I agree with you completely. This is the thing about these machines that I'm just not getting. Why are the graphics cards different? Nevermind the lack of a second PCIe port (which is bad enough).. they're also mirrored so the two cards are *completely* different.

Strange decision.

Indeed. I don't discount that some (many?) will need more local disk. I was merely pointing out that some of us need barely any and it's good to be able to get that. Nothing non-pro about it.

Why is it a joke? The 256GB is perfect for my needs. We only put the OS and applications and various caches on the local drive of any of our machines (Linux or Mac OS). The rest (about 200-ish terabytes) is network attached.

I think your definition of "pro" is different from mine.

If you are running Lion or earlier you can download old versions of XCode here:

https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action?name=Xcode

If you've upgraded to Mavericks you're going to have to run Lion in a VPN or compile on an older machine.

I don't remember the last time I actually had cable service. Maybe 10 years ago. Back then I rented a lot of DVDs and went out to movies. I'm quite happy these days to watch what's available on netflix and iTunes. I love not having to put up with commercials and for the most part I can watch what I want when I want and even where I want. I haven't done the math but given the number of shows I watch in a year I can't see my investment in iTunes content and my netflix membership adding up to anything close to a year of cable bills. Even if it did the convenience factor is more than enough to make up for it.

With the exception of mail I *was* using third party apps (google maps, iCab mobile and corus radio in this particular instance)

None of the tasks I was doing had anything to do with "background notifications". Radio and nav were running properly in the background.

That is an optional setting, yes.

This isn't even a little bit correct.

I was just in the car listening to a radio app and receiving turn by turn directions from a navigation app. I pulled over to eat and read some emails and surfed the web for a bit. I sent some messages and IM'd with a few people. All the while the radio kept playing. If I was receiving updates from some external accessory that would have kept updating in the background too. all while the map gave me directions and the music played.

More money to be had maybe?

http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-ios-android-spenders-2013-1

Or maybe the developers know iOS better than they know android and they're trying to keep things simple until they know if the business has a future?

Why does every discussion about paying taxes have someone making this stupid point?

My internal combustion engine car only converts about 25% of the gasoline into work (ie. moving the car) the rest is dissipated as heat (ie. waste). Are you going to suggest that I just pour a bunch of gasoline on a bonfire too.. since the car is so wasteful of gasoline?

You seem to be of the (foolish) opinion that in order for me to have no problem paying taxes that not a cent must be wasted. Sorry.. but nothing is perfect. Sure I'd like government to waste less.. who wouldn't? Just like I'd like my car to be more efficient. But just because my car's engine is incredibly wasteful of gasoline doesn't mean I stop buying gas (or driving).. nor does government waste mean I stop paying my taxes (or get my panties in a bunch while doing so).

Any refund I may or may not get is tiny in comparison to how much I pay.

I have absolutely no problem paying my taxes. I look at my T4 slip and if the tax number is high then that means my earnings are high. I have plenty enough left over at the end of the year to enjoy a ridiculously comfortable life. Made far more comfortable because of what my taxes pay for.

Why shut it down? If she can't do groklaw without input then just take input by good old letter mail. Sure it's harder. But as the old saying goes.. Nothing good comes easy.

I supposes a case could be made for the government reading letter mail as well but getting into a sealed envelope undetected is much harder (and far less efficient) than just slurping up all electronic communication.

How is that easier? It's an extra step that gets me nothing useful.

I watch Netflix almost every day without a hitch or worry.

If paying $8 per month for more television and movies than I can actually watch in a month is being a sucker then I guess that's what I am. I use nextflix maybe 20 days out of every month. What kind of messed up worldview sees that as getting suckered? I pay more for bread and orange juice in a month than I pay for Netflix.

I see it as damned good value myself.

I do? That's news to me.

I wish someone had told me that I hate paying taxes. I would have been angry at tax time.