Europeans are so damned lucky...

[creole]

It's just not fair. Why do you get all of the good tech toys?

http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1120

The US does some things right but I am so sick of the USA using different standards than the rest of the world just to be different. Why can't we get on the ball and use what EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD is using?

[oblig]

Sometimes I (and others) say the exact opposite. Not just with computer tech either, films, xbox, music etc.

Ah well. I want that phone! Anyone... feel free to drop that in my post!

[creole]

OK...

I can see where you're coming from. BUT, with the exception of movies, the stuff you get early in Europe are things that are part of people's daily lives. The X-Box is a toy, not a necessity like a cellphone.

[jeremyk]

*snicker*

I don't exactly think that cell phone could constitute as a nessecity, either

[creole]

Well, it's GETTING to become one.

I'm high powered man. I've got to have a way for Tony Blair and George Bush (I call him Dubya) to contact me if they need to. They don't like emailing so it's got to be a cellphone.

[JMulder]

LOL Creole

Are we damn lucky? Most of the times I think US is way more lucky when it comes to their Education System, you guys get to leave the school so early

[jeremyk]

Creole:

You call him "Dubya" to his face? Or is that just a pet name you use between you and your friends?

That's half the reason I love Sitepoint. The sarcasm runs rampant around here.

[oblig]

A new tag for vB Code then - [sarcasm]

[guysmy]

That Nokia cell phone is nothing less than beautiful. (functionality?)

[Michel V]

Originally posted by JMulder
Most of the times I think US is way more lucky when it comes to their Education System, you guys get to leave the school so early

Yeah, especially when you can't pay the infamously high entrance fees at universities

[dhtmlgod]

Ooooooh yeeeeah, we're reeeeeally lucky http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/22951.html

[Seer]

It'd be interesting to have an in depth thread on how countries differ from each other. There's a good deal I don't know about the UK, etc. Cell phones, eh you people need to give yourself some more space.

[Ian Glass]

Originally posted by creole
It's just not fair. Why do you get all of the good tech toys?

http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1120

That is pretty cool. Ya' know what else stinks...Europeans don't have to pay for incoming calls like we do in America, right?

Most of the times I think US is way more lucky when it comes to their Education System, you guys get to leave the school so early...

How do you mean? I thought Europeans had 13 years of required schooling like we do (in some cases 14, I think). Ohh, do you guys in the big E have the standardized tests. If not, you should really count your blessings!

[creole]

They;ve got them Ian, likely they're harder than ours. Schooling in the UK and the rest of Europe is a serious business. Schools here in the states allow you to slack off and still get ahead with determination. As I understand it, if you fail certains tests in Europe you're pretty much limited to certain jobs.

[Ian Glass]

Originally posted by creole
As I understand it, if you fail certains tests in Europe you're pretty much limited to certain jobs.

And, that's unlike us?

[creole]

Yes...

Here you can be a total loser, have one great idea and become a millionaire. It's much harder than that in Europe from what I understand. If ou flunk out, then you're basically gonna be a janitor or something like that.

[RKuhle]

Originally posted by JMulder
LOL Creole

Are we damn lucky? Most of the times I think US is way more lucky when it comes to their Education System, you guys get to leave the school so early

LOL!! Do NOT be jealous of our school system, you would be missing out on a lot.

[Ian Glass]

Originally posted by creole
Yes...

Here you can be a total loser, have one great idea and become a millionaire. It's much harder than that in Europe from what I understand. If ou flunk out, then you're basically gonna be a janitor or something like that.

God bless America! Without it, I'd be scraping gum off of lockers...

I'm going to have to respectively disagree with you, Creole; you can get branded pretty quickly in America, too. While climbing to the top may be more difficult in Europe (but I doubt it), it's not impossible. Hell, Europe's the land of the four-foot tall warlord!

In America, you have to go to college to get any kind of decent job. Unless you enjoy poring molten metal, and even then you have to go to community college. Despite popular opinion over here, American schools are actually rather tough and competitive. Though, people here are falling into the trap of thinking standardized test are the solution for everything (politicians call it accountability).

Anyway, it's probably more useful if someone who actually lives in Europe weighs in on this, now... If what Creole says is true, is it because of market pressures or government intervention? Is it that way across all of Europe, east, south, west, or north (or any combination, thereof)?

[iTec]

Originally posted by Ian Glass
That is pretty cool. Ya' know what else stinks...Europeans don't have to pay for incoming calls like we do in America, right?

Now i thought Au mobile companies sucked the silver bullet... but if you are paying to receive calls then thats just STUPID!!!

p.s: that phone is AWSOME!!!

[louisa]

Living in Belgium and traveling to the states very often ( family ) I can see BIG differences in Education.
You say you need at least have to go to college to get any kind of decent job.
I read the wanted adds all the time on the net and when I am there and I found the leval of education requirement to be very low..
One add for "teachers aid" (you would think they should have some degrees,) was I quote" be able to read and write" 8 years of education.( doesn't everyone have at least that???
I know I would like my teacher's aid to be able to read it does help doesn't it??????

Here because the Uni. is so cheap there is no excuse not to go for your degrees.
But for every traide or profession we have a different diploma at a high school level.

We start training early and for those who do not go on to Uni. they are qualified in their profession at the age of 18.
And for most jobs here if you don't speak and write at least 3 languages you are domed to flip burgers.

I think there are far more chances in the states.
Just an opinion
louisa

[jeremyk]

Originally posted by Ian Glass
That is pretty cool. Ya' know what else stinks...Europeans don't have to pay for incoming calls like we do in America, right?

Say what? I assume you're talking about cell phones still. Paying for incoming calls? That sucks. The only time we ever have to pay for an incoming call is if it's long distance, and the phone is out of it's calling zone.

[louisa]

Do I get this right? Pay for INComing calls,
Please explain.
louisa

[sowen]

Creole, that is one sexy phone! I've got the 8210 and was thinking of upgrading to the 8310 any day now but I shal just have to wait

Originally posted by dhtmlgod
Ooooooh yeeeeah, we're reeeeeally lucky http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/22951.html

We are still off at work the outage blew my router to kingdom come! I am still waiting for BTOpenworld to confirm a visit from an engineer!!! It is totaly daft, they won't ship one out to me cause it is considered to technical to install :fume:

[Michel V]

Louisa eheh, this is the kind of post I would have made about the education levels and jobs in Europe. We're blessed the University here is still cheap^, and that our Education systems aren't completely plagged with the idea of profitability (since when does a public school have to make a profit ?), oh and that school until Uni is free.
All these factors help our average education levels, and even if they don't help much to get decent jobs, I value the idea that knowledge serves a purpose.


By the way, paying for INcoming calls hasn't been seen in France since 1996, IIRC.

[Disk-t]

That phone looks really complex. But those little gadgets that can access the internet are a pain!