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Hardware

Technology Changes To Kill Netbooks? 394

The BBC is reporting that the netbook craze may already be nearing the end of its run. Citing rising netbook prices and many other evolving technologies that can potentially fill that gap, some critics think that the limited power of netbooks will ultimately bring about the quick demise of the once popular device. "Ian Drew, spokesman for chip designer Arm, also believes netbooks are in for a shake-up. Consumers, he said, were chafing against the restrictions that using a netbook imposed on them. 'We have failed the consumer because we have imposed constraints on them,' he said. Changing web habits and greater use of social media will mean consumers will be looking for gadgets that are tuned to specific purposes. 'It will be a lot of different machines for a lot of different people,' he said. 'This whole market will be exploding in the next couple of years.' Impetus for this change will come, he believes, from the phone world where many, many types of gadgets are already blooming."
Science

Top Scientific Breakthroughs of 2009 57

Wired has posted their favorite scientific breakthroughs of the past year. The feats include things like the confirmation of element 114, a cancer-detecting breathalyzer, the power of jellyfish and more. What other discoveries should have made the list and what might we look forward to in 2010? "Also this year, researchers at the University of Washington cured two adult monkeys of colorblindness by giving them injections of a gene that produces pigments necessary for color vision. After the treatment, the animals scored higher on a computerized color blindness test. In the coming years, gene therapy will be tested as a remedy for all sorts of inherited diseases, cancer, viral infections and even high cholesterol."

Comment Re:Why Microsoft isn't worried about this (Score 2, Interesting) 863

I have to agree with this. I tried to switch to some Linux and Open Office distribution a few years ago, and the kind of things I had to learn to do to get that machine running, and then to fix several driver problems, were a bit too much for anybody without a lot of technical expertise. I have several friends that are in love with Linux and Open Office, but they all happen to be software engineers, and when I complain about something not being user-friendly, they tell me that it's really very easy, you just have to "mount this drive and then ...." do you really think users are going to consider introducing linux commands, ever? If you believe users should know this stuff, then you just don't live in the real world.
The Courts

Jammie Thomas Moves To Strike RIAA $1.92M Verdict 392

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Jammie Thomas-Rasset has made a motion for a new trial, seeking to vacate the $1.92 million judgment entered against her for infringement of 24 MP3 files, in Capitol Records v. Thomas-Rasset. Her attorneys' brief (PDF) argues, among other things, that the 'monstrous' sized verdict violates the Due Process Clause, consistent with 100 years of SCOTUS jurisprudence, since it is grossly disproportionate to any actual damages sustained. It further argues that, since the RIAA elected to offer no evidence of actual damages, either as an alternative to statutory damages, or to buttress the fairness of a statutory damages award, the verdict, if it is to be reduced, must be reduced to zero."

Comment It is unavoidable (Score 1) 847

First, it was blue eyes. But I didn't care, since I could afford blue eyes for my son, and it wasn't that important, anyway. Then, it was higher people. But I didn't care, since I was tall and my daughter would probably be tall, too. Then, it was higher IQ. At that time, it was too late and expensive for my niece. He would belong to the "untouchable" caste and his offspring too... (note: I believe this future is unavoidable)

Comment Re:Interersing trend... (Score 1) 777

Please google and research "peak oil" a bit. You will discover this crisis is a lot worse than they have told you. US is doomed. Europe is doomed. Sell your apartments. Buy a small house with a VERY big garden, on a small comunity (but not too small, 5.000 is ok). Learn all about your neighbours, try to establish tight friendly relations with them. Learn how to grow your own food. Install a small wind/solar farm and batteries in your home. Buy all the medicines you can that won't spoil in 5 years. Buy dry food that won't spoil in 2 years. Or else, tell me I'm crazy and just do business as usual. If you work for any private transportation company, however (airplanes, freight trucks) , I would try to find another job.

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