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they're not very open source and they fundamentally don't care.

You mean like this, or are you talking about something else?

A single site link means it's open source friendly? What about this then http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/ ?

OSS software isn't even allowed to run in Apple's "Post-PC Era" devices.

I windows ... Not so in linux

Quite. In today's lesson number 1, you learn that Linux isw not windows.

or simply highlighting

I'm afraid this innovation has only been relatively recently introduced (1987 or so). The world of computers does move fast, but do try to keep up.

Linux wants to compete with windows

If you want windows, I suggest you start here: http://www.microsoft.com/

...copy/paste...

Oops. IHBT. Never mind. Can you now complain abot CMYK in the GIMP?

The services company I work for deals with multi-site corporates around the world. Some of these corporates are still running IE5.5 on Windows 2000 desktops, having never ever wanted or needed to upgrade to Windows XP. These companies just aren't interested in upgrading. Sometimes its because their cheap, but mostly it's because they have legacy apps that won't work on newer browsers or OSes - so they're either unwilling or unable to make the switch.

Whilst Microsoft has *finally* ended support for Windows 2000, they continue to encourage situations like this by extending Windows XP support up until 2014!. If they really want corporates to stop using these old browsers and OSes maybe they should remember that they are a software company and help them to move forward. That helps to line their pockets, too.

The services company I work for deals with multi-site corporates around the world. Some of these corporates are still running IE5.5 on Windows 2000 desktops, having never ever wanted or needed to upgrade to Windows XP. These companies just aren't interested in upgrading. Sometimes its because their cheap, but mostly it's because they have legacy apps that won't work on newer browsers or OSes - so they're either unwilling or unable to make the switch.

Whilst Microsoft has *finally* ended support for Windows 2000, they continue to encourage situations like this by extending Windows XP support up until 2014!. If they really want corporates to stop using these old browsers and OSes maybe they should remember that they are a software company and help them to move forward. That helps to line their pockets, too.

That usually means you've mucked about with your system. There are fairly simple fixes for that error. Or you could simply download the full install from the IE website. http://www.microsoft.com/ie Or you could just switch to Chrome, like I did years ago...

Get it here instead.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914224. In short, stop two services. Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer. Next, delete the entire folder called "SoftwareDistribution" located under the root of C:\Windows. Restart both services and try again.

BTW, that folder you deleted will regenerate after starting these services. Don't worry about it.

Here's the link to Word 5.5 (Y2K fixed 5.0) http://download.microsoft.com/download/word97win/Wd55_be/97/WIN98/EN-US/Wd55_ben.exe if you want to test. It's the text version.

It's only the 64-bit editions of Windows that don't have any support for 16-bit applications. However, 64-bit editions do have support for a very limited number of 16-bit installer stubs that launch 32-bit programs (see here). Of course if the application itself is 16-bit then you're out of luck.

I guess you didn't actually watch the video.
Windows Me to Windows 2000 Upgrade Is Not Supported
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272627
See comment in video at 6:07.

I guess you didn't actually watch the video.
Windows Me to Windows 2000 Upgrade Is Not Supported
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272627
See comment in video at 6:07.

I wish he was, but, sadly, he's correct.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/is-it-ok-to-use-oem-windows-on-your-own-pc-dont-ask-microsoft/1561

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/localized_licenses.aspx

A "system builder" is defined as someone who builds a machine, configures it, tests it, and sells it to a third party. Technically, homebuilds have to buy the full license, according to Microsoft's own licensing agreement.

Not a point I think they'd ever enforce, of course, but it's part of their legalese.

On the file system level, Microsoft did have non-destructive ways to convert file systems, such as CONVERT.EXE.

For the partition resizing, other posters say that the VM software used has drive resizing abilities, but on a real machine software like Partition Magic (is that still around?) can resize FAT / FAT32 partitions non-destructively, and it could also do the file system conversion stuff in some cases (all a bit IIRC, it's been years since I used it).

I think it could just about be possible with a real machine, at least IMO, with some planning and a third party tool to resize the partition to get around size limits once they no longer apply. However I think there may be hardware issues like finding hardware that can run Windows 7 but has a legacy stuff like a floppy drive controller (and IDE for the hard disc / optical drive?) as well.

