Programming with the 2009 controller

[ayeckley]

Originally Posted by Jon236

I don't expect them to become LabView experts....but I DO want to leave them with that taste of wanting more. THAT's what I call inspiration.

[Flame suit] That's what I call marketing. NI has been targeting engineering students for years with their academic programs. Get them hooked in college, so when they graduate they'll be more likely to specify NI products because they are most familiar with them, not necessarily because they are the best-suited products to fulfill their needs. The colleges don't object because they can pack their labs with newer equipment which helps their recruiting efforts. Now NI has decided that college isn't early enough - they are now targeting high-school students.

I've got nothing at all against the marketing business, however I think it's key to be able to recognized when you are being "marketed to". It's certainly not unique to NI. I can think of lots of companies that do this (going at least as far back as the Apple ][.[/Flame suit]

Personally, I'm trying to keep an open mind about this change. I'll reserve judgement (positive OR negative) until the dust settles after the 2009 season. I definitly don't think this is a no-brainer great move for FIRST though.