing I've heard all day. Yes, it takes up room but these are good skills to gain along with an having and interest in the roots of home computing. While it's probably not the greatest investment, it's tangible and is much better than your money "going up in smoke" or going "down the drain" so-to-speak .

Your parents deserve praise, in my book.

 

[Blinkenlightz]

I agree entirely. I wouldn't be where I am today had it not been for my parents encouraging my insatiable curiosity for all things computer/networking growing up.

 

[beachycove]

The iMac in question is probably a few years old, but hopefully not too old. So, here are ten ideas for convincing your mother to let you have that iMac (helpfully avoiding all reference to teen-aged obsessions with Facebook, etc):

1. You can get a recent, free version of XCode onto the thing and tinker with programming for OSX, which is a bridge into programming for Unix generally. Since Unix is what runs the web and much of the world, thar be jobs there. Also very useful in science, business, government, industry....

2. You can get a recent, free version of XCode onto the thing and quite possibly actually learn to program for iOS. Maybe even for iOS7 if the iMac is new enough.

3. Registration as a developer is free (and needed for the XCode download), so it will not cost you or her a bean.

4. Sign up for Code Academy (free) and let her see you working at it.

5. It seems not to take too, too much stratospheric know-how to get a basic iOS app published. You might make a few quid.

6. In the (probable) event that you made no money, you could still use the fact that you had done it as fodder for your applications for uni. If you wanted to study medicine (say), rather than Computer Science, it would still help you stand out from the crowd — which is precisely what you want to do if you apply for highly competitive places at uni. Admissions officers are interested in more than just grades. Harness that geekiness and use it constructively!

7. Get her to think that a household iMac will channel some of the energies recently spent on the little LC (something that she frankly knows will never again be useful in the real world) into something that might actually come in useful in the real world.

8. Remind her (politics permitting) of how Bill Gates advised Blair to enable more UK schools to teach kids programming.

9. Promise her that you will clean up your room and eliminate the "floordrobe" situation in future. Bribery is always a solid plan where recalcitrant parents are concerned. Create a "floordrobe" crisis to advance this devious plan if necessary.

10. Get your father on your side. Mind you, it looks like he already is on your side. I think you are probably set.

 

[TheMacGuy]

If you really want to code on it, just tell your mom that it would be good for your future (it seems like you might want to become a software engineer, correct?).

My parents were really against collecting vintage Macs as they thought it would just be a waste of space too, until they realized that eventually I would like to become a hardware engineer (and perhaps get a job at our favorite fruit company , one can dream right?). After I started working on my own computers they let me start working on theirs, mainly SSD and RAM upgrades. Then came the big order; fix the MacBook my mom had gotten. A local computer shop luckily had spare MacBooks they were parting out, so they let me scavenge for parts out of one until I had everything I needed. I got it all fixed. The owner was so impressed, I was offered a job as a Mac Technician.

Point of the story is; everyone starts somewhere, this iMac could be the starting point of a great career for you.

 

[onlyonemac]

I've actually got my career in mind already, so that's out of the question.

Real point of the story is, if I didn't make this clear enough before, that I don't actually want it. I don't like intel Macs. 68k is the way to go!

On the other hand I can't resist any free computers. So much for dad endlessly coming home from the tip and saying "Oh I saw someone had a laptop/desktop/ATARI (I actually want one, you know) at the tip today". If only we had space for all of this...

 

[mcdermd]

I think you're way too odd, OOM. It's like you're grasping for some geeky hipster title where you only use 68k Macs.

 

[Cory5412]

It's nice to focus on 68k Macs for your hobbying, but it's always a good idea to have a modern system to use for accessing the web, etc. It's reasonable for this system to be a Mac, although that really is up to your preference. A surprising-but-good number of people on the forum have linux desktops, for example. (And, Intel-based Mac hardware can run Windows 7/8 and linux pretty well.)

 

[Brett B.]

I cannot imagine a single good reason why a person would consciously limit themselves to only using 68k Macs, but whatever. They were obsolete long before you were even born and doing so makes YOU obsolete. Once you get out in the world on your own you will quickly find that you MUST upgrade your skills if you want any sort of job or career - in any field - not just technology. Unless of course you are planning a move to the wilderness to live a nomadic lifestyle and die at age 39 of dysentery. Good luck.

I think you're way too odd, OOM. It's like you're grasping for some geeky hipster title where you only use 68k Macs.

lulz.

 

[max1zzz]

I can't say i find it that odd that he only wants 68k macs, for a while i insisted i would not have a mac newer than a PPC, but eventually the limitations changed my mind (that and my parents offered to buy me a macbook - i couldn't turn that down)

And if it wasn't for the fact i was a complete mac fanboy when i was younger i would probably of just got a pc and would still not have any intels.

 

[Gorgonops]

Dysentery!