The windows update reboot loop issues... Got to love MS

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

I love their answer too... run a repair install. Most of the time I've seen this occur is because there is a file permission error and their stupid fucking update mechanism can't figure out that it needs to rollback the update, skip it, and report to the user what the problem is. I love how numerous updates leave random directories in the root drive that can't be deleted unless you take ownership and set full access to them. What's even better is when the issues don't show up on the testbed and only occur randomly to users.

Show me the equivalent of that for any GUI too.

Actually, windows 7 has a feature called "Problem Steps Recorder" that essentially does that. It takes a screenshot on every click to show people exactly how you're using the GUI, and as the name implies it was meant to record the steps to a bug/error. It will let you record anything you do on your computer though so it can also (and is at the company I work at) used to make training on how to use a particular piece of software. Microsoft has a page with more about it here. I've done the equivalent before taking screenshots myself to post as a cheatsheet on how to do something on training wikis, PSR just makes it incredibly easy.

I didn't know you could uninstall IE8 on Win7, sounds great!

Anyways, I found the instructions. It's in the form of a video. That requires Silverlight.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700#stepsforwin7

But here I found the instructions in text form:

http://windows7center.com/tutorials/how-to-uninstall-internet-explorer-8-in-windows-7-kinda/

No, Microsoft does have a trademark on "Windows".

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Actually, I am not sure if Microsoft Exchange is an exception to the rule that the world prefers open over closed.

First of all, if you look at Exchange, it implements many open standards. It is doubtful that it would have succeeded if it hadn't. In e-mail, for example, a lot of proprietary protocols have fallen by the wayside, with the open SMTP becoming the worldwide standard.

Secondly, a lot of organizations have bumped into artificial limitations in Microsoft Exchange and would have preferred to go with a solution that better aligned with their needs had they been aware of one. Many alternatives have sprung up over the years, and it seems to me that it only a matter of time until Exchange won't seem to offer much of an advantage anymore. People are already moving away from MS Outlook, which means they won't be able to use some of the features that set Exchange apart from the competition anyway.

If Exchange is to survive in a world where there is a great diversity on the client side, it must interoperate with a great number of clients. The best way to do so is through an open, or at least published protocol. And lo and behold, since Exchange Server 2007, clients can access the server through Exchange Web Services, a SOAP-based protocol published by Microsoft.

So, true, Microsoft Exchange is not open source, but it interacts with the world through several open protocols, and, in that sense, has been becoming more and more open throughout its history. With all the protocols published, Exchange+Outlook becomes just one choice among many, and I think that's what really matters. If some organization prefers to run Exchange on their servers and some user preferes to use Outlook, I think they should have that option. As long as the rest of the world can use the software they prefer.

The full name for SQL Server (MSSQL) is Microsoft® SQL Server. It's just shortened by most of the tech community both internally and externally of Microsoft.

Hate to be picky but I'm seeing two trademark symbols on that page: Microsoft® SQL Server®

Besides, if you check out Microsoft's own list of trademarks you'll see 'SQL Server' in there all on it's own:

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/Trademarks/EN-US.aspx

The full name for SQL Server (MSSQL) is Microsoft® SQL Server. It's just shortened by most of the tech community both internally and externally of Microsoft.

Hate to be picky but I'm seeing two trademark symbols on that page: Microsoft® SQL Server®

Besides, if you check out Microsoft's own list of trademarks you'll see 'SQL Server' in there all on it's own:

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/Trademarks/EN-US.aspx

The full name for SQL Server (MSSQL) is Microsoft® SQL Server. It's just shortened by most of the tech community both internally and externally of Microsoft.

nope, they have it. It's very tricky to enforce though. X Windows is fine Lindows is not. see their own site; ie; http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/Trademarks/Usage/Windows.aspx "Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries."

With Windows Intune, you get the same list of updates as the Windows Software Update Service (WSUS), with the same level of control:

        * Windows Intune works over the cloud like Windows Update and Microsoft Update, but you don't need on-site infrastructure.
        * Updates are delivered directly to any of your managed PCs that have an Internet connection.

So to me the fact that there is no set up needed to manage the service (for multiple clients) is the USP.
For more details, please look at the http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/windowsintune-faq.aspx

Partners can manage Windows Intune for multiple customers from a central place (the central place being https://manage.microsoft.com).

