I've never understood this argument. I'm much more distracted by trying to have meaningful conversation in real time then I am reading or writing a one line txt message. I can read it when I have a moment, think about it when I have a moment, think of a reply when I have a moment, then type it when I have a moment. No moments, no worries, it can wait. I can not do that in a real time live conversation.

Because whenever I ask a passenger to answer my phone they feel I'm being lazy and rude by pushing them to handle something they feel I should be able to do, because, you know, "everyone else does it and doesn't have a problem."

I just don't telephone in the car anyway. To help with this I've taken to only buying rag-tops. It only takes 20 seconds on the phone before the other person realizes that when I reject her call I'm actually trying to NOT be rude.

It's a dongle, not a cable.

barest UNIX underpinnings? non-UNIXy elements? you obviously have no idea what the hell your talking about. UNIX is a base standard. Your OS must meet certain POSIX guidelines and requirements. You can add whatever you want on top on it, but you can't miss anything. This isn't LINUX we are talking about, this is a true certified UNIX.

If you are trying argue the "Just Works" thing you again, obviously have no idea what your talking about. You take a new Apple out of the box, install any office suite, and you have a computer that is ready for 98% of the things someone would use a computer for.

Apple hardware has actually been around the top of ratings by consumerist groups for at lest the last 10 years I've been paying attention.

That is exactly correct. That and a company that actually stands behind their product.

This just in, if you live in the middle of no where, with no modern infrastructure, you have to figure out how to do things a little different then those that live in densely populated area with high developed utilities. This includes having a septic tank, and having that pumped regularly, long drives to get groceries, limited choice of local retail shopping at big brand stores, having well-water instead of city water, poor roads, and crappy/limited internet access. These deficiencies are part of the choice to live in the boonies. There are plenty of positives, too, of course, but those are out-side the scoop of this conversation.

Yes, because if a company doesn't give you a disk when you upgrade, (even thought you get unlimited re-downloads of the full version of the software anytime you need it, and some of their current offering don't have optical drivers,) then you should go immediately run out and buy from a competitor that doesn't give media at all, and hasn't done so for 10 years.

Look, someone ready to to do the work to replace the HD on a Mac can be safely assumed to have means to replace the OS.

It's a standard. Newer hard drives all have that sensor built-in.

Your a wrong. The newer iMac use a newer sata STANDARD which has a thermal sensor built-in. You can use any drive with one built-in, or get an adapter.

Also, Apple doesn't sell internal HDs at retail.

Usually, you upgrade a Mac the same way you upgrade your car.

Either you watch to much Fast and Furious, have the right tools, know what your doing (atlest you sort-of think you do,) and you don't mind making a Frankenstein with no resale value.

OR

You sell yours on Creig's list and buy another one

I think that sentence says more about you then the people your trying to insult.

But be reasonable, everyone already has their own watchs, there is no real reason you'd need to share. You would need iTunes to activate the watch the first time, but it would just auto magically discover the time, and when to wake you up in the morning on it's own. Yes, the initial purchase would be a little more then an arguably comparable watch, but the iWatch would have both a longer useful life, and hold a resale value not found with other brands. Of course the brand would pay a license to whatever body required by US federal law.

Come on... we are talking about watches. REAL time pieces don't have batteries.

I've had an iPhone since release day. Not counting repairs for iPhone I'd dropped, I've spent a total sum of $80, when the new version come out I'll easily sell the iPhone4 for more then the new one cost, (under contract.)

  $600 original purchase
  ($200) gift card
  $400 sold original iPhone
  $300 iPhone 3G
  ($400) sold iPhone
  $300 iPhone 3Gs
  ($420) sold iPhone
  $300 iPhone 4

75 apps really isn't. there are 16 apps on each page. If you don't use folders that is 4 and half pages. Most iPhone users I know have that or more. Granted, MANY apps are one-hitters.

15b unique downloads. updates and re-downloading something you already bought is not counted. However, free apps ARE counted. I'd estimate between 3b and 4b paid downloads.