As a further note, right now there's no way to trace that serial number to me.

Unless you count the printer driver, driver installer or the network connected printer itself calling home for warranty related reasons, reporting at the very least the serial number and your IP address, and whatever other personal information you probably gave it willingly.

I don't imagine for one minute that large professional applications will ever be sold this way for the time being.

Never say never, for the time being.

any cost savings go directly into the pockets of company executives and shareholders.

Sounds like a good time to buy some shares, then?

For the last 3 years, I have been putting loads of batteries in kids toys and some of them just plained sux to put batteries in.

What a weird hobby. But I guess it's like those people who put money into stranger's parking meters.

I'm just amazed they were able to transport the soap bubbles to space intact.

Depends on the type of business. Web design or computer related stuff is fairly light on it I'll admit, but anything requiring insurance or inventory tracking is enough to scare off anyone who isn't a dedicated lover of paper shovelling.

That's why business owners hire other people to handle that stuff. They usually want money for their trouble but you can focus on making more of it.

On Windows 7 the c:\ProgramData path exists. On my system the file is over 200 MB, you can't enter the Data folder without UAC asking for confirmation, and the file is in use so it can't even be opened (usually).

I always thought that these notices are very odd. I mean, can I put up a sign that says "In no event shall Esben be responsible for any crime he might do" and expect it to have any effect?

Of course not, since that claim would be false. Software maker responsibilities are a different matter. Would you hold the Apache Foundation liable for damages if someone hacks your web server due to security holes in their code? No, as they don't claim or promise responsibility any more than Microsoft or anyone else with half a mind do.

That's only if you count Alaska, which is disingenuous at best, given that it's huge, and almost completely unoccupied.

But it has more than its share of bridges, I've heard.

10 years experience using programs that have only existed for 5 years

The honest man's solution of course is to outsource your job to a team with combined experience of 10 years.