In order to sell subscriptions to Windows Intune, you will need to first sign a Microsoft Online Services Partner Agreement (MOSPA).

Subscriptions to Windows Intune will be sold like other cloud services from Microsoft—through the Microsoft Online Services website at http://www.microsoft.com/online/.

For more details, please look at the http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/windowsintune-faq.aspx

Partners can manage Windows Intune for multiple customers from a central place (the central place being https://manage.microsoft.com).

In order to sell subscriptions to Windows Intune, you will need to first sign a Microsoft Online Services Partner Agreement (MOSPA).

Subscriptions to Windows Intune will be sold like other cloud services from Microsoft—through the Microsoft Online Services website at http://www.microsoft.com/online/.

For more details, please look at the http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/windowsintune-faq.aspx

Partners can manage Windows Intune for multiple customers from a central place (the central place being https://manage.microsoft.com).

In order to sell subscriptions to Windows Intune, you will need to first sign a Microsoft Online Services Partner Agreement (MOSPA).

Subscriptions to Windows Intune will be sold like other cloud services from Microsoft—through the Microsoft Online Services website at http://www.microsoft.com/online/.

For more details, please look at the http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/windowsintune-faq.aspx

Intune is basic workstation maintainance really. It's not for home users, it's not for getting rid of Microsoft Office, it's for reducing the need of a helpdesk monkey to do patches and updates etc on machines... more importantly for the road warriors of the companies.

Windows intune provides you with a simple web based console to do the following:
Manage updates: Centrally manage the deployment of the Microsoft® updates and service packs you choose to all your PCs from the Windows Intune console—freeing up your IT staff from routine management tasks.

Protect PCs from malware: Help safeguard your PCs from the latest threats with centralized protection that's built on the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine and uses the same trusted technologies as Microsoft Forefront® Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Security Essentials.

Proactively monitor PCs: Receive alerts on updates and threats so that you can proactively identify and resolve problems with your PCs— before they impact end users and your business.

Provide remote assistance: Help resolve PC issues, regardless of where you or your end users are located, with remote assistance.

Track hardware and software inventory: Track hardware and software assets used in your business to efficiently manage your assets, licenses, and compliance.

Set security policies: Centrally manage update, firewall, and malware protection settings across all of your PCs, even on remote machines outside the corporate network.

You may read more details here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsintune/windowsintune-faq.aspx
Full disclosure: I work on the team that built it.

If you read this article from the IE blog (from 2005), they claim that ActiveX plugins run in a sandbox. The MSDN documentation for low rights IE has similar contents.

Don't worry, every time Microsoft plugs one hole, they add another for legacy services.

For example, look at the workarounds for installing various types of ActiveX controls -- without prompting -- on this page.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721964(v=ws.10).aspx

Or read this page about starting elevated executables from within ActiveX -- again, without prompting.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb250462(v=vs.85).aspx#wpm_elebp

Now consider the following: on Vista and Win7, all of the registry values described on these pages can be set from within the ActiveX installer itself! In other words, you can write an ActiveX component that installs, runs, and performs IPC with elevated processes. And the user will have no idea.

So if Microsoft keeps up their practice of adding holes while they plug others, then rest assured that you'll be able to continue your practice of installing viruses with minimal hassle.

Don't worry, every time Microsoft plugs one hole, they add another for legacy services.

For example, look at the workarounds for installing various types of ActiveX controls -- without prompting -- on this page.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721964(v=ws.10).aspx

Or read this page about starting elevated executables from within ActiveX -- again, without prompting.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb250462(v=vs.85).aspx#wpm_elebp

Now consider the following: on Vista and Win7, all of the registry values described on these pages can be set from within the ActiveX installer itself! In other words, you can write an ActiveX component that installs, runs, and performs IPC with elevated processes. And the user will have no idea.

So if Microsoft keeps up their practice of adding holes while they plug others, then rest assured that you'll be able to continue your practice of installing viruses with minimal hassle.

Does Win7 come with any easy to use backup software?

Yes, it does. From what I recall it even nags you to set it up. At least, I know it nags you when, after setting it up, your backups fail for whatever reason (out of disk space, etc).

