In many industries such as telecom, targets have moved from proprietary operating systems (such as VxWorks) to embedded Linux. When your target is Linux, there are obvious advantages to having a Linux-based development environment, especially around emulation tools. While some (okay, most) employers might still use Windows for the office side of the business, it is often possible, especially in R&D, to relegate the Windows world to a VM on your Linux development box. Good luck in your hunt.

Facebook is full of underage users and lets them "go legit" when they turn 13. As a consequence, they've captured this audience and all of the adults that they'll grow into (as well as a goodly number of their parents). Google+ requires that users be eighteen. That's ridiculous. Ostensibly, it is temporary but I've seen no suggestion from Google that this is any sort of priority. This is why Google+ will never challenge Facebook. When Amazon and Facebook merge, they'll rule the world. How very unfortunate.

This will be interesting for food images. Photographs of real food are invariably unappetizing; we're hard-wired to recognize food that is just a little bit off. Professional food images are invariably made attractive through the use of some pretty unappetizing material, some of it not even edible.

Imagine all the extra excuses insurance companies could fabricate once you let them milk even more of your personal information. Will governments ever have an incentive to protect our personal information? Until they do, I expect the commercialization of personal information will continue - to the detriment of the consumer. When are people going to realize that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch, online or otherwise?

I don't care if a visitor let's the world know that he is at or near my house. What I object to is applications tracking *my* movements.

Mobile devices typically allow users to turn this off. On my Android Xperia X10, it's under "Location and Security Settings" and has separate flags for GPS & wireless networks.

You put too much faith in hotel staff and even hotel safes.

No, I do not put too much faith in the hotel staff; that's why I include one of my backup disks *with* my camera bag.

The simple fact is that if I had to carry my laptop in addition to all my camera gear when I'm hiking up a mountain side, I simply wouldn't be able to cover as much ground. I'm not a professional so I can't afford a sherpa to help carry all the gear.

I'm prepared to lose my laptop. I'm not prepared to lose my photos.

Honestly, I can't see the argument for a single bag. I travel with similar equipment and the last thing I want to do is add the weight of a laptop when I'm out photographing. The laptop stays in the hotel or car. What I do carry with the camera is a small USB drive which holds one of my three backups (in case my laptop is stolen.)

Keep in mind that the laptop requires a power adaptor and, internationally, a plug adaptor. If you're like me, you might even include a mouse and other USB cables to charge phones and MP3 players. In other words, you might as well have a dedicated bag.

For bag advice, I strongly recommend that you go to a dedicated site such as dpreview. I've received excellent advice for people there.

Regards,
Keith

What a defective line of reasoning. If he wants people to embrance Firefox at home, his best approach is to make it usable at their office. Those who can't use Firefox at work are going to be much less inclined to use it at home.

I'm unimpressed and disappointed. I've expended great energy over the years encouraging our business to make as many of its damn web applications support Mozilla. It's been a frustrating task but I've been happy to see a general recognition from IT and management that Firefox is a useful office application.

He's utterly wrong and misguided.

although it should give SkyNet a run for its money.

Sorry Duke, Life was a blast back in the day. But, well, you see Duke, while you were in rehab, I got married and settled down. I've got three teenage daughters now and, well.... don't get me wrong - you'll always be a friend Duke - but my wife,see, she won't take kindly if you show up. I afraid I won't be able to play with you anymore. Good luck Duke.