And they were right. Overall what is cheaper? Six devices and a computer with expensive controllers in them? Or one computer with one less expensive controller in it and six devices with really inexpensive controllers in them?

Daisy chaining - I'm sure it was nice, and I can even think of one or two cases where I might have used it if it were available, but in the end the fast majority of my devices were all within reach of me, which meant they needed to be ~the same distance from the computer, which meant they could both use the same length cables (give or take). Daisy chaining doesn't change the # of cables I need. At best is lets me use one shorter cable and slightly declutters the back of my computer. But that is what a USB hub is for, and combined it was cheaper than FW controllers, enclosures, and cables.

It was a very expensive solution to a problem very few people had: the need to move massive amounts of data in/out of a peripheral at a time when the user is unwilling to wait. That is to say, not even external-backups really needed it because those tend to be fire and forget.

At least that was my experience and I actually did buy an external FW HDD for backups because I really was just that impatient :)

My typical comment when i lived in Vegas was, "and your tombstone will read 'but he had the right of way!' "

And if the officer is not in possession of the phone, then having or not a warrant has exactly zero impact on the suspect's ability to wipe the phone. The only thing that prevents that is physical possession of the phone by the officer. Not having a warrant does not prevent the officer from taking the phone into evidence, it just stops them from searching it until a warrant is granted. So no, it most certainly does not.

I now know about a very handy parking app for DC. And I DID actually look for one and as the article suggests I found crap. Now I'm happy and his "textwall" not withstanding I have no baggage with this Bennett person so all I can say is "Thanks"

Also just stop and look at the insanity and stupidity of that logic ... a system that makes people be willfully ignorant of the current state of the art. A system that wastes resources by encouraging people to create something that will ultimately because it infringes. A system where investors won't (if they are smart) touch you if you haven't done due diligence at some point to protect their investment ... all the while knowing that no matter how hard you try chances are there is someone sitting out their just waiting for a target worthy of suing. How's that for stifling innovation??

I'm not saying patents would be 100% abolished, but the current system FAILS its intended purpose and is in need of a serious overall to avoid wasted resources, prevent submarine-ing, and generally stop ridiculously obvious patents in their tracks to the point of preventing them from being grants in the first place no less costing millions to fight.

I'll sum up with, if you are small entity and think the patent system is your friend ... you have not been paying attention.

First sale explains why Netflix is allowed / forced to use physical discs absent a streaming license for a specific title. It does not an explain why the studios don't offer Netflix the aforementioned "virtual" discs.

Yes, and charge a LOT of money for it and if it doesn't work blame the patient for not "believing hard enough" ;-)

I see your point. That might be the missing link. I just don't know how much they would have to pay for that once a distro goes EOL from the mainline support structure.

with banking and PCI compliance I don't know if it is really that simple.

I mean let me be clear, I'm not saying it is a bad idea to go open-source, or look for options beyond MS ... I'm just saying I'm not seeing how moving from one OS to another solves their software/hardware synchronization problem given that fact that they are themselves independent of each other and driven by different life-cycles realities [shrug].

But that same argument can be used right now with the XP ATM's ... until the hardware breaks those can run "forever". Well that is except for security updates which any old UNIX GUI would need as well. you can't get around the need for security updating. So then it is a question of who will perform that function. with XP is was MS, with [Linux Distro] it is [Linux Distro Owner] and they will both EOL a distro at some point and stop providing security updates.

At least that is my question ... what am I missing?

I guess I'm missing the difference. Linux distros and kernels do indeed go EOL. When that happens there are no more security updates and backporting right? Well how is that different than what MS is doing right now with XP? In either case they will still have to face the fact that the OS isn't going to be supported anymore and will require them to upgrade software.

Or are they thinking they will go it alone and continue to update their Linux distro/kernel just because it is open source? Do they really think they are qualified to do that? Or is the hope that they can spend money to keep the OS in long-term-support status?

First

And make them wear a giant red "V" on their clothes

Even if they were asking for a new set of locks, your answer is still on point: they can charge a reasonable fee but they can't deny you. But perhaps that is just where fails ;-)

they deserve to fail miserably and go down in flames.