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by crazygringo 141 days ago
> TYCO Print is a printing service where professors can upload course files for TYCO to print out for students as they order. Shorter packets can cost around $20, while longer packets can cost upwards of $150 when ordered with the cheapest binding option.

This made sense a couple of decades ago. Today, it's just bizarre to be spending $150 on a phonebook-sized packet of reading materials. So much paper and toner.

This is what iPads and Kindles are for.
1 comments
nine_k 141 days ago
No, the cost of the paper, toner, and binding is the cost of providing of a provably distraction-free environment.

To make it more palpable for an IT worker: "It's just bizarre to give a developer a room with a door, so much sheetrock and wood! Working with computers is what open-plan offices are for."

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crazygringo 141 days ago
What kind of distraction are you getting on your Kindle...?

Also, the university isn't covering the cost here. The students are. And buying the Kindle would be cheaper than the printing cost of the packet itself.

So I stand by my point. If you don't want distraction, get Kindles.

And even iPads are pretty good. They tend to sit flat so you're not "hiding" your screen the way you can with a laptop or phone, and people often aren't using messaging or social apps on them so there are no incoming distractions.

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dgellow 141 days ago
Compared to paper any software is a distraction

> people often aren't using messaging or social apps on [ipad]

That’s so obviously wrong

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crazygringo 140 days ago
> Compared to paper any software is a distraction

No it's not? Why on earth would it be...?

> That’s so obviously wrong

...but is it obviously wrong?

People tend to use these on their phones. They don't have a lot of reason to set them up on their iPad. Until very recently, Instagram didn't even have an iPad app, that's how low the demand is.

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dgellow 140 days ago
It’s because the market for iPad is way smaller than phones… please look at anyone using their iPad and tell me how they aren’t a massive source of distraction.

Comment written from my iPad, while distracted from what I’m actually supposed to be doing right now

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