Anyway, once I get my Oculus Rift I won't need that big TV. It's easier to play in a room by myself because then nobody can see me making funny faces and sticking my tongue out with drool on my chin while I'm running and jumping through Steelport in nothing but a tattoos, a cowboy hat and high heels.
And made renewals and all sorts of other things a bit pain in the backside...
Not really, not if you use Google Wallet or PayPal. Payment is still coming from the same processor, you just have to be sure that a card with sufficient funds is loaded and selected as the primary payment method (got burned by that once) before the renewal date, and you should be good:)
I won't use anything but gift cards for micro-purchases like Apps and stuff. Google has enough info on me, no way they're getting a live CC number too...
If he was then his registrar could lookup when the account was last changed, what the previous data was, and what to revert it back to.
Oh wow, so you're saying that maybe this whole story is actually just a massive social engineering attempt by Hiroshima to hijack the @N Twitter handle???
The last 4 digits of your credit cards are every bit as public as your date of birth, street address, phone number, mother's maiden name, etc.
Fun fact: when a company asks you for your mother's maiden name as a security question, you don't have to actually use your mother's maiden name...throws these type of 'social engineering' jerks all for a loop:)
Really, you think it makes Americans sound stupid when we prefer to use and read the units that are familiar to us? A simple conversion by one editor would mean that thousands of readers wouldn't need to.
Hang on, I'm still busy calculating how many inches are in 5.5 miles...
Perhaps 'teh amurrikan way' is not always the best way?
Actually, it can be quite revealing to make studies about the obvious. Obvious means that we can easily come up with a good narrative about what we see and what we should expect, but that narrative does not necessarily connect somehow to what really happens. The often cited example is that of Newton's apple, where it is obvious that it's the Earth pulling down the apple, but it's not what really happens.
So yes: Study the obvious thoroughly, and you pretty soon lose any idea about "obviousness".
Also, fun fact, say the word "obvious" enough times and it starts to lose all sense of meaning, it just turns into a bunch of sounds...actually, that works with pretty much any word. Works better with multi-syllable words, though:)
*sigh*, apparently humour needs to be explicitly spelled out for the average/. mod these days...ok, ok, it was a pretty lame attempt at a joke, but stilll...
Maybe we need a </joke> tag, to go with the </sarcasm> tag?
for $15/mo I would pay but I want EVERYTHING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. For Decades.
they won't give me that. They'll drop some shows, they'll only last for a while. they'll block it in Canada offer different choices in Europe. It won't work in Trinidad. And without all that I'm not paying.
And that's why the best way to combat torrents is to join them.
If they offered their own competing torrents for clean, guaranteed-quality, DRM-free digital copies at a nominal charge, well, people would be all over that. I haven't checked lately, but last I heard Apple was doing pretty well with their TV show revenues, and that's for a DRM-riddled file that only works on their proprietary platforms...imagine how many more people would be interested in getting a copy that they could play on whatever they like? Could give to their friends if they wanted? Could re-size and re-format for any device, now and inthe future? Not *everyone* is on the Apple ecosystem, much as they would like them to be, and while we know they love their walled garden, letting the music escape to the outside world didn't seem to hurt them much...
No, the production companies should focus on making their content as accessible as possible, as easy as possible, for a minimal charge. If it's accessible, convenient and inexpensive enough, I predict that user buy-in would be epic.
What I can't figure out is why they're not offering two downloadable, DRM-free versions of their content: one that's free-as-in-beer but contains ads, much like peole get from their cable subscriptions now, and a second 'premium' version that is ad-free for a nominal charge. Make both versions easy to access via a hosted torrent site, with value-added tools such as offering the ability to track new episodes of favourite programs, or notify / auto download when available for upcoming titles. Not only would the end-user love it, the distributors could track the popularity of shows/movies even before they're released and negotiate ad revenues accordingly.
