those processing method are card not present transactions, and might be subject to abuse especially if all you use is the imprinting machine. the customer could then dispute that they never use the card at this location...

EMV chip cards does way more then just VERIFY the PIN. It can perform card authentication (card can not be counterfeit/hacked), risk management, and cardholder verification.

If I have to guess, those Chip & Sign cards issed in US are usually signature preferring (at least some PIN methods are still availible on the card, but the setting in the card will always prefer signature unless it's not possible) and not signature only cards.

*barely more secure*? EMV cards can't be copied, modified, or counterfeited if the Card Authentication Method (SDA/DDA/CDA) are implemented propertly. The Application Cryptogram generated by the card and host also means the transaction itself is secure (assume proper card and host implmentation).

Magnetic stripes has no protection at all. US is probably the last major country that hasn't go full chip technology.

EMV card is not as simple as that.. you have layers of security, such as Offline Card Authentication (Offline CAM), Cardholder Verification (PIN, Signautere..) and online CAM (where that MAC happens), unless you have means to obtain the private/secret keys required for transaction, it's going to be extremely hard to calculate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Authentication_Program

It's funny to think that even Africa or Latin Amercan issuers issue more EMV cards then US, but sadly that's true. What's worse is people's groundless fear about using contactless technology for payments. Seriously, the biggest security problem in the credit card itself is the magnetic stripe itself.

Intel also makes motherboard in addition to chipsets and CPUs...

I was hoping AMD could release a faster workstation level Opteron 4300 to match the FX-8350, the top end 4386 is still a 3.1Ghz (turbo to 3.8Ghz) but
the fastest 8 core Opteron 6328 is 3.2Ghz and goes to 3.8Ghz turbo. (but Opteron 4386's TDP is 95w vs Opteron 6328's 115w) while FX-8350 is 4Ghz turbo to 4.2Ghz and consuming 125w

have you made any comparison for ripping quality between dBpoweramp and EAC?

I think tape drives still wins (LTO 5 is 1.5TB uncompressed, the new LTO 6 is 2.5TB)

in Taiwan, you can get 100mb/100mb down/up for USD $60-ish if you can get FTTH (Fiber To The Home) installed, otherwise your next best solution would be 100mb/40mb FTTB/VDSL2 for $50 USD.

I enjoy classical mystery novels, namely Agatha Christie's work, you can't beat it.

Thank you so much for creating the best experience on the internet... when /. effect was what everyone feared and loved...

I can't decide between Xfce or LXDE.. for sure is I can't stand GNOME 3 nor KDE 4

at least for AMD you can use your old motherboard, with Intel you need new motherboard everytime...