I don't have any trouble editing AVCHD/MPEG4/AVC on WinXP/Vista/Win7. Just buy a cheap copy of Nero Vision or TMPGEnc Xpress and you're all set. With all the money you save by not buying Apple surely you can spare a few bucks. Wait, you're a "techie" but can't be bothered to install a simple piece of software? I think you're placing your credentials at serious risk by saying things like that.

It's been at least 10 yrs since any consumer audio output processing has taxed any contemporary CPUs.

The pols know which side of their bread is buttered.

I came from a part of the world where kids willingly walk miles to school everyday and parents bankrupt themselves to pay the tuition. And I can tell you the curriculum is based almost entirely on rote memorization and constant testing. Why? So they can do well on entrance exams to elite high schools and colleges and then perhaps become part of the elite. While in school they had to put up with authoritarian discipline. If they don't like it well they're welcome to drop out and make way for others. Kids in America have it so good they don't care if they're pissing it all away.

The stock market is a casino. The banks and hedge funds is "House". As far as the government is concerned it's OK for banks and hedge funds to manipulate, but not for the little guys. If you screw with the house they wipe the floor with you.