Sure, the premium version will get shared around somewhat, but at least the average Joe has a place where they can go to directly support shows/movies they like, and in the end they have a useful commodity that they can actually say they own: can back up as often as they like, play on any device, can alter it if needed / desired, or can lend to a friend or family member without hassle. I would pay for such an unencumbered file in a heartbeat, if it were reasonably priced (say a buck or two for an episode, up to $5 for a movie...approximately $2 per hour of entertainment sounds about right), and I'd use the free ad-supported versions to review new shows and see if I'd like them...I would easily spend over $15 a month just on the shows I like now:)
The proposed streaming model is great...if your customer has access to reliable, unlimited broadband wherever they might want to watch your content, and is willing to only watch the content on devices that work with your particular streaming protocol. Thing is, with people getting more and more tech savvy, even the theoretical average Joe is starting to realize that they don't have to put up with that crap if they don't want to...
Americans are now wholly incapable of thinking for themselves. Instead of insisting that airlines provide the service they want, and voting with their money, they want to tell the government to force everyone to go along with those who shout the loudest. If there's no safety issue with cell phones, is it even the government's business? Most airlines will ban phone usage, except perhaps in business class or wherever else warranted. Some won't, and for those who can't cut the (totally nonexistent) cord they'll choose those airlines.
I find it hypocritical that anyone who believes in personal liberties should support the government regulating behavior they find annoying.
And besides, I'd much rather them talking on their phone than trying to talk to me. At least then I can put in my headphones and ignore them with a clear conscience, instead of feeling that I have to be polite and at least pretend to listen to their stories...there's one on every plane, and they always sit beside me for some reason.
It's too bad they're discontinued, because it looks like a Boxee Box was exactly what you were looking for...I know I loved ours, and recommended them to many other people a couple of years ago, mostly my less-than-technologically-inclined friends. We don't use it as much anymore because we moved to Plex* and a native TV client in our main viewing area instead (wanted one remote control, instead of one for everything-but-the-Boxee, then one for the Boxee), but when we needed it, Boxee was awesome...
AFAIK ours still works, but I haven't watched new content on it for so long, I don't know how well it would handle it. Suppose I should check that someday...
*Note: We haven't had any issues with Plex not reading certain files or any file formats, but we're running it from a Windoze server hiding in the basement, and viewing it on a Plex app installed on a Samsung Smart TV, so that may be why our experience was better than yours...might it be worth it to get a Win7 seat and try Plex from there instead? It won't help much with the music, unfortunately, because the Plex music interface sucks donkey arse, but for video it's pretty kickass. Subtitle and audio channel controls are available from the TV remote in the Samsung client, they're just not very intuitive...or well documented.
you just try to find a ladies size 5 in triple E width!
You just try asking to try a pair on in the store when you're a dude. The looks I- someone'd probably get. Hypothetically.
Yes, I'd imagine:) Probably worse than the looks I get when I'm asking to try on men's shoes "but do you have that in a size four??"
They never have it in a size four...so then I get the suspicious looks for browsing in the childrens section without an actual child with me, kind of like walking into a Chuck-E Cheese sans kid and wearing a trenchcoat...
Wow, one potentially HUGE market for these things could be the supply of shoes especially built for your feet...imagine, take a scan of your feet (or they do it in the store), email it to the supplier, pick out the style you want, and 4-8 weeks later they arrive in the mail...no more having to compromise, or having to try on endless streams of shoes in person to find one or possibly two pairs that fit 'good enough' to not actually cripple you...
(as you may be able to tell, I have extremely non-standard-sized feet, so finding shoes that actually fit is kind of a big deal...you just try to find a ladies size 5 in triple E width! then try to find one with comfortable support for very high arches and allowance for taller-than-average bridges...chances are it'll be a boy's sneaker or possibly some clunky boy's walking sandal...certainly nothing 'pretty'. *sigh*)
Blame government for your limited bandwidth choice, but don't go saying generically that corporations are not accountable.
Also it is VERY likely you have at least one wireless provider you could use, that offers at least the speeds you mentioned. And I'm not even talking cellular, which already meets those speeds in most major cities - and some people ARE switching to cellular because they are fed up with Comcast, further re-enforcing my point.
