I didn't say that magnets cannot affect HDDs. I was making the point that magnetic fields generated in the vicinity of functional HDDs is highly unlikely to cause data loss.

I'd like a slashdot skin that looks like, say, eclipse, so I can read at work in way that isn't 100% obvious from the complete opposite side of the room (no privacy in this office).

=D

I spent years working in a magnetics lab, with superconducting magnets up to 12 T. No HDDs ever failed that I am aware of.

as a means of coping with excel I tend to record shitloads of macros, which do the changing ribbons and clicking boxes for me. I recommend it. (though excel is often not smart enough to deal with minimally changing the input data to the macros and they just don't work, but recording a new macro on occasion is still better than death by 1000 clicks every. single. time.)

The bottom line of all of this is that the entire set of tabs could be replaced by a single bar containing full-size icons, and that doing so would improve discoverability, would make it easier to learn the interface, and would reduce the number of clicks for most common tasks (because you wouldn't need to change to a different tab). If you think you need to elevate that many "commonly used" controls to the user's attention, you're doing it wrong.

but then it would look like OS X...

printers with wifi (or 3G)... yes! ;D sometimes you just can't beat dead tree, and I'd like to be able to print from phone or ipad more easily

but I get where you're going :p

hand held wifi printers for travel etc would be good, but I guess thats not going to give you corporate-service-plan type monies

Well, one would hope that for situations when such proof of receipt is required, similar conditions (such as going in in person) would still apply, even if the original summons/documentation was sent electronically. That said, I think a friend of mine received a court summons in regular mail while overseas. Can't remember the details though. If that doesnt require registered mail, what does?

I agree normal mail has no proof of receipt, but the onus is still on you to check for it and to make ammends when you don't receive the mail. It's a lot more effort than being able to check mail from anywhere anytime.

Yes, with electronic message delivery the ability to check if someone actually received the communication can be designed in, but I don't see how that's a bad thing, unless you regularly use the excuse that you were on holiday to pay bills late?? Instant receipt doesn't necessarily mean that you have the ability to respond to whatever the government requires of you immediately (eg if you are on holiday) but at least you would be aware of it prior to not appearing in court or whatever (ok getting drastic with examples here but you get the point).

I like the idea because I hate snail mail and the point I was trying to make in my original reply is that it is no more secure or reliable, and the onus is still on the individual to check the mailbox, and electronic delivery doesn't really change that.

Segwaying... the only issue I have with the idea is that it lends itself to the requirement for a unique government ID for everyone.

The onus is already on you to have to check your mail regularly, and checking something electronically is a lot easier.

The government sending snail mail does not usually help you - if you change address (up to *you* to change your address in 10000 different places), go on holiday (up to you to have someone physically check for you), get your mail stolen (up to you to pay for a PO box). I've never received registered mail from the government (a good thing I guess) but I've had plenty of notices (eg failure to vote while overseas) and important documents (drivers license) sent out in the regular mail. In fact my DL was sent to my old postal address because they didn't check the back of the form where you make your postal address change.

ahah I like your ideas. unpronounceable is, of course, hilarious, and two that differ yet are pronounced the same is genius.

My servers are my pets, you insensitive clod!