The problem is you were buying something that *only* worked in one browser. It didn't work in Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox, or Opera, IE for Mac, or anything else. So, let's say your company rolls out an update that breaks IE, or just introduces an incompatibility with your intranet app (I've seen this happen many times). Normally you could just say, use Netscape until we fix it, but instead now your finance or customer service app (or whatever) is completely inaccessible. So it's not just a problem with different OSes.

Um, that's why you choose cross-platform solutions! Of course no one can predict that future, that's why you need to keep your options open.

If they really don't want to change often, and use things for a very long time, then choosing proprietary software is probably the worst choice. What do you do when support is dropped and you have a critical bug or security hole? In that case, open source is a much better option, since you can run it forever, and if you absolutely need to fix something you can.

Yes, it's just fine, unless you want to move to a different server OS, or a different client OS, or a even a newer version of the *same* client OS. In other words, you've completely removed the ability for IT to make any strategic or tactical decisions. All of these problems could have been avoided with a cross-platform solution, either open source or proprietary. These alternatives did exist, and some companies used them and avoided such lock-in.

What I want to know is, will the managers or admins who chose solutions that locked them into an obsolete browser will be fired? Subordinating your business interests to the business interests of your vendor seems like a pretty stupid move, and one that should have consequences.

Cool, just make sure it doesn't mistake your head for a Rubik's Cube. :)

Right, so if I just run Windows full time, problem solved! Wait a minute...

Um, because I am continually working and checking email, RSS, twitter, publishing a blog and doing various other things? It takes a couple seconds to cmd-tab out of the game and do some work and then go back in. Rebooting every 15 minutes ain't going to cut it.

Please, please, follow the example of Blizzard and release a Mac version at the same time, or even on the same media. I don't want to wait a year or more for the Mac version to come out!

I actually meant the suggestion mostly as a joke, hence the smiley. Most people are going to want faster speeds. Still, if you've got the old hardware, it could give you something to use it for.

Excellent news! I've been registered for the beta for a long time (along with my system info), so I hope they send me an invite when the Mac version is ready.

No Mac version yet, unfortunately. Both Mac and PC versions are going to be released together on the same media, but no word yet if Mac users will get to play with the beta.

Yes, sorry, mixed up the number a bit. