Naturally, I agree completely. However, one article is not proof of "any and all articles since the beginning of the year" as the GP claimed. It has no doubt happened several times this year which we will probably never know about, but to dismiss every pro-Microsoft article out-of-hand just because they say Android isn't technically mature enough yet is either naive or unfairly biased.

Slashdot needs a "-1 Citation Needed" option.

You're not alone...

They've been saying this for several years now. "'X' driver support is getting better everyday!" "'Y' new distro will solve device compatibility issues!" "'Z' developer will have perfect Windows API integration and then the average user won't notice the difference!"

Puh-lease. Mod me what you like but the fact remains that, while there have been some damn good advances towards this state, "much longer" is not a quantifiable term. The linux zealots out there are predicting The Year of the Linux Desktop but are they really doing anything to make it happen? The Users' Home is the place of the Linux Desktop and Ubuntu is the most notable distro behind the movement, but they're not going to do it alone. It needs to be a global and unified effort across the entire linux community, and this is the biggest challenge facing them against the public Windows opinion.

Businesses are a good start because if they can get Windwos-equivalent software -- not "Windows-only-just-good-enough-for-most-users" software -- on their employees workstations then the home will follow naturally.

Well they weren't testing the network latency itself. They were testing the effects of additional latency and how much of an impact it had on users' habits (in other words, it wasn't based on the users' experience). From the results I would assume they've discovered a "magic number - or at least a number range - of latency", so-to-speak; the fine balance between users' patience and not affecting their habits...

They didn't do the experiment to find that out. They're only talking about what it's like (you even quoted it).

I understand you're being funny (and it's great you got +5 for it) but it also shows that you don't really know what their accreditation means. As a previous Telstra Dealer, I can tell you it's a little more complicated than that.

Before I left the dealership I was working for, Telstra had instroduced a new system that aimed to correct gaps in knowledge people often found when talking to multiple people and to ensure correct information was given. The result is a website where all staff and dealers need to complete training scenarios to receive accreditation for the course they are undertaking. Whether that be ISDN, Satellite, Next G, home or business phone lines, retail practices, workplace health and safety, how-to's on using certain system software and interfaces (like connecting phone and mobile services, applying for relocations, etc), or legal requirements.

While it's a terrible Java app, it does serve its purpose which is to educate. For example, all dealers needed to complete their Next G accreditation by April of 2008 (to coincide with the CDMA shutdown) to make sure they have the appropriate knowledge of the network and its capabilities, the handsets, and what they need to tell the customer. Aside from the cheesy scenarios and crappy Java app, it was very thorough and provided a good unified platform for most training needs.

It's not a command prompt, it's a search field (directly in the start menu, no less). I'm reasonably sure you can't fuck up a system using a search field like you can with a command prompt...

Packages. Not programs.

You know you can activate Windows on the internet now? All it takes is to click "Activate Windows..."

I've had to call Microsoft once regarding my legit key for XP x64. It took me 3min to use the phone menus, punch in the code that Windows gave me and type in the code that MS gave me. Simple and I would say it's one of the least stressful actions I've had with computers...

Why did you choose to install those program first? Methinks you're installing those just to avoid installing an anti-virus. If it's a clean install of Windows you already know there's no spyware so the scanners are pointless. The first programs I install are Firefox and NOD32. Always. This does not take more than 5min (hell, my anti-virus doesn't even need to restart after installation anymore).

But 42 is 6 x 7...

What counts as a "substantial portion?" 33%? >50%?
I may be able to seed an entire file but I can still get 1:1 ratio by only sending a certain block of data, which could be as little as 10% of the entirety. This is akin to the previously mentioned book analogy. Handing out a single letter (even groups of 3 or 4 letters) doesn't infringe on a full book and can in no way be considered a "substantial portion."

Correct, the original batch was around 30%, but they're impossible to buy now so the figure is out-of-date.

Hosestly, I don't know if anyone has actually bothered looking for the real failure rate rather than jumping on the /. Bash Microsoft Bandwagon. What do you suppose it is? /. would probably have you believe it's anywhere upwards of 30 or 40%. If you went to the retailers they'd tell you it's between 15 and 20%. Which is still bloody high, but 1 in 6? I like those odds. Especially when they now have a 3 fucking year warranty. (see I can emphasize phrases with cuss words too!)

Call me a fanboi if you must, I have yet to see a problem. I've bought two Xbox 360 consoles - one original from 2007, the other from 2008. Neither one has ever RROD, crashed, over-heated, read error, scratched disc, or E74'd.