Was PC vs Mac, now OU vs Mac

[major_clanger]

Further to my musings on the suitability of using a Mac, another issue has come to light. I've been accepted on an OU course and the course minimum computer requirements include Windows 98 and Office 97. Checking the OU's guidance on PCs I find the following advice:

Computers other than those recommended

It may sometimes be possible to use a computer that has an operating system other than Windows - Apple Macintosh or the Linux operating system, for example. If you decide not to use a Windows-based PC you must accept complete responsibility for developing any new skills you need, and we can't guarantee that you'll be able to access the software and data files supplied with course materials.

Clearly not the Open Source University, then!

MC

Comments

the only time I needed a PC for an OU course

[groliffe.livejournal.com]

Virtual PC did me fine, and from the sound of things Office might well be all you need, though without knowing which course you're doing it's hard to be sure...

Re: the only time I needed a PC for an OU course

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

You may be a bit surprised to hear this, but I'm taking W200: Understanding Law. This is partly because the more I become involved in IT security, the more I realise that a sound appreciation of legal issues is important, and partly because despite all the travails we have gone through with bugshaw's legal battles I have actually found exposure to the law in action to be very interesting.

At it happens, I rather suspect that for this course the computing element will involve email or web-based discussion groups, browsing of legal databases and word-processing essays, none of which should be very architecture-specific. However, I will make some enquiries first!

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

purpletigron's not going to like this if it applies to the PGCE she'll be taking with them,...

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Looking at the OU course descriptions, it does seem that all the PGCE options have the same PC requirement - Windows 98 and Office 97 again.

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

It applies to absolutely sodding everything. The OU is getting very gung-ho about requiring a PC for damn near anything. Many of us feel that, whilst this might suit the OU's convenience, it potentially excludes many traditional OU students.

[(Anonymous)]

I tangled with on-line training, and if you have a choice, stick with what they recommend.

My experience was not with the OU, and was also Internet-Explorer-only, using some brain-dead web-based chatroom system.

The OU do know what they're doing and Office 97 is old enough that if that is the critical element the data should be pretty portable. But it is obviously what they know works.

It does look like a Shield (+1 against Lawyers), doesn't it. Maybe a web search on Mac-using OU students?