I can show even more micromanager failures than the three successful which were listed. A few successful ones does not proof make. Sorry.

The part I just can't see is what do I need "computed" on a server which will take longer to calculate locally? My biggest problem with the Internet is that it is the slowest part of all my computing needs. I don't buy this 3X faster crap! They can't even put 1X as fast per user equipment currently why does anybody expect that in the "FUTURE" that it will be any different?

This is just a bunch of marketing crap so they can get free press. When it comes out it will be as lame as the Wii U is today. Microsoft hasn't even explained how this will even hook up to my TV and offer better TV even though they spent hours boasting about its TV features. Does it connect to cable? HD? Satellite? Cablecard?

SPAM is very clear any and all email that I did not subscribe to which is soliciting me. Now I subscribe to lists and once in a while marketing comes through some lists which I therefore unsubscribe. If it continues coming it is SPAM. Very clear to me.

It may be my math but I gave 2 examples. I can list more but I don't feel I need to because they make my point. Sony has shown no reason why we should trust their statement.

It's not a theory when it is fact. Sony made the above mentioned statements and they reneged(fact) so it is your "malevolent theory" that this time they will keep their word.

I am willing to place a wager on this one, odds are on my side unfortunately we will have to wait till the PS5 to see who wins.

Remember Linux compatibility? Remember the PS3 initially was able to play PS2 games? Why would we believe anything that Sony says?

DRM is bad especially when it is not disclosed. As an example, I though like you, back in the old DVD days and did not think that CSS was such an issue. The problem was that the DVD not only were encumbered by CSS they also had bad sectors or tracks which created problems for computers. Now the reality was that it also created problems with DVD players which implemented CSS but were a little too old. One day day I bought a Disney DVD and sat down with my kids to watch the movie. It started and would constantly error out. Now thinking that the DVD player was broken I rushed out and bought a new one. The funny thing was that the old one would play all the existing DVDs just fine. Then the second player did the same thing with transformers. I may be slow but I know that's when I realized that there is nothing wrong with the players. What I had to do is scrap the player every 2 years or so in order for the DVDs to work.

DRM prevents the law abiding person to get screwed it does not stop a pirate especially Disney, MPAA, RIAA and such. Where I live you cannot return media when the package is open even when the contents are defective. The laws may not say as much but getting your $20 back will cost more.

I know of more than one iPhone that has never been connected to a computer. I know I'm just one person but these statistics that we see all over the net are based on people who connect to something mainly an account on iTunes. What if someone doesn't care about apps and iTunes? To say that most upgrade is very far fetched.

On the other hand a Nexus will upgrade over the air but it still needs the user to be connected to the internet and agree. The problem in this scenario is the user, the manufacturer and/or the carrier and not an OS issue.

Why does he need you to make his point!

As all business owners will attest there is no technology which exists today that will prevent skimming. If you trust technology without constant supervision then you are on the road to bankruptcy. This only affects the honest business which now will pay an additional penalty when an employee goofs. This will not in any way slow down the thieves.

I will ask one question and I am sure that all the bright minds here can add a few thousand. What stops a business from creating multiple items at identical prices and just reprinting the same receipt every second time? You cannot stop the printing of multiple receipts because to err is human, printers jam, equipment fails and multiple other reasons including reprints for the client.

The tax rates need to be fair and affordable otherwise the social contract that permits the collection of taxes falls apart.

At least the phones are getting it. Texting on the phone in the car is now hands free when you just speak to it I just haven't found a good one that voices the incoming texts...

There is a null zone in every in car system I've seen so far. I have a 2012 model which has trouble with street names. It's not that it doesn't know the street name it's that I have to figure out how the programer spelled the name. When I can't even enter the address because the "great head unit" programers couldn't figure out "search" is just mind boggling. I feel I'm back with Alta VIsta or Yahoo. I pick up my phone and just speak the address and the thing just works.

My 2012 system can't even take a bridge. It will send me 25km out of the way. It crashes ever time I navigate over a bridge. Oh the maps work fine just can't navigate. Sorry, but I prefer a phone system that works than one where it depends on luck at least on a phone I can download a navigation app which comes with all the apps preloaded.

Other systems I tried were even worse... I got it with a package and I use the phone navigation more than the head unit.

The user needs to be sandboxed and he can do whatever he likes including install a virus without affecting the system. Sure he destroys his files if he is not careful but he does not destroy the system and he does not destroy the backups.

Limiting a computer in this situation would limit education. Users don't need to run any software above their privileges including IE and Office.

Tax law is written to collect. It is not intended to pay for anything. The services provided do not correspond with the money collected. We ask people with few means to pay for pensions and salaries which would sometimes be performed by less expensive individuals. The association that we are bombarded with is that tax revenue pays for services and our protection. This is not entirely true. My contribution a couple of years ago was over $100K and this year it will be about $30K and I have not changed jurisdictions. So now I ask you why is 30% acceptable and 10% not? If I take on a second job why should I pay a higher rate? 10% or 30% should be the same no matter what my income is, after a basic living allowance. If I go to work and earn my living why do I have to pay a VAT on transportation that is tax provided by income taxes and a minor fee from users? You get all the benefits even when you don't pay so why does it matter what you pay? Taxes are not based on logic. They are emotional pitting one individual against another and ensuring that some get more than others. Some pay more than others irrelevant what country you reside in. Some regions pay more than others. Cities pay more than rural areas. It goes on and on... We need to change our whole society but as of yet we have not found a system which would solve all our problems so we live with what we have. Ireland is doing nothing more or less than what rural areas are doing to the cities.

you missed his point. The only reason everyone else stopped refining rare earth was because China dropped the price by flooding the market with cheap rare earths. Once China is no longer able(unwilling) to produce cheap rare earths then the rest of the world will get back into production.

Wow! What a surprise. up until yesterday there was absolutely no mention of this Windows 8 version that you are talking about. Who would have thought that Microsoft would develop a whole OS so secretly.

Do we need to keep this up. Let it come out already and see. This has been in the news for sooooo long now that it's probably going to be overshadowed by Windows 9 on Monday.