Sadly I know of (because we have the bl**dy thing deployed) Windows applications that don't run with UAC switched on OR the user running as anything other than administrator... I know!

In fact, in the UK pretty much EVERY school administration system is setup this way - because the software demands it. On Windows 'legacy' is one of the greatest enemies of security. On Mac OS X there is very little legacy, "Classic" is long gone, and PowerPC isn't installed by default on Snow Leopard. Expect more of the same with Lion. It makes Mac OS X a bit more of a challenge (because in every release some legacy item or other goes away) but it does help security.

Why was this better than h.264 again?! Technically it isn't, it's worse. It was supposed to be all about patents...

Am I alone in thinking we're being lied to by Google?

Yep same here. The service has been at least as reliable as anything else I've used, and the speed is usually about what they claim. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it.

Now I've never had a problem with it that needed more than just a "cycle the power" style solution (and even that isn't required very often). So they've not given themselves a chance to screw up (you only really find out what a company is like when things do go wrong - if they "do the right thing" then well that's when it matters).

What a second! Don't you have to divide the price by the number of years to get the proper cost per year? So that gives me:

XP: £150 divided by 12.75 years gives 11.76 £ per year

Ubuntu: £0 divided by 5 years gives 0 £ per year

Redhat: £275 divided by 10 years gives 27.5 £ per year

Smallest cost wins right? Hence: Ubuntu.

The reason 3D *can** cause headaches seems to be because the 3D is fooling the brain into thinking the focus is should be shifted, when the focus is fixed. In "normal" 3D (what we normally perceive) if your gaze moves to an object at a different distance then your eye must refocus to view it. In "artificial 3D" the focus for the whole scene is fixed (it's at the display - even objects that appear further away have their focus at the display surface). This artificially "fixed focus" is at odds with what we normally view and causes headaches. I don't think this will cure that problem.

This is also why images on the new 3DS look "unnaturally clean" - everything is in focus all at once, regardless of depth. This should help, as it is an additional cue that the eye should not refocus. Additionally "dialling back" the 3D effect should also help.

Well, I think there is some truth in the "like a board game" aspect. Probably worth remembering that "Wii" is meant to be a play on "we" and the double "i" is meant to look like two players. So this "get it out when you have guests" is rather suggestive of Nintendo's original intent. With a lot of the Nintendo Wii games it seems pretty clear they were designed with multiple players in mind - not in the way Microsoft designed Xbox (or single players connected over the Internet).

Of course, there are Nintendo "classics" that are very "sit on your own" affairs, but hardcore gamers very rarely have only the Wii (almost never) most have the Wii AND Xbox360/PS3 (not often both, usually one or the other). In such a case it is REALLY unusual (almost never happens) for someone in that position to buy the Wii version of a game if it is also offered on XBox360 or PS3. For myself I can think of only one instance where I've done that, PES as it was quite different on the Wii due to the pointing controller.

I'm not sure I think the controller is "gimmicky" or at least not in the way I think you mean. For PES it changed the game utterly. For some games (Metroid: Other M) clearly there was a "gimmick", but it was unique to that game, so didn't need longevity (In Metroid the player normally views the action "third person" if you point the controller at the display then the view becomes "first person" - the player can attack in new ways, but cannot move; an interesting game mechanic to be sure). Then there are games the use the "Wii Zapper" again, a gimmick, but there aren't many that use it - so doesn't get a chance to feel stale.

One thing that is neglected is the Wii is very easy to develop for. But ports of games don't really do well - they tend to just look like rough versions with fewer features. The best Wii games are those designed for the Wii.

VirtualBox is free - though yeah, I use VMWare as that's what I tend to use on Linux (with Linux hosting - usually another Linux with a different config).

Windows?! Did you read what you're commenting on?

Nice stable host OS. Mostly because they came out of the same shed. It isn't magic or anything, but if they are designed by people who talk to each other they do work better. The Mac is the closest thing we have left to a Unix Workstation (and yes, that's so weird when you think about it).

Which is why you use a VM. You're not telling me ALL your servers are setup the same way are you? No different versions of ANYTHING?

Sounds like an idiot who can't setup a VM. I mean really: "I need to run Linux, whhaaa!!!!" - set up a VM, you utter muppet. What a total retard. And "emacs" OK fine, but does he not know about Coda?

Excellent advice, and exactly right. The makers of Dr Who expected that a large part of their audience would be in this camp - so it's written with that in mind. Plus hardly anyone likes Sylvester McCoy as Dr Who (I do, but I know I'm in a vanishing minority) so unless you want to watch that, then you're kinda starting here anyway. Also the DVD's from this time are really easy to get hold of.

And as the Man said, it's time travel, you can "jump back" if you wish. (Personally I'd want to see the Tom Baker, but that's my age talking...)

Do we have an ISBN for that? (or a link the Amazon's page?)

Ta :-)

I think the spoiler was when Han didn't shoot first...

I dunno, if you're being crowded by characters in the pub I think it only makes sense to hit the space beer...

(Sorry... I thought it was funny. It should be noted I was insert mode when I thought of that joke [sorry, I stop now before I need braces {sorry - I'm done now}])

The thing is Apple buyers do spend more on their kit than PC buyers (there is variation - I'm talking "on average"). So if you're making some pricey device you are likely to find that a disproportionate number of your customers are Mac owners. Now if you're going to tell me that you won't see devices with ONLY a Thunderbolt port - I'd agree with you. There are plenty of peripheral makers who make most of their money from Apple owners (LaCie spring to mind).

Plus this is a rumour, it may not be true. I actually don't see why it would be true - there is no real benefit to Apple in it being exclusive.