Just googled...there is one wireless provider in my area that *claims* to provide up to 5GB/s download (but only 512 u/l). So I suppose, technically, I have three options in the area, one of them wireless. Still, that's like saying "If you don't like taking the bus, just ride your bike and quit complaining." Yes, it'll get you there...eventually, and with much more effort on your part, and if everyone else who objected to the bus did the same, pretty soon the roads would be unusable in any case. As for using cellular data instead, well...it's clear you must not live in Canada.
And I didn't say corporations aren't accountable, what I am saying is that if the competition pool is sufficiently restricted, corporations will sometimes collude (directly or indirectly), usually to the detriment of their customers. Are you opposed to legislation that prevents price fixing? Sure, you can refuse to buy your milk at Target because they bumped it up to $100/gal, or they make you sign an EULA that says you can't drink it directly, you can only use it for baking or cooking, and then only with Robin Hood brand flour. But hey, you still need milk. If all the other stores in the area are doing the same thing, or decide to follow the leader, what are your options? Other than relocating, which is outside most people's capability, especially over something as small as milk...or broadband restrictions. I suppose you could try to raise your own cows...in the same vein, I suppose you could try becoming your own ISP, running your own cables, etc.
Now, net neutrality won't prevent price collusions, but at least it would provide some assurance that you can use the bandwidth you're paying for as you see fit. As it stands now, there's nothing requiring the providers to even tell you if they throttle any particular type of traffic or not. At least if it were explicitly listed in a T&C document, the consumer could make an informed choice before signing up and finding out that they can't access Netflix at anything but dialup speeds...but the Disney Channel comes through loud and clear.
There are thousands of corporations, and not a single one of them is accountable to the public.
All of them are. If they do something the government dislikes, the public stops using them.
Witness the latest Target breach. Millions stopped shopping there and Target was (rightfully) forced to take numerous steps to draw people back in.
A grocery store near where I lived stopped carrying a lot of things I liked to buy. So I stopped shopping there.
Basically any company that has customers, is accountable and will self-regulate based on customer feedback.
There are probably at least 5 places to buy milk relatively near your house (unless you live in a very small town).
How many places can you buy your bandwidth from? I have two, count 'em two options for high-speed in my area (and by high-speed I'm talking at least 5MB/s down, 1 MB/s up). Many people are in the same boat, or worse. If I don't like one providers' policies or prices, sure I can switch to the only other game in town...so long as I agree with all of their policies and prices. And down the road when they change things to be more 'competitive', well then I can just...go crawling back to the first provider?
It's like the myth of bi-partisanship inthe US: you may have the illusion of choice, but they're really just the same boobs painted slightly different colours...
The nanotechnology that the Boston doctors intend to use for their improved condoms will be superhydrophillic nanoparticles that coat the condom and trap water to make them more resilient and easier to use.
Umm...am I the only one that envisioned an instant Slim Jim after putting one of these puppies on?
Also, if these things are 'trapping water', won't they, erm, 'swell' with use? Where does the trapped water go?
"Mmmm...leathery...and yet strangely rubbery at the same time!"
I fear you're right but hope you're wrong. My laptop is about 5 years old and I've used it heavily (I wrote Nobots on it, see my sig if you're curious) and have been shopping for a replacement. But all the new ones are either Chrome, W8, or Apple. Apple would be acceptable if they weren't so expensive, but I don't trust Google any more and W8 is an unusable clusterfuck.
And the guy at the store said installing Linux on one (he had Chrome and Windows) would void the warrantee. Screw that, if it has a factory hardware defect that isn't readily apparent I'm screwed.
So I really hope you're wrong and Microsoft pulls its head out of its ass. I do NOT want a phone' interface on my computer and I don't want a computer interface on my phone.
