It's getting to the point that RMS just spouts crap to be heard. Most website developers use java script to get some functionality working, and java script is the easiest to do so. There is (usually) no intent to do harm, or take over your computer, or lie to you, or stalk your grandmother. The developer just wants to deliver the site to its users complete with certain functionality. Why would you want to run your own version of its java script? This is such nitpicking crap that its not worth reading.

Woohoo!!! Go for it TomTom!! Don't put up with their crap!

Who's running that Choru$$ company? Is it Steve Ballmer?

The people that are jumping up and down about Linux not gaining market share simply don't get Linux. It's like market analysts trying to analyze a block party, not realizing that its a block party not a stock exchange. Linux is not about market share. It's about creating an OS that works. If people like it, they use it. If they don't like it (or don't understand it), they use something else. There is no marketing plan. There is no "market expansion". There is no "competition". People who want it, use it. People who want to make it better, develop for it. People who don't, don't. That's it. Even Linus himself said that the destruction of Microsoft will be a totally unintended side effect. Yes, he was be sarcastic, and he was only talking about one company, but it's basically true. There was no intention of competing with anybody. Anyone who tries to make it out to be simply doesn't understand how Linux came about, why it still exists, and how it will continue to grow and thrive despite other people's warnings of "not gaining market share".

Excuses. Nothing more than excuses. If you really, really wanted to get it working, you would find a way. How important is it to you? The link you are looking for is on Google. Search for it.

Sounds like you gave up too easily.

Your rant runs out of steam very quickly:

You can build a cheap Intel box out of spare parts and run a hacked copy of Mac OS X on it.

See my comment above.

If someone's only goal is to write for Apple, and that's the world they live in, then that is a viable option to them. If its not for you, go about your life and leave them alone. They will live or die with their platform of choice.

This comes down to a business decision. If you are a company (even if you're just an individual developer), you have to realize that the App Store is a distribution channel, and Apple is your distribution partner. You have to play well together. Bear in mind that they are not the only smart phone around, and the agreement is non-exclusive. There is nothing stopping you from offering your same app to other distribution channels.

This is pure speculation. If I was an investor, I would not dump my life savings into Android, or any single product platform.

This issue is moot. Microsoft completely botches everything they do other than contract other companies to build video games for X-Box.

I disagree completely. The "smart phone" movement was dead before the iPhone, because companies were complacent to put out products that people were willing to tolerate. Once iPhone came out, all the big players kicked their game into high gear. You think we would see the Palm Pre or the Blackberry Storm this year if it wasn't for iPhone? Like it or not, iPhone raised the standard for what a smart phone should be, and now everybody is going to look like they are chasing them.

There is some truth to that. But now this will be the test for Apple. Can they sell products based on their own merits? Or do they need that messiah? Time will tell.

I believe that the best thing by far would be to teach computers to underprivileged children. I have to believe that if you take kids that have not had the chance to even see what's out there, once you put some of today's technology in their hands, their imaginations would take off. Nothing is more powerful than establishing hope and instilling a simple sense of accomplishment.

Exactly, how is this different from an iPhone, other than screen size (and of course, allowed software)?

There is a very simple solution to this. Never, ever, ever, buy music from iTunes. Acquire them from other places and load them into iTunes for syncing. That's it.

OOOPS! You're right! There's a moron in every bunch... :-)

More like ignorance is bliss. Hey, the Christians had Eden! The Chinese have the government.

Hmmm... let me see... Oh yeah... a FIREWALL!

You have to look at this the way a company would:

-- Bring it to the help desk.

What happens when someone's computer isn't working during a class activity due to some failure (software or hardware)?

-- Bring it to the help desk.

-- They just bought it. Add it to their dorm bill.

-- Call the cops and report it.

-- They just bought it. Add it to their dorm bill. Oh, and it is no longer supported by the help desk.

-- They just bought it. Add it to their dorm bill. Oh, and it is no longer supported by the help desk.

-- If they don't know how to use a computer these days, they shouldn't be teaching.

-- I'm sure they can figure it out. Point... click...

-- Because then they will install tons of crap and increase the risk of implosion. Will you stop all users forever? No. But that's why you have them sign a statement when the laptop is issued that they won't tamper with it, or they bough it.

-- Take it out of all the tuition and government grant money the school receives. Its about time that money went to the students.

-- Actually, this could end up saving tons of money. Eliminate all the books and give them a login to a site where they can download the PDF. Also, students can submit their homework online IMMEDIATELY (or 5 minutes before class!) Think about all the uses.... Yes, a worthless computer. Now THAT'S an oxymoron!

Huh? Have you ever dual-booted before? The OS selection menu shows up AFTER the bios. Think "grub".