I got two windows vpses (one 2003 one 2008) for a specific project from burst.net, and they still have problems. Almost daily blue screens on both, even though these servers don't do much (not publicly advertised, just a step between development and deployment, and all access is password protected). Support was quick to respond with some vague wording that the node had to be rebooted, but couldn't give an explanation more than that. When this project finishes we are cancelling and never using them again.

Sounds like your grid is too small to have solar on it: not enough load to keep it within limits; lowering the voltage could cause brown-outs during the peak times. My solar feeds the grid all day and so does my neighbour's: his feeds so much he actually ends up with a credit bill every quarter!

I have heard this story on Whirlpool a few times, starting here. (Links to other threads)

I wouldn't want to be handling 380V with screw terminals and spade connectors!

Reminds me of a place where I used to work (pre-2005): each store had an ADSL modem and ethernet router, same brand. Same connector for the DC power supply. Opposite polarities. So if they were ever unplugged at the same time there was a 50% chance of letting the magic smoke out, which did happen.

Since when is a corridor a grid?

... and keeping me up with its barking ... and mauling my children

Sometimes Windows is a rabid pit bull, causing massive issues outside its circle.

But then just like any dog can bite, and OS can cause massive issues!

Interestingly the Dell 13" version of your example is the same price, with lesser specs (notably, i3).

But AFAIK the Inspiron is Dell's "cheap" brand. Apple don't do cheap. So you might be better off comparing with Alienware or Latitude. Both of which cost more than a similar spec MBP.

Apple (and most companies) do rip off us Aussies, but remember that in the USA prices are advertised without tax, so you have to add 10% GST. Still higher, but not the full $200. One thing that really annoys me is they charge us more money to "service us", but don't make changes to actually service us, like spelling in the autocorrect. When the iPad first came out it was actually cheaper here than in the States!

I still think Woolworth's logo looks more like a watermellon than an apple! It's a stylised "W"! If they'd had a bite taken out of it then there'd be problems but there's no confusion how it stands.

That's still 11 days away!

(Since this is a non-US story, one must assume that dates are in a sane format)

And it uses the same micro SIM card too!

DRSABCD - Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Defibrillation. Still stuck at "Danger".

I used to use outlook 2003. Its search was so slow it was quicker to walk over to the Mac, start it up, get into Mail, and do the search there. Both using the same exchange 2007 server. I used to be a folder user for this reason, but since using Mac more and upgrading the pc to outlook 2010 I haven't done as much folder sorting, as search is nice.

I assumed a "dust devil" was something like the dunes migrating themselves over the highway, LOL. At least your link translates the term to the proper "willy-willy".

I once had one that got me to go to logmein123.com and enter a six digit code. Do any of these work with Linux? I was thinking about popping in a live cd and letting them at it, but I didn't have one handy at the time, and I didn't trust them with my main Ubuntu install. I could only manage about 20 minutes of stringing out though ("my computer is really slow today!") before I got bored.

Also 802.11a is 5.x GHz - it is b/g on 2.4GHz. 802.11n can run on both 2.4 and 5.x.

The Airport (like virtually all Apple stuff) is great if you don't want to tinker with it. This goes against the OP's requirement.

Of course I noticed I switched the 160 and 140 just as I hit submit...