Search the play store for an app called "permissions free". It can enable and disable permissions for any app on any ROM as long as you're rooted. I use it extensively.

Or buy from a company that allows you to customize every aspect of the laptop. I have an Eurocom Racer http://web.eurocom.com/EC/ec_model_config1%281,219,0%29 with Radeon HD6970M graphics. You almost can't get better non-Nvidia mobile graphics than that. Got it with no OS installed, and it runs xubuntu like a champ.

I have, and they're not acceptable.

The upcoming Star Citizen will have full support for the Rift.

They're aimed at different (yet in some areas common) consumers. The Rift is for gamers, to provide a completely artificial replacement of the surroundings (virtual reality). Think Star Trek holodecks.

But at least the revolution will be televised!

Can't wait until I get mine.

AMD has played the socket compatibility game too. Remember socket 939? Yeah.

But do YOU realize there's an even bigger conspiracy to load all cars, including yours, with an even more explosive fluid? And that it's also pumped through the engine where it causes explosions?Think about it, man, and ditch your booby-trapped car. I have a bike I could sell you.

Probably if you're on a fishing boat and the fishing season is closed for that particular critter.

I only have various incarnations of ATI/AMD video cards in my laptops and desktops. I have just installed the Steam beta on one of them, running Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit and the latest fglrx proprietary Radeon driver. It's horrible. The Steam window has a really bad flickering, which makes it unusable. I managed to get some games installed by creative guess-and-click to hit the right buttons, but then none of the games run; they give me some error, but I can't read the box because of the flickering.

So it looks that so far this is compatible with nvidia only. No luck for Radeon users.

One year from now, in the bargain bin.

Well, first of all there never was any talk of LTE on Sprint. Their WiMax finally began extending to relevant areas (they started by covering some rural areas in Georgia - WTF?) I agree coverage sucks in some areas, but it's pretty good here. There's unlimited data included, at a time where few other carriers can claim the same. As for tethering, there are always 3rd party applications that allow you to do it. I just hope that if they do get bought the unlimited data doesn't get pulled.

If there's sugar, someone will surely make rum out of it. We'll have plenty of space grog. Arrr!

Machine completely flattened? That's stupid. There's nothing wrong with any of the hardware components in the computer, only with the 1s and 0s. In other words, software. The kind that, you know, can be erased and reinstalled from trusted sources.