You may jest, but in my opinion part of the reason the early Windows versions were popular among users was because the application UI was much more consistent than the alternatives. X apps at the time were a complete hochpotch of different toolkits. Ironically, as time passed the situation has reversed: X apps are now very consistent in their look & feel and Windows apps seem to have gone down the customised toolkit route, leaving the user wondering whether the OK button is bottom right or top left!

Here in the UK, bread already is made centrally using the ghastly Chorleywood Process. As a consequence our bread is almost universally tasteless and unpleasant - even many of the 'artisan' bakeries have no idea how to make decent bread. Its depressing to see how good bread can be when I take trips to see family/work in continental Europe.

My company is currently renewing it's Microsoft Partner status - it looks like we now have to certify on Windows Phone 8 to keep our status. If this is the case - and I've every reason to believe it is - there *will* be lots of apps out there pretty soon because Microsoft shops are used to getting their development tools 'free' with their partner status and will sooner port their app to WinPho 8 than pay 10+ Visual Studio + MSSQL licenses, especially when they live, breath and die Microsoft.

Hell would freeze over before Apple would agree to that.

I don't think Intel is being anti-Linux. They are very linux friendly for the most part. I think they know this chip is a bit of a dud and would rather focus on bringing Valley View up to speed. That chip no longer relies on the PowerVR for video so a full, properly supported, open source Linux stack is possible. I get the impression that this chip is being dumped on the market because they need something out there to compete with ARM and to piggy back the Windows 8 tablet releases while the one to watch is Valley View.

Yes, for the same reason the worst way to handle too much debt is take on even more debt.

I remember reading somewhere (National Geographic?) that they need to use some energy to keep the electronics warm enough to operate. Its probably still *very* cold in there, but the few milliwatts of heat provides just enough to stop the electronics packing up.

I think you've got a bit confused - John Lewis operates as a partnership. That is, all members of staff (except the cleaners!) are partners and have a say in how the company is run.

That is quite different from investors/early adopters funding a fledgling business.

I can't help but think that the current series of Reith Lectures presented by the Professor Neil Ferguson is pertinent here.

The lectures are quite long at about an hour each, and there are only three of the final four available so far, but it is worth the taking the time to listen to what he has to say. If you are short of time, skip to the third episode where he explains that the rule of law has become the rule of lawyers and why this is bad for the economy.

The beatings, as they say, will continue until moral improves.

Summer? What is this 'summer' that you speak of?

We know of no such things in England!

Its not an intractable problem to run proprietary desktop software via remote desktop to VMs. It might even help cut down on licensing and support costs.

We can't... that's why we have a half finished air craft carrier and no aircraft to put on it, at least not for the next decade.

But, hey, we've still got nuclear submarines so we can claim to be sitting at the top table.

Why shameless? After all, they are there to represent the will of the people, so changing policy to match popular opinion seems not only sensible but a morally good thing to do.

I'm sorry, but I take those phone operator web sites with a large pinch of salt. For all I know, Microsoft or Nokia paid to get the Lumia listed as 'best sellers'. In any case, given the amount of astro-turfing these days, I certainly wouldn't pay any attention to the approval ratings or reviews.