I've been using a Win8 laptop with Classic Shell for a little over a year now, with surprisingly few complaints. The only time I see that POS Metro interface is (maybe) a brief flash while booting up, then it switches to desktop and I never leave that interface (with a full Start menu). Had to re-assign all my default startup programs, but I basically do that anyways with every new machine (who actually uses MS Photo Viewer, even the desktop version? ick!) Some areas are very nice in comparison: I find that Task Manager is much more intuitive, and the new file copy dialog is nice...
I'm not saying that you should run out and buy a Win8 laptop right now, but if your workhorse dies on you, you need a replacement ASAP, and all you can get is a Win8 one, well, there are ways to make it behave less bitchy...
I think people at MS realized this. I think management doesn't care. They are going to force the Metro UI on customers whether they like it or not as this is the only way they can think of catching up to Android and iOS.
Yeah, because scattering caltrops for your relay team is the best way to get ahead in the sprint division..."but look, they're shiny! Who doesn't like shiny?!?"
Do you believe that waiting for a traffic light to change when absolutely no one is around is wrong? If so, then go ahead. I know lots of people who do just that at desserted intersections.
Like what, covered in cherry pie and ice cream?? O.o
If the average person can handle alcohol (beer and wine sold all over) then why wouldn't that person be able to handle cannabis?
I suspect it's the lack of a quick and reliable roadside test for intoxication levels, such as the breathalyzer is for alcohol. If such a similar portable, quick, reliable, non-invasive method of detecting whether someone is high at this exact moment were to be developed, I think the last few objections to legalization would quickly crumble.
Alas, THC lingers in the bloodstream long after the intoxicating effects have faded, unlike alcohol.
Slashdot Mirror
Anyway, once I get my Oculus Rift I won't need that big TV. It's easier to play in a room by myself because then nobody can see me making funny faces and sticking my tongue out with drool on my chin while I'm running and jumping through Steelport in nothing but a tattoos, a cowboy hat and high heels.
Sure, but what will your character be wearing?? :p
"Cat Videos That Viral As Fast As A Llama Can Spit"
Enough with the inane, idiotic, punction-free parallels already! How many football fields is that, again? And where's my car analogy!?
What's more, there are some apparently void elements in the circuit, but still the circuit stops working when these elements are removed.
++?????++ Out of Cheese Error. Redo From Start.
And made renewals and all sorts of other things a bit pain in the backside...
Not really, not if you use Google Wallet or PayPal. Payment is still coming from the same processor, you just have to be sure that a card with sufficient funds is loaded and selected as the primary payment method (got burned by that once) before the renewal date, and you should be good :)
I won't use anything but gift cards for micro-purchases like Apps and stuff. Google has enough info on me, no way they're getting a live CC number too...
Maybe he never was the owner?
If he was then his registrar could lookup when the account was last changed, what the previous data was, and what to revert it back to.
Oh wow, so you're saying that maybe this whole story is actually just a massive social engineering attempt by Hiroshima to hijack the @N Twitter handle???
I...I think my brain just exploded...
The last 4 digits of your credit cards are every bit as public as your date of birth, street address, phone number, mother's maiden name, etc.
Fun fact: when a company asks you for your mother's maiden name as a security question, you don't have to actually use your mother's maiden name...throws these type of 'social engineering' jerks all for a loop :)
Really, you think it makes Americans sound stupid when we prefer to use and read the units that are familiar to us? A simple conversion by one editor would mean that thousands of readers wouldn't need to.
Hang on, I'm still busy calculating how many inches are in 5.5 miles...
Perhaps 'teh amurrikan way' is not always the best way?
Actually, it can be quite revealing to make studies about the obvious. Obvious means that we can easily come up with a good narrative about what we see and what we should expect, but that narrative does not necessarily connect somehow to what really happens. The often cited example is that of Newton's apple, where it is obvious that it's the Earth pulling down the apple, but it's not what really happens.
So yes: Study the obvious thoroughly, and you pretty soon lose any idea about "obviousness".
