After the initial shock, people go right back to doing whatever they were doing before and all is forgotten. Otherwise, we would have all watched Food, Inc or similar shows and quit eating meat because of the barbaric conditions and needless suffering of animals used in the food supply.

If people aren't willing to change because of a cheeseburger, they're not going to give a rat's ass -- and yep that's intentional -- when it comes to preventing the suffering of lab animals.

I agree it's one more thing. But in this case the Silverlight platform is usually the target of a "Patch Tuesday" exploit patch. I don't worry that a Netflix app will compromise my iPhone. I do worry that Silverlight will compromise my PC.

I had almost the opposite experience. My iPad, iPhone and Wii stream Netflix fine, but when I wanted to view it on my laptop, they wanted me to install Silverlight (no thanks). I thought it seemed stupid to require that.

Sounds like a great opportunity to discuss the issue at length with your kids. You may find that the XBox is just a prophylactic for some need that isn't fulfilled.

In place of an XBox, for instance, I bought a Wii. I know it's not a hardcore gamer platform, but my kids don't play violent games. They can do that when they're older if they want; I think my son started around 16 or so. He turned out fine and only hates me as much as any teenager should.

I get them iTunes gift cards and we build things together and cook and go outside and visit parks and cool local events, or go to the beach or the pool or the library and get movies and music and books. In other words -- in the middle of all the other stuff that's out there -- an XBox is such a very small thing. You'd never notice it's not there if you do everything else. YMMV and all that. I just think it's an imaginary duality.

The same way engineers do in every other industry on an everyday basis. I'm not defending that the process is overly convoluted or that I'm not a fan of it. But people have figured out how to do this and it's commonplace. New products arrive daily in every industry.

Quit giving excuses why you can't do something and just go do it... or sit back and complain and watch others show you how. The phrase "can't never could" comes to mind when I converse with you. Surely you're better than that.

Then use Android, or Windows phone, or I think Palm still has an OS you can develop for. There's nothing that states that Apple must make a programming environment for their hardware available to you on your terms.

If you truly don't understand what copying means regarding to patent law, you shouldn't be a part of this discussion. I think it's more likely you're a troll.

By all means, continue to sit around and bitch about it. That will certainly change things (eye roll).

"Can't" is just an excuse. I remember a quote about it: “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can't achieve it.” In the meantime, the rest of us will be doing well.

Don't be disingenious. People just learning should keep their apps out of the store, rather than me having to wade through them with the result that is the shitstorm of Windows apps. So much of the software there is terrible, and when it's not terrible it's malicious. Adware and unremovable software and Comet Cursors and TWC desktop and all the other shitty shitty apps -- you can keep it on Windows.

Visit your Wal-Mart's $10 PC games section, and let me know how that works out for you. And that's shit that someone actually had published and went to printing and manufacturing and all that. You seriously think letting Aunt Jane upload her app to the store is a good idea?

Perhaps when you've been programming as long as I have, your interpretation of this issue will change. It's my 33rd year since I started, and my 18th or 19th year doing it for a living. Don't pretend that allowing just anyone to upload an app to the store without any vetting results in a good app.

Hell, even Nintendo won't let you develop a game for them unless you've got serious processes in place. No doubt you're pissed about that also.

Speaking of "douche", wow, it must be your monthly.

Different people have different needs and different desires, and if I want to use a disposable keyboard with my laptop and throw it away when the keys get Cheetos in them and the letters worn off, that's my fucking prerogative. If I want to do that with my iPad, again it's my money, not yours.

Can you dig it?

Apple has sued companies that copied their product. So you can't copy it. The fact that there are dozens of different models available today from multiple vendors shows that it's possible. Or make your own. Nothing stopping you there.

Again, just don't copy Apple's product. Don't you think if you copied a BMW 300's design they would sue you? Duh. If you don't have something new to contribute then you don't have an invention, and you don't deserve to have a place in the market.

There's a TON of junk apps on both platforms. Windows is the worst for it. Thanks you bolstered my point.

Don't know about you, but I hardly ever use my laptop keyboard. I have the same keyboard at home and at work. I much prefer the full size keys, numeric keypad, more ergonomic layout, and I don't feel bad when I throw it away and buy another when it gets worn out. My laptop screen is at eye level which means fewer headaches.

So what? MSDN is how much? And surely if you're developing Windows apps professionally you have an MSDN subscription. And if you were a carpenter you'd pay for your hammer. So what? It's a lousy $100. If you can't afford it, you probably aren't selling any apps, which means you probably aren't doing a great job with your app.

If anything, I prefer a barrier to entry. Can you imagine how hard it would be to find apps if everyone was creating them?

If you're so upset about it, build your own. Make it do exactly what you want. Whatever.

It's like buying a white BMW for your kid and them getting whiny because it's not red. Grow up and quit bitching already.

It's actually more like saying, "buy a Bluetooth keyboard and it's practically identical to your desktop typing experience". If you're doing that much typing I can't imagine NOT having a dedicated keyboard.