"not because there are fewer unpatched vulnerabilities, but because its source code has not undergone the same level of external scrutiny." - by dgatwood (11270) on Monday February 28, @12:30PM (#35339432)

The RUSSIANS HAVE Windows NT-based OS source:

---

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Shares-the-Windows-7-RTM-Source-Code-with-Russia-146738.shtml

---

Thus, Windows HAS "undergone that same level of scrutiny", AND, from better than mere "security researchers" but instead, from "hacker/cracker" types themselves!

So... hate to "burst your bubble" on that note, but... there 'tis!

(And, where does a HUGE portion of malware come out of? The Communist block, inclusive of .ru, .su, & .cn domains as just SOME 'examples thereof'... I know this, 1st hand, from populating a custom HOSTS file vs. known malicious sites/servers/domains-hosts for 17++ yrs. now...)

---

"As long as Windows supports AutoRun in any form." - by dgatwood (11270) on Monday February 28, @12:30PM (#35339432)

This is & WAS very EASILY DISABLED, either via a powertoy from MS called "TweakUI", or via manual registry hacking... for a decade++ or more now in fact!

---

MS has issued patches for that too, as far back as Feb. 2009, AND also, so you know, recently, as well:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx

---

( So, SO MUCH FOR THAT from you, eh? )

---

"it will continue to be so far behind Mac OS X that it isn't really even in the race just from that one fundamental design flaw alone.." - by dgatwood (11270) on Monday February 28, @12:30PM (#35339432)

Windows is "behind" alright... less known security vulnerabilities... so, I agree on THAT note, lol!

---

"This means that the number of known unpatched vulnerabilities in Windows should inherently be smaller" - by dgatwood (11270) on Monday February 28, @12:30PM (#35339432)

It is, and I put up data showing that VERY thing, no less, AND, from a reputable + respected source for said data, in SECUNIA.COM!

APK

P.S.=> There is only 1 place MacOS X is superior to Windows... GETTING ITS ASS KICKED:

Because:

---

1.) MacOS Xt certainly hasn't taken the "lion's share" (pun intended) of market here

2.) NOR is MacOS X giving a better showing than Windows on KNOWN security vulnerabilities unpatched either...

---

Period! apk

One that's integrated with the store, only allows access to the people who have purchased, and only to the items they have purchased? That's a bit more complex than a simple FTP server.

Why is any of that required?

Hypothetically: "Software may contain GPL or other open source materials. Source code available at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/oss/."

Then require authors to upload related source code with their software when they choose an open source license in the store, and Microsoft dumps the source in that folder. So simple.

Yes.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

My son is twelve and I've already started him programming, but I've been beating my head against the wall trying to get the local school board to introduce programming as an elective or at the very least as an after school club. The good news is that you still have a much better head start than anyone graduating with a CS degree. The bad news is that, with an apology to html / javascript developers, having even advanced html and javascript experience is no longer a lead in to any programming position.

This is where I make a shout out to my slashdotter step-brothers and sisters regarding free software tools and training. There is no such thing as an expert programmer jack of all languages, it is in fact impossible to be both a MS guru and a JAVA etc. guru unless you are a masochist. So if you are up for it the first thing that you need to do is try each technology and make a choice. I cannot speak to the free JAVA and other opensource enterprise tools available but recommend searching Slashdot for free opensource development tools.

As far as a guaranteed Microsoft route to programming employment, and this is just my humble opinion, go immediately to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/default.aspx and download Visual C# 2010 Express. If you are as familiar with javascript as you say it will not be that confusing. Watch and read every single possible tutorial, lab, video or anything else you can get your hands on and code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code until your forearms hurt. If your brain hasn't fried and you still want more than go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/rampup/default and not to repeat myself but, Watch and read every single possible tutorial, lab, video or anything else you can get your hands on and code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code until your forearms hurt.

Now for the fun part, summer vacation. If you like me found that experience only slightly less satisfying than sex - keep in mind I've been married for twenty-five years - you are ready for the next step. From scratch create a Asp.NET / C# n-tier E-Commerce web site that includes all the bells and whistles including plug-ins from USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex and any other you would like.