Also, fun fact, say the word "obvious" enough times and it starts to lose all sense of meaning, it just turns into a bunch of sounds...actually, that works with pretty much any word. Works better with multi-syllable words, though :)
...talk about a calculating bitch... :)
*sigh*, apparently humour needs to be explicitly spelled out for the average /. mod these days...ok, ok, it was a pretty lame attempt at a joke, but stilll...
Maybe we need a </joke> tag, to go with the </sarcasm> tag?
...talk about a calculating bitch... :)
for $15/mo I would pay but I want EVERYTHING. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. For Decades.
they won't give me that. They'll drop some shows, they'll only last for a while. they'll block it in Canada offer different choices in Europe. It won't work in Trinidad. And without all that I'm not paying.
And that's why the best way to combat torrents is to join them.
If they offered their own competing torrents for clean, guaranteed-quality, DRM-free digital copies at a nominal charge, well, people would be all over that. I haven't checked lately, but last I heard Apple was doing pretty well with their TV show revenues, and that's for a DRM-riddled file that only works on their proprietary platforms...imagine how many more people would be interested in getting a copy that they could play on whatever they like? Could give to their friends if they wanted? Could re-size and re-format for any device, now and inthe future? Not *everyone* is on the Apple ecosystem, much as they would like them to be, and while we know they love their walled garden, letting the music escape to the outside world didn't seem to hurt them much...
No, the production companies should focus on making their content as accessible as possible, as easy as possible, for a minimal charge. If it's accessible, convenient and inexpensive enough, I predict that user buy-in would be epic.
What I can't figure out is why they're not offering two downloadable, DRM-free versions of their content: one that's free-as-in-beer but contains ads, much like peole get from their cable subscriptions now, and a second 'premium' version that is ad-free for a nominal charge. Make both versions easy to access via a hosted torrent site, with value-added tools such as offering the ability to track new episodes of favourite programs, or notify / auto download when available for upcoming titles. Not only would the end-user love it, the distributors could track the popularity of shows/movies even before they're released and negotiate ad revenues accordingly.
Sure, the premium version will get shared around somewhat, but at least the average Joe has a place where they can go to directly support shows/movies they like, and in the end they have a useful commodity that they can actually say they own: can back up as often as they like, play on any device, can alter it if needed / desired, or can lend to a friend or family member without hassle. I would pay for such an unencumbered file in a heartbeat, if it were reasonably priced (say a buck or two for an episode, up to $5 for a movie...approximately $2 per hour of entertainment sounds about right), and I'd use the free ad-supported versions to review new shows and see if I'd like them...I would easily spend over $15 a month just on the shows I like now :)
The proposed streaming model is great...if your customer has access to reliable, unlimited broadband wherever they might want to watch your content, and is willing to only watch the content on devices that work with your particular streaming protocol. Thing is, with people getting more and more tech savvy, even the theoretical average Joe is starting to realize that they don't have to put up with that crap if they don't want to...
...is it green?
:) just because you can't hear it, doesn't mean that plants don't scream.
Haha, that line reminded me of this classic song.
Oh Arrogant Worms, you rock! :)
This is worse than apathy.
Americans are now wholly incapable of thinking for themselves. Instead of insisting that airlines provide the service they want, and voting with their money, they want to tell the government to force everyone to go along with those who shout the loudest. If there's no safety issue with cell phones, is it even the government's business? Most airlines will ban phone usage, except perhaps in business class or wherever else warranted. Some won't, and for those who can't cut the (totally nonexistent) cord they'll choose those airlines.
I find it hypocritical that anyone who believes in personal liberties should support the government regulating behavior they find annoying.
And besides, I'd much rather them talking on their phone than trying to talk to me. At least then I can put in my headphones and ignore them with a clear conscience, instead of feeling that I have to be polite and at least pretend to listen to their stories...there's one on every plane, and they always sit beside me for some reason.
