Even worse is that REP STOS executes a lot slower than corresponding code since Pentium. I agree X86 is horrendous, especially its crazy little-endian. I was unfortunate I already knew 6809 asm: SEX, STD U++, HCF (sign extend, halt and catch fire).

The coincidence is that DynDns stopped offering free service a while ago. Maybe Microsoft made them an offer they couldn't refuse...

Isn't supposed to be Windows 8.22 Step-up? (I wonder if anyone remembers upgrading from MS-DOS 6.0)

The 8MB problem is an Intel firmware bug (older, non-Sandforce controllers). If you don't care about your data, ATA "security erase" can make it usable again. I think I used the DOS-based hdderase, and after a few problems it went through. Intel's DOS-based flash idiotically ignores the SSD because it identifies itself as "BAD_CTX"...

The only programming language available in all web browsers is Javascript, which is horrendously bad for large projects, even Google and Microsoft made languages that generate Javascript code (Dart, Typescript). Another problem is that Javascript code is plain text, offline apps entire code is easy to read (even after de-ofuscating).

Plugin? On iOS, Apple won't ever allow any plug-in that can run its own apps (everything must be from Apple store).

x86 survived because of price/performance caused by fierce competition (Intel, AMD, Cyrix, Rise, Centaur, etc.), and popularity of Windows/DOS. It was fun experiencing how x86 beat faster RISC CPUs (Alpha, PowerPC, Itanium) when there were builds of Windows NT.

Now, people are downgrading to ARM to use their low-power, low-performance portable toys (tablets, smartphones) running inferior operating systems. Sadly, Intel did an horrendous job with the Atom until 2-3 years ago, and Microsoft did even worse releasing the bloated Vista, which was awful for the now-dead netbook market.

Atoms are finally good enough, but still, the absurd 2GB RAM limit, and high power consumption (most Windows tablets can't charge from USB hub or PC) is still not good enough for Windows 8 (the real one, not RT).

And, please don't teach your kids x86 ASM. Modern C++ compilers generate good optimized code, runtime libraries are optimized. Besides, x86 code looks backwards, instruction set origins are from a 1970 terminal! (datapoint 2200), has endianness from hell, few registers, etc.

I agree, it might qualify for non-profit versions of Windows. If Access doesn't qualify, anyway the MS Access Runtime is free. It's the full MS Access, w/o menus or IDE, although all menu options are available from VBA. Access Runtime might work in Wine, but I don't think the EULA allows it.

Besides, porting can be impossible, Access is quite unique: VBA (functions can be called in forms, reports, and even from SQL), Eval() (self-executing code), reporting is unique, Win32 API calls, and, it can automate any other Office application.

...easy to use pogo stick commonly found in workplaces that can automate Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Access. I admit it's an awful programming language, but it's not that far away from PHP (Hack improves it), and Javascript (TypeScript, Dart).

Anyway, US schools have historically used technology as expensive educational toys, not for programming or other useful practical things. BASIC was barely taught in the 80's when it was built-in all micros/PCs, and most computer magazines included program listings, for example, Compute! and Family Computing.

I was misled too. The useless headline is using the same pointless info nVidia presented, because they can't use "CUDA cores".

I think the problem are the people using useless tablets as if they were PCs, and sadly, liking them... I bet it will take more than 5 years for Android and iOS tablets to become as powerful as your current gaming PC, maybe 5 more years to become as useful.

I think you're right, and I also think sending audio through DVI is a ugly non-standard proprietary hack, so it's logical it only works with their adapters.

I was guessing the 64-bit move was for Apple compete against desktops in the current BYOD trend... Microsoft is doing the exact opposite with Windows RT, especially with Intel power savings improvements in Haswell CPUs, and, resurrecting the neglected Atoms. I wonder is Apple was expecting the Surface Pro to do better. It's significantly more powerful than any Android or iPad tablet, has a great pen device, and... there's no Apple Mac tablet.

It should be "SkyOne", although I wonder if I can copy pre-owned files.

Why a main laptop? Get a cheap, slow, portable, disposable notebook / budget laptop, and build your own powerful desktop computer. College students get Windows Server 2K12 (or 2K8R2) 100% free (via Microsoft Dreamspark). I guess I'm too old to understand laptop obsession. I need at least two monitors, and a real keyboard / mouse to be productive. (I dearly miss IBM Model M keyboards). There's no reason not to use Win8, except compatibility (they did change some security stuff). There's Classic Shell, and, you can run WinRT apps. Anyway, the only way around the eternal idiotification of Shells (after NT 4), is to somewhat accept it. Even Linux users are tortured with new weird stuff too.

It's an expensive advantage, most won't print 100% b/w text if the color ink cart is missing or empty, regardless if the black ink cart is full. I also found out inkjet printers require multiple attempts until they break into a million pieces.