I have one of the Gateway 6971 all-in-ones. I paid the $15 or whatever to get the Windows 8 upgrade. My computer before this one was a 24 inch iMac I'd had for 5 years. I have to say that I don't regret the change at all. When it comes to reading a website, I'm more likely to reach up and scroll than even use the scroll wheel on the mouse. When I'm playing music or watching videos, I don't have to be sitting at my computer desk. All I have to be able to do is touch the screen. The article is right. It complements the mouse and keyboard and allows for more relaxed use of the computer.

There are several reasons why I've chosen proprietary in the past over open source. There are reasons why I'm running Mac OS X instead of Linux, and why I use the Gimp instead of Photoshop.

First, the price of the software has something to do with it. I can't see spending $100 or more on a piece of software unless it's the OS itself. This is a what I do when I'm not at work, not a paying job. So, if it's a question between a free Gimp, where things are often hard to do, some features are missing, etc. and hundreds for Photoshop, there is no question. I go with free because proprietary isn't affordable.

But, if it's the choice of a sub-$100 program and open source, there are several factors:

1. Does the software have the features I'm looking for RIGHT NOW?

I'm not talking about developers talking about adding the features. I'm not talking about poorly implemented features that they promise to get working well in the future. Can the software do what I want it to do right now? If the proprietary version I'm trying to communicate with is using a protocol and your software is using an outdated/works sometimes or with interaction on their behalf protocol....are you really an option?

2. How does the software LOOK?

Sit down and look at open source vs. proprietary solutions sometimes. Open source software often looks like a flashback to the 80s, while the proprietary is clean, crisp and beautiful. Fonts and UI add to your everyday enjoyment.

3. How easy is it to use vs. proprietary?

I don't want to learn a special scripting language to use a piece of software. I don't want to go through 10 steps to accomplish what I can in one with the proprietary solution. I don't want to have to google and then edit text files to accomplish what reading a prompt and clicking or checkmarking cïan do in a proprietary solution.

These things are all worth money to me. As long as they are, there will be cases where I chose proprietary over open source. I'm not a long bearded, hawaiian shirt wearing activist screaming "Free as in beer". I'm a person who uses his computer to do things and enjoy himself. The easier it is to do those things and the more pleasurable the experience, the more I enjoy myself.

Pshhhh haven't you heard? Gravity is just a theory....

There's something about children which seems to turn people's brains off, allowing them to both spout and believe unbelievably stupid statements without recognizing them as such. Must be some kind of hormonal thing.

Actually, I think there is something about people who have never had children thinking that they know it all and are great fonts of wisdom. Then, they get a kid and realize that they don't know jack...or they choose not to vaccinate their kids. I see why you're so defensive..

Unless you happen to be a medical expert of sufficient calibre to run the experiments yourself, you rely on others to supply you accurate knowledge about the subject.

Yes, but if you decide People Magazine, the internet, or whatever is more trustworthy than your pediatrician, you are not responsible enough to have kids - at the very least, you need to change pediatricians.

This isn't a case of people not knowing, this is a case of people making a choice: they choose not to vaccinate their children. They risk their children's lives because of something they've read on the net or wherever else instead of listening to the advice of practically any pediatrician they come into contact with. Again, these people should have their children taken away from them.

When it comes to something that may seriously harm your child, whether it be vaccines or the illnesses the vaccines prevent against, it is your responsibility as a parent to not go off half-cocked and to make extremely sure that you have all the facts before you make a decision regarding the welfare of your child. If you're not up to that responsibility, then you shouldn't have custody of your kids. Plain and simple.

*Father*