Now for the part that will guarantee you a job after graduation, Pro Bono. There is someone that you or your parents know that are cheaper than my father (don't get me started, he would buy two-ply toilet paper and take the time to separate it into different rolls) and offer to build them an E-Commerce web site for free.

If you nail the site, you will suddenly be getting calls from a lot of people wanting you for side jobs. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to charge $15.00 / hour and remember to get letters of reference.

Hopefully by then end of the summer you have friends and family calling you left and right. But remember that you need to follow this simple rule:

Code, Code, Code, Code

Read, Read, Read, Read

Slashdot, Slashdot, Slashdot

On a final serious note. Don't dispair is you decide that we are all out of our freaking minds and this programming thing is like bamboo shoots up your fingernails. You have to be a special kind of (I still can't think of a word after thirty years) to be a programming guru of any technology.

I wish you the best and recommend that any slashdotter, anonymous coward or otherwise, forward this email to every school age person that they know.

I'm going to go and give my wife a big, wet, sloppy kiss on the mouth and get back to programming.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

My son is twelve and I've already started him programming, but I've been beating my head against the wall trying to get the local school board to introduce programming as an elective or at the very least as an after school club. The good news is that you still have a much better head start than anyone graduating with a CS degree. The bad news is that, with an apology to html / javascript developers, having even advanced html and javascript experience is no longer a lead in to any programming position.

This is where I make a shout out to my slashdotter step-brothers and sisters regarding free software tools and training. There is no such thing as an expert programmer jack of all languages, it is in fact impossible to be both a MS guru and a JAVA etc. guru unless you are a masochist. So if you are up for it the first thing that you need to do is try each technology and make a choice. I cannot speak to the free JAVA and other opensource enterprise tools available but recommend searching Slashdot for free opensource development tools.

As far as a guaranteed Microsoft route to programming employment, and this is just my humble opinion, go immediately to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/default.aspx and download Visual C# 2010 Express. If you are as familiar with javascript as you say it will not be that confusing. Watch and read every single possible tutorial, lab, video or anything else you can get your hands on and code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code until your forearms hurt. If your brain hasn't fried and you still want more than go to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/rampup/default and not to repeat myself but, Watch and read every single possible tutorial, lab, video or anything else you can get your hands on and code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code, code until your forearms hurt.

Now for the fun part, summer vacation. If you like me found that experience only slightly less satisfying than sex - keep in mind I've been married for twenty-five years - you are ready for the next step. From scratch create a Asp.NET / C# n-tier E-Commerce web site that includes all the bells and whistles including plug-ins from USPS, UPS, Fed-Ex and any other you would like.

Now for the part that will guarantee you a job after graduation, Pro Bono. There is someone that you or your parents know that are cheaper than my father (don't get me started, he would buy two-ply toilet paper and take the time to separate it into different rolls) and offer to build them an E-Commerce web site for free.

If you nail the site, you will suddenly be getting calls from a lot of people wanting you for side jobs. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to charge $15.00 / hour and remember to get letters of reference.

Hopefully by then end of the summer you have friends and family calling you left and right. But remember that you need to follow this simple rule:

Code, Code, Code, Code

Read, Read, Read, Read

Slashdot, Slashdot, Slashdot

On a final serious note. Don't dispair is you decide that we are all out of our freaking minds and this programming thing is like bamboo shoots up your fingernails. You have to be a special kind of (I still can't think of a word after thirty years) to be a programming guru of any technology.

I wish you the best and recommend that any slashdotter, anonymous coward or otherwise, forward this email to every school age person that they know.

I'm going to go and give my wife a big, wet, sloppy kiss on the mouth and get back to programming.

The first is that non-technical users simply don't understand the concept of right or left clicking, and adding buttons that can be clicked just confuses.

I'd phrase that as "less sophisticated users"; I suspect many of the more sophisticated users who are "non-technical" understand context menus.

There's also a menu up top already with all the same things and more... when should I use which?

Use the menu button if 1) the thing you want to do is, or might be, on the context menu and 2) you don't want to have to move the mouse to get a menu.

The second reason is that Apple selling a single-button mouse (not sure if they still do though)

That depends on what you call a "button"; the only mouse I see is the Magic Mouse.

forces UI designers to make their products single-button navigable.