It's too bad they're discontinued, because it looks like a Boxee Box was exactly what you were looking for...I know I loved ours, and recommended them to many other people a couple of years ago, mostly my less-than-technologically-inclined friends. We don't use it as much anymore because we moved to Plex* and a native TV client in our main viewing area instead (wanted one remote control, instead of one for everything-but-the-Boxee, then one for the Boxee), but when we needed it, Boxee was awesome...
AFAIK ours still works, but I haven't watched new content on it for so long, I don't know how well it would handle it. Suppose I should check that someday...
*Note: We haven't had any issues with Plex not reading certain files or any file formats, but we're running it from a Windoze server hiding in the basement, and viewing it on a Plex app installed on a Samsung Smart TV, so that may be why our experience was better than yours...might it be worth it to get a Win7 seat and try Plex from there instead? It won't help much with the music, unfortunately, because the Plex music interface sucks donkey arse, but for video it's pretty kickass. Subtitle and audio channel controls are available from the TV remote in the Samsung client, they're just not very intuitive...or well documented.
you just try to find a ladies size 5 in triple E width!
You just try asking to try a pair on in the store when you're a dude. The looks I- someone'd probably get. Hypothetically.
Yes, I'd imagine :) Probably worse than the looks I get when I'm asking to try on men's shoes "but do you have that in a size four??"
They never have it in a size four...so then I get the suspicious looks for browsing in the childrens section without an actual child with me, kind of like walking into a Chuck-E Cheese sans kid and wearing a trenchcoat...
Wow, one potentially HUGE market for these things could be the supply of shoes especially built for your feet...imagine, take a scan of your feet (or they do it in the store), email it to the supplier, pick out the style you want, and 4-8 weeks later they arrive in the mail...no more having to compromise, or having to try on endless streams of shoes in person to find one or possibly two pairs that fit 'good enough' to not actually cripple you...
(as you may be able to tell, I have extremely non-standard-sized feet, so finding shoes that actually fit is kind of a big deal...you just try to find a ladies size 5 in triple E width! then try to find one with comfortable support for very high arches and allowance for taller-than-average bridges...chances are it'll be a boy's sneaker or possibly some clunky boy's walking sandal...certainly nothing 'pretty'. *sigh*)
Blame government for your limited bandwidth choice, but don't go saying generically that corporations are not accountable.
Also it is VERY likely you have at least one wireless provider you could use, that offers at least the speeds you mentioned. And I'm not even talking cellular, which already meets those speeds in most major cities - and some people ARE switching to cellular because they are fed up with Comcast, further re-enforcing my point.
Just googled...there is one wireless provider in my area that *claims* to provide up to 5GB/s download (but only 512 u/l). So I suppose, technically, I have three options in the area, one of them wireless. Still, that's like saying "If you don't like taking the bus, just ride your bike and quit complaining." Yes, it'll get you there...eventually, and with much more effort on your part, and if everyone else who objected to the bus did the same, pretty soon the roads would be unusable in any case. As for using cellular data instead, well...it's clear you must not live in Canada.
And I didn't say corporations aren't accountable, what I am saying is that if the competition pool is sufficiently restricted, corporations will sometimes collude (directly or indirectly), usually to the detriment of their customers. Are you opposed to legislation that prevents price fixing? Sure, you can refuse to buy your milk at Target because they bumped it up to $100/gal, or they make you sign an EULA that says you can't drink it directly, you can only use it for baking or cooking, and then only with Robin Hood brand flour. But hey, you still need milk. If all the other stores in the area are doing the same thing, or decide to follow the leader, what are your options? Other than relocating, which is outside most people's capability, especially over something as small as milk...or broadband restrictions. I suppose you could try to raise your own cows...in the same vein, I suppose you could try becoming your own ISP, running your own cables, etc.
Now, net neutrality won't prevent price collusions, but at least it would provide some assurance that you can use the bandwidth you're paying for as you see fit. As it stands now, there's nothing requiring the providers to even tell you if they throttle any particular type of traffic or not. At least if it were explicitly listed in a T&C document, the consumer could make an informed choice before signing up and finding out that they can't access Netflix at anything but dialup speeds...but the Disney Channel comes through loud and clear.
