I've got an iPad 2, and I've got a Kindle Fire on the way for exactly this reason. I found that 90% of my time on the iPad is just using it to check message boards, or look up info on IMDB while watching TV. So a 7" tablet that lighter is a perfect replacement for what I'm using it for. For all those saying "Why not a netbook"? Because a tablet is smaller, or for basic browsing a touch screen is a lot easier to use than a stupid tracpad.

If the pilot can't leave the cockpit, what happens in the middle of a 13 hour flight when they need to use the restroom? All planes already have reinforced locking doors between the cockpit and the cabin that can only be unlocked from the pilots side.

Or maybe, just maybe, different pirates have different reasons for pirating. Blows your closed little mind doesn't it?

The problem with learning a language in school is that you quickly forget it if you don't use it. I know many Canadians from the western provinces in Canada who can't speak a lick of French despite it being taught from an early age in school and being printed on most consumer products. Why? Because everyone around them speaks English and they quickly forget. What's the point in learning Chinese or German in high school if you quickly forget it due to lack of use? And as someone who has traveled outside the US, I've found very little opportunity to speak the local language beyond ordering at a restaurant or asking for directions. Usually the people I'm doing business with speak English better than I speak their language, so choose to converse in English when talking with me for expediency and clarity.

Yes, and we still are. There are still at least 2 more books in the series that need to be written.

How does the iPad get around the problem of over saturated hotel networks or poor 3G connectivity? What does it bring to the table that isn't the same as a thin client on a laptop? That's right, it doesn't and nothing.

Can't you turn this off in the Windows Live privacy settings (not the Live Messenger privacy settings)?

Where do you live that WiFi is limited to 20mW? In the US the limitation is 4W (EIRP) (PTP links are different). In most of Europe it is limited to 100mW. The typical home WiFi router is usually in the 80-100mW EIRP range.

I was at CES yesterday and sat through the presentation by Panasonic. There technology works using those expensive "active" 3D display glasses. For those that don't know, basically they alternate flashing each eye an image on the screen. They kept hyping up how awesome it would be to watch football in 3D, and showed use a 3D video of a football game. It was kinda neat, but anything that was moving fast (Such as arms/legs after the ball was snapped) turned into a flashing semitransparent mess. I'm assuming this is because they are alternative which eye is seeing the picture, and in the time it takes to switch eyes, fast moving objects have changed position. And for systems that are smart enough to show images to both eyes at the same time, I'm curious how they will handle motion blur. That has always seemed to be a problem with 3D displays, as the eye wants to get the moving object in focus, however since the source is blurred they can't, which leads to eye strain.

Compete with eReaders? Not without an eInk screen they're not. LCD does not cut it for long term reading.

Most customers want Windows. If they want Linux they can install it themselves.

What a about tool costs and production time? Even if Plastic and Aluminum are the same cost (and I don't know that they are) they use different production techniques. Plastic is made with molds, whereas I believe with Aluminum you have to cut it out of a block, which might take longer, and also leaves you with a lot of "left over" scraps that will have to be recycled before they can be used again.

I'm currently using that same machine you have as an (interim) HTPC machine. Swapped Win 7 64 bit to 32 bit (due to the low memory), upgraded to the latest drivers and Flash 10.1 Handles 1080p MKV's just fine, as well as 720P YouTube (1080 drops some frames on fast movement). The only problem is that Hulu apparently isn't taking advantage of the new Flash beta, and still seems to run 100% on the CPU rather than offloading to the GPU like YouTube now does. So for Hulu it can only handle the standard def video. 480P Hulu is fine windowed, but scaled to 720p or 1080p, it drops frames really bad.

Wow. If you heard it from a co-worker, it must be true!

I'll just start "renting" all my movies from .torrent sites, or megaupload. They normally get the movies a week or more before DVD sales anyway.