When storing off images of "fresh" installs, a few hardware changes here and seventy-two Windows security updates there still make recovery a long process. Blowing away to factory works well on a tablet or phone because the hardware doesn't change, and the reset bases itself on the currently-installed version of the OS.

If Reset and Refresh incorporates security patches as they are applied I suppose things would be a little easier.

I have been using a credit card to pay online every month for a couple of years now. Verizon Wireless does NOT charge a fee. Some utilities do, but Verizon Wireless has not.

This is also why I don't rely on Slashdot (replying posts such as yours, specifically) as a reliable news source.

With all the outrage over huge profits from a drug like Lipitor, no one brings up the fact that these companies spend millions on drug research the pans out to squat because the product doesn't make it through FDA trials.

I get the whole idea of "they made billions on that drug, look at them try to farm it for more money." I find that view less than even-handed. A company develops a product that extends useful lifespan, I'm glad for it and they should be amply rewarded for doing so. Could drugs be cheaper? Probably, but I'm not going to offer a position on a given company's profits on a single drug when I DON'T have full knowledge of the amounts of money spent on endeavors that went sorely negative. Every time you read a story about a drug that didn't make it through whatever phase of FDA drug trials and you can bet that's millions of dollars down the tubes. And yeah, the ones that work have to produce revenue to pay for that particular drug's development and turn a profit, AS WELL AS make up for the ones that didn't work out that millions got flushed on.

The system has warts but it is what it is, if large profits aren't there as a potential reward we aren't going to get advanced drugs and treatments to prevent, remedy and cure human ills because a company has to put up major bank to develop those things. Mod me down but that is business reality.

I disagree with those that are criticizing the article. I found it very educational, I had no idea the entire iPad was covered by a single patent.

I wonder if he would have made that same statement about Microsoft's innovative efforts and visionary user experience without laughing just two years ago, pitting Eclair against Windows mobile 6. I dare him to use a Samsung Omnia II for more than five minutes without crushing it to bits.

Lots out there, Google harder I guess.

August after 3.02 release -
http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/hp-touchpad-will-receive-ota-udpate-for-added-functionality/

Today, 3.04 release -
http://gizmodo.com/5850862/hp-touchpad-gets-a-webos-upgrade-from-beyond-the-grave

I have a real Android tablet in the Xoom, but scored a couple of Touchpads when they went fire-sale. I would keep WebOS on the Touchpad at least until HP releases another update to it which I believe they have already said they would.

It runs very well and I hope Android moves in the direction of WebOS' interface. Tablets are coming down in price... I understand the hack cred of showing your Touchpad to your friends with a castrated-functionality Android deployment but I wouldn't do it unless I could put WebOS back on once I realized it wasn't worth the effort.

Actually I typo'd now, meant to type not. Slashdot is my doja, I guess I get a high from being here and it messes with the typing.

Apple has been trading below-value for a long time now. People see the high per-share price and aren't sophisticated enough to know that the share price is simply the result of a division problem involving market cap and shares outstanding, and thus believe stocks that have a high share price are automatically "expensive" stocks when they may be cheap (as with Apple based on earnings and earnings growth), versus a low per-share price that is very expensive (as with Sirius/XM with a $2 share price but not enough earnings to justify that price).

As in Dow Jones Indus--oh never mind.

The writer and the reasons for Apple now being in the Dow 30 are both high.

... years ago with the Blackberry Storm, and yet the vast majority of us are still using flat, unfeeling touchscreens and Research In Motion is struggling to stay relevant in the mobile device business.

I'm not sure consumers really care about how the screen feels, and they may even be distracted by such a change.