There are thousands of corporations, and not a single one of them is accountable to the public.
All of them are. If they do something the government dislikes, the public stops using them.
Witness the latest Target breach. Millions stopped shopping there and Target was (rightfully) forced to take numerous steps to draw people back in.
A grocery store near where I lived stopped carrying a lot of things I liked to buy. So I stopped shopping there.
Basically any company that has customers, is accountable and will self-regulate based on customer feedback.
There are probably at least 5 places to buy milk relatively near your house (unless you live in a very small town).
How many places can you buy your bandwidth from? I have two, count 'em two options for high-speed in my area (and by high-speed I'm talking at least 5MB/s down, 1 MB/s up). Many people are in the same boat, or worse. If I don't like one providers' policies or prices, sure I can switch to the only other game in town...so long as I agree with all of their policies and prices. And down the road when they change things to be more 'competitive', well then I can just...go crawling back to the first provider?
It's like the myth of bi-partisanship inthe US: you may have the illusion of choice, but they're really just the same boobs painted slightly different colours...
The nanotechnology that the Boston doctors intend to use for their improved condoms will be superhydrophillic nanoparticles that coat the condom and trap water to make them more resilient and easier to use.
Umm...am I the only one that envisioned an instant Slim Jim after putting one of these puppies on?
Also, if these things are 'trapping water', won't they, erm, 'swell' with use? Where does the trapped water go?
"Mmmm...leathery...and yet strangely rubbery at the same time!"
I fear you're right but hope you're wrong. My laptop is about 5 years old and I've used it heavily (I wrote Nobots on it, see my sig if you're curious) and have been shopping for a replacement. But all the new ones are either Chrome, W8, or Apple. Apple would be acceptable if they weren't so expensive, but I don't trust Google any more and W8 is an unusable clusterfuck.
And the guy at the store said installing Linux on one (he had Chrome and Windows) would void the warrantee. Screw that, if it has a factory hardware defect that isn't readily apparent I'm screwed.
So I really hope you're wrong and Microsoft pulls its head out of its ass. I do NOT want a phone' interface on my computer and I don't want a computer interface on my phone.
It kind of bums me out a little.
Actually, Windows 8 isn't too skanky if you use the right protection.
I've been using a Win8 laptop with Classic Shell for a little over a year now, with surprisingly few complaints. The only time I see that POS Metro interface is (maybe) a brief flash while booting up, then it switches to desktop and I never leave that interface (with a full Start menu). Had to re-assign all my default startup programs, but I basically do that anyways with every new machine (who actually uses MS Photo Viewer, even the desktop version? ick!) Some areas are very nice in comparison: I find that Task Manager is much more intuitive, and the new file copy dialog is nice...
I'm not saying that you should run out and buy a Win8 laptop right now, but if your workhorse dies on you, you need a replacement ASAP, and all you can get is a Win8 one, well, there are ways to make it behave less bitchy...
I think people at MS realized this. I think management doesn't care. They are going to force the Metro UI on customers whether they like it or not as this is the only way they can think of catching up to Android and iOS.
Yeah, because scattering caltrops for your relay team is the best way to get ahead in the sprint division..."but look, they're shiny! Who doesn't like shiny?!?"
Do you believe that waiting for a traffic light to change when absolutely no one is around is wrong? If so, then go ahead. I know lots of people who do just that at desserted intersections.
Like what, covered in cherry pie and ice cream?? O.o
If the average person can handle alcohol (beer and wine sold all over) then why wouldn't that person be able to handle cannabis?
I suspect it's the lack of a quick and reliable roadside test for intoxication levels, such as the breathalyzer is for alcohol. If such a similar portable, quick, reliable, non-invasive method of detecting whether someone is high at this exact moment were to be developed, I think the last few objections to legalization would quickly crumble.
Alas, THC lingers in the bloodstream long after the intoxicating effects have faded, unlike alcohol.