I agree that they have become that over time, but that is not how they started out. The first mobile phones were dumb and were tightly linked to the network technology. So it made sense for the network operator to provide the phone. Then an arms race to pack features into those phones started among the network operators. Now they are mostly interoperable among the networks, and can even operate independent of them, however the network operators are entrenched, and rely on the revenue the phones produce for the company. It is a hard model to break.

The Internet and the laptop were developed separately, and one does not require the other to function. The same thing for the automobile, early autos could use one of a few sources of fuel, and the fuel was useful, even if you didn't own an auto. When the first telephone lines were installed you needed a phone/handset to be able to make use of them, and you had to rent/buy your phone from the phone company.

We need to bring back those days of long compile times: xkcd - Compiling

Some friends and I had found a copy of The Oregon Trail for the Apple II. We played it so much that we wore the disk out. Good times!

I recall that Win95 came with a crazy number of floppies, on the order of 15-20. Or was that NT that I am thinking of? Thank god for the invention of the CD-ROM.

I agree, there is way too much over thinking going on here. Many states will issue second birth certificates. I ordered duplicates when my children were born. I now keep one copy at home in a fire resistant box, and the second in a safe deposit box. An insurance rep. recommended to me that you keep your fire resistant box next to something large, like a washing machine, the reason being that large steal items will be easier to locate, especially if the structure around it were to collapse. This would hopefully expedite the return of your important papers.

Similar to my experience. We replaced most of our machines with 5 1/4" in 97 I recall. We did keep one lab's worth of machines around with both types, so you could use/transfer your older formats. I recall many students coming to the help desk with bent, folded, otherwise mangled 5 1/4" disks (and 3 1/2" for that matter) who wanted us to fix them. They were often SOL. I felt bad for most of them.

I think that is the point the OP was trying to make. The more casual litigants would simply drop the case, either because they don't have the will power to go the distance (however short it my be) with EULA, or they are truly dumb and believe that "Like=signing a document".

According to US law, but I read another comment that Indiana law provides for all people over 18, so this will vary by state.

It is not an easy technique to use, nor is it appropriate to use it in all circumstances. It requires a lot of focused study, discipline, and good intuition, to make sure you are bringing the correct technologies/features to bear. A fail in the case of Win 8, but success in the case of iPhone.

I have seen many comments like this, but I think there are a lot of what-if scenarios to consider. Is it necessary for that person to work straight from the flight? It could be cheaper to fly them in the night before, and pay for an extra night in the hotel. Is this person expected to work while on the plane? If not, all that extra space mat not be necessary. How often is the person expected to travel? If this employee is hopping around the country, especially for a multi-city trip, perhaps the upgrade is warranted, since they may not be able to settle in at anyone location very long. In the end, I hate to see hard rules. A manager should have some discretion to adapt to the situation and the employee. At the same time, I consider upgrades like this a perk. An employee (executive or otherwise) should not expect to travel this way, and be prepared to justify the cost if they ask.

You are correct, there is no best choice for everyone. I have used an accountant since shortly after leaving school. I think I spent $50-$75 more than TurboTax would cost, however I spend about 10 minutes the night before my appointment gathering my forms, and typically 45 minutes in his office filling out and signing the electronic documents. I have too many friends that spend 3+ hours on a weekend trying to do it on their own. I consider that extra amount spent worth my time, and peace of mind.

Amazon is not doing anything new. Walmart has had this general philosophy for a long time. Good or bad, they have been squeezing every cent out of their supply chain, using the power of their distribution centers to keep their costs low. I recall reading somewhere that their CEO occupies the same modest office that Sam Walton used, and it does not get lavishly redecorated often (if ever). At least they are passing the savings on to the customer.

From the article:

I have found this to be a serious problem for system designers. When gathering requirements we often ask users what they want, or what they need. They then give us narrow response like "a button that does X" or "a screen that shows me Y". This can be valuable input, however these requests are based on their knowledge of what can be designed with "yesterday's" technology. A better question to ask is "what do you do?". I have found that responses to this question (purposefully open ended) give the system designers the freedom to streamline the users job, and tools that will actually make them more productive.

Tell that to someone who works in a casino, or a bank. Sometimes the cameras are there to protect the employee, sometimes the employer, sometimes both.