I have a tablet and a netbook as well as a couple of laptops and desktops. I find myself using the netbook most of the time. Portable, long battery life, real keyboard (although a little smaller) and a screen that I can read. Tablets are OK for some web browsing however I need to expand the screen to tap on very small hyperlinks. If I hook a keyboard to a tablet, what's the point? I may as well use my netbook. I find the touchscreens on darned near any device a PITA due to their small size and inability to type on them (I do type well).

Why not admit you wouldn't be a good interviewer for a Windows technical interview and refer the job to someone more-knowledgeable of the subject?

The killer with Wildblue and other satellite internet providers is the FCC's "Fair Access Policy" . After a very small data cap is met, the connection is hobbled to a very slow speed. That makes it impossible for streaming video for any length of time.

I live in a rural area (Sierra Foothills of California). I chose to live there because I don't like high density housing and the problems related to it. With this "nice place to live" I also have no sewer (but have septic system), no public water (but have a well and you can't tell the difference except I don't get a water bill) and slow internet. Until recent, my choices were dial up modem and satellite internet (a ripoff at $119/month with imposed FCC "Fair Access Policy".) FAP ensures you really can't stream video or use internet radio for any period of time. Else, if very small data download limits are exceeded, you're reduced to something near dialup modem speed. Recently, there are a few companies that have installed various forms of wireless internet services. I'm paying $59/month for 1.2 megabit (maximum) download using a 900 mHz. "Motorola Canopy" system. That's the fastest available out here. DSL would seem like lightening speed. The problem is that cable companies have to run a relatively long length of cable to "maybe" connect a couple of users. It's just not cost effective for them to do so. Unless wireless speeds rapidly increase or until there's an available means to superimpose internet signals on the power mains, this is likely what I'm going to be stuck with. Cellphone reception is also sketchy here. I really don't believe I have a "right to high speed internet". Rural living has it's pros and cons. I've made my own choice and I'm happy with it.

My son and I were clicking through the channels of cable TV when at a motel when we were traveling. We laughed at "200 channels of crap" that we witnessed. It confirmed to me that I do not need to purchase cable or satellite television. It's an intellectual wasteland saturated with commercials.

I.T. jobs are one of the most-easy to outsource to India. I would advise my son against taking any job that fits this category. Perhaps one may begin in domestic I.T. but it's also likely that some time in one's career, it'd be necessary to train their Indian counterpart to perform their job, only to have it transferred to the country at 1/3 to 1/2 one's salary. Having spent an engineering career at one of America's "big computer companies", I've personally seen this happen on many occasions. I walk through our campus and observe large empty parking lots with weeds popping up through the asphalt, looking at the empty buildings they surround. I tell my son "these lots used to be full of cars and those buildings used to be full of working people." They've all lost their jobs mostly to India and China. It's sad.

Carly Fiorina combined PCs and printers in 2005. Mark Hurd un-combined them during his reign. Now Meg combines them and under Bradley. Bradley should have been fired with the Touchpad fiasco but now heads HP's most profitable division. What's wrong with this picture?

I don't believe there is an engineering shortage in the U.S. If there were, engineer's wages would be increasing. They are not. I work for a very large computer company and wages have been pretty much stagnant for 10 years here. The real "problem" is there is a shortage of cheap engineers. Ones like those in India and China. US companies are hiring overseas like crazy and reducing employee count domestically.

For a Windows password, all one needs to do is run ERD or boot a Linux disc and view the HDD's contents.

Next, you'll be asking for a robot design to "take care" of your wife for you on the wedding night. Take a day off from geekdom.