No, because Command+Click pops up a contextual menu, just as right-click does in several other GUIs. Yes, they say "Always ensure that contextual menu items are also available as menu commands. A contextual menu is hidden by default and a user might not know it exists, so it should never be the only way to access a command. In particular, you should not use a contextual menu as the only way to access an advanced or power-user feature.", which I agree with - on any GUI, even those used on systems with multi-button mice. The GNOME people agree with that ("Since the user may not be aware of their presence, do not provide functions that are only accessible from popup menus unless you are confident that your target users will know how to use popup menus."), and so does Microsoft ("Don't make commands only available through context menus. Like shortcut keys, context menus are alternative means of performing commands and choosing options. For example, a Properties command is also available through the menu bar or the Alt+Enter access key.").

The link at the end of the video is to the Microsoft Research website, where they explain most of what you see in the video. The 'bubbles' talked about in TFS don't appear there though.

Not sure when it happened, but it was in the XP era.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/russel_02may13.mspx

I believe it also depends on the error, some more critical ones still seem to halt on the blue screen (perhaps because the machine is in a state that it can't even reboot in software). My Windows 7 desktop has done both on me (in fact I could blue screen it on demand with LogMeIn at one point, think an update fixed that).

You cannot buy a pristine new windows laptop at this time. Only offered by Apple. Everything else is stuffed with bloatware by the manufacturer.

Yes, you can. Microsoft, in trying to improve the image of the PC, now sells Signature laptops on their online store.

Sure, some of the installed software could be classified as "Crapware" (e.g. Zune) but most of it is useful (Windows Live Essentials, Acrobat Reader), and some of the software is among the best in it's class (Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Media Center).

You know exactly what you are getting, and it's a whole lot better than your average Windows laptop load-out. And yeah, you pay more (the sale right now knocks $150 off - regular prices are usually $50-100 more than other online stores). But you pay EVEN MORE to get the same star treatment from Apple, so you can hardly call them "overpriced."

Using a microstrip split-ring resonator to ionize a small volume of air to create a plasma of course!

Microsoft Signature. (filter busting text)

Since this is an Intel standard (albeit sponsored and pushed by Apple) it doesn't come with the restrictions that Apple would have placed on it if it were their own standard.

This is complete and total bullshit. Apple has promoted open standards FOR YEARS. Webkit? Apple's (yes I know it was built off of khtml). CUPS? Apple owns and maintains it. HTML5 vs. flash? Apple supports the open standard. Firewire? Apple was one of the few major players to support it. USB? Apple helped drive the wide-spread adoption of USB by forcing its use with the imacs.

The bottom line is that if you think Apple doesn't support open standards, you're either a troll or badly misinformed. It could be you're thinking of another major industry player who likes to buy off standards committees.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb975643.aspx

... just goes to show the abysmally sup-optimal implementations of javascript we've been living with for the past decade or so.

Chrome was already way faster than anything else (particularly upon first chrome release, it was like 10x faster than IE i thought?).

Actually IE9RC is faster than Chrome 9 and Opera 11 on Sunspider (a test independent of both). I haven't seen if Chrome have caught up again with 10/11 though. Link. I know this is a ms link, but this was veryfied by reviewers when it launched (and can be verified by anyone themselves).

I don't know of any other exchange that uses Windows as trading platform.

I do.

WP7 only runs on ARM, so Intel doesn't have a lot to lose in saying Android would have been a better bet.

Android is also currently ARM only, but by basing it on the Dalvik VM, Google are at least ensuring that all existing (non-native) apps could run on future Android phones utilizing a different processor.

You mean like: "The Microsoft .NET Compact Framework is a hardware-independent environment that supports building and running managed applications on resource-constrained computing devices." ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa497273 ).

I want a device that I can point to a screen and make the slides disappear

But then how do you play Farmville?

Funny off-topic. But on a similar vein, I've been trying to find a Microsoft tag (colorful triangle-barcodes) decoder, and it is a web-enabled-smartphone-only commodity.

Windows didn't get the decoder, and our perfectly good digital cameras go unused for "encoded" hyperlinks advertised on local newspapers. Heck, the MS page shows a train station advertising schedules and they assume even New York tourists in that lower-Manhattan area must have access to expensive phones with data plans. What gives?