This is from the viewpoint of an OEM manufacturer, btw.

I cannot agree more. States should be going after companies like Walmart to make them pay for any public-assistance their employees qualify for, plus a premium. (They do similar things to individuals, "corporations are people, too" ...remember?) The problem would fix itself.

If your wages from a full-time job don't allow someone who works for you to earn enough of a living to not have to work, you had better not be turning a "profit", much less paying it out to investors...

The whole "flipping burgers isn't supposed to support a family" isn't a valid argument. McDonald's posted 5.5 BILLION in profit for 2012. They can pay their workers (well) above minimum wage.

THIS.

Supply chains and procurement is already wild enough. Checking every part is not part of the deal. (Though, using authorized distributors is the first/best step. Stay away from Shenzhen if you can.) I've never been a huge FTDI fan, but this debacle has all but ensured that I never use their parts in a design. Accidentally acquiring clones could result in a support nightmare that really didn't have to happen.

Besides, this move doesn't punish the clone makers at all. Just end-users. They could have put up a pop-up window or notice. But bricking... that would have me calling up the lawyers. If they feel it's okay to destroy product (especially if those clone chips weren't purchased knowingly). That's more than ill-will:

That's liability.

Tried it, had to down a nice tall glass of ginger-ale afterwards and go back to 2D - I consider myself exceptionally "VR hardned". But this game is the closest I've come to surrendering my stomach contents. (No real spoilers, here)

* I think it's a problem with the calibration routine, which doesn't cancel out any rotation in your head (if you're looking slightly up/down, to tilting your head to the side, even slightly. ...it becomes the new "level". Euurgh...
* Walk speed while on the first ship, walk speed is entirely too high. Your brain is damn-near expecting to feel whiplash. Double Euurgh...
* Framerate and controls are superb, but it's **straaaange** to from from a IRL 6'0" 210lb man to being a 5'4"ish scrawny woman who probably weighs a buck, soaking-wet.

Nevermind that this game is already hard/scary. Probably too much for a first "AAA" VR experience. The interface is an excellent implementation, though. But that calibration...

I thought the part where you're wearing the spacesuit on EVA was amazing, too. Was more comfortable than the game.

That's the kicker, right there. These customers do not, nor will they ever, have $2500 for a down payment (If they did, they could buy a "real" car.) These places take vehicles with a bluebook value of $2000-$5000 and sell them for $10,000 or more with little to nothing "down", at the maximum interest rate the law will allow, and with an "as-is" warranty term.

It's usury, plain and simple. These snakes are just waiting for you to slip-up on a payment. Fees for being late are fair. But their goal is to simply repo the very moment you're late with a payment. Because, then, they can repo the car - sell it again (and again, until it can't be sold). Auction it. Then still leave you with a credit-report item for the difference.

A remote kill-switch (and probably GPS for recovery) only increases profits, I'm sure.

Believe it or not, but 95% of 'Merica isn't New York/Chicago/LA/Big-City. Here in Tulsa, there is no public transit to speak of. Unless you plan carefully where you live/work, it's quite difficult - maybe impossible - to live/work/eat without constant access to a car.

Profits over people. It's the American way.

I've been tempted by the Lumia phones, I must say. I just haven't *seen* one out in the wild. My current android is a Sony Xperia M, which I *really* like - but isn't without issues. (I think the only thing holding me back is google voice, tbh)

Not picking a side. But it's kinda funny when you think about it:

* With an Apple device, you get regular updates to iOS, but your phone will continually become slower (planned obsolescence)

* With an Android device, the manufacturer outright abandons updating the phone the moment their next handset is on sale. (Samsung seems to be the worst about this, but, even Google has done it to stock Nexus phones.)

Pick your poison. Slow, or quick. ....then get ready for your next pill.

Your solution is....extreme. Sometimes, I want to watch the video. Chome lets you set plug-in exceptions on a per-site basis, but it is buried away. (chrome://settings->Show advanced settings->Privacy->Content-settings->plugins->Manage Exceptions...)

just add [*.]cnn.com as an exception with "ask" as the new default. I imagine you could do the same to facebook. Now, instead of an autoplay video, you get a nice grey box that you can click, if YOU decide you want to watch the video.

As a black "nerd", I'm only offended that you were marked as a troll - as I share your opinion of the show.

I keep a few packs of disposable contacts around just for use with the Rift. Lasik is not a (practical/suggested) option for me - though I did get some (more) motivation to get evaluated because of VR.

I'm thinking there will soon be a cottage industry of corrective prescription eye-cups for VR, until you can simply enter your prescription into your avatar details :-D

There's probably some consideration to the *type* of welding and the conditions you must do it in. Tig Welding requires *considerably* more skill/experience/mastery than simple brazing and stick welding. There's the added bonus that if you do it wrong, you DIE. In which case, such welders can command a premium for their skills - as they should.

Yo Dawg! I heard you like Windows 8.1...

...so I stopped updating Windows 8.1 so you'd update to Windows 8.1 so you can update Windows 8.1!

Sigh....outlawing lobbying is like getting a 4yo to agree to abolishing cookie jars ... while his/her hand is in it. I don't see a solution to the problem at all. The USA is run by money to the point where it isn't proper to call it anything but an oligarchy.

And please don't respond "Oh, just use blender!" It's not a CAD tool if it doesn't have parametrics.