As other have pointed out I think it's more likely that Microsoft don't want to see patents invalidated.

I've got two Thinkpads ("designed for XP") that have different wireless chipsets. Both up to date with service packs and drivers. Under XP one will connect about 80% of the time, the other 20% I need to reboot, but it won't connect to a hidden SSID. The other connects about 50% of the the time and although it's set to automatic I generally need to do it manually, the other 50% I have to reboot until I can get it to connect. I've also got a separate drive that I can put in a caddy and use in either machine. With Ubuntu (Intrepid and Jaunty) it connects every single time, hidden SSID or not. If I switch machines I use wicd to change the wireless device and it connects straight away. For these two machines Ubuntu blows XP away for wireless connectivity.

Don't let your hate of Microsoft blind you from seeing that they're right in this case.

No, I agree with you about LotR.

No, you're wrong; Copyright is an election issue. What this demonstrates is that the constituency for whom this is an election issue (i.e. the recording industry) has more clout than the constituency for whom it isn't (i.e. the general public). Dollars/pounds/euros are more important than votes and voters.

I would say they are consistent.

How can you tell if it's noticeable?

I hope he's still suffering.

Rather than the equally possible extremism or martial law or any other catastrophic scenario.

The thing that you evangelists for free trade choose to ignore is that every major economy was built on protectionism.

built on the protectionism of 100 years ago.

Try a hot cook and hostesses that...

That'd be the non-pr0n 5%

I like quiche.

Socialism is the reason we've had such advancements in the last 150 years: Public education, public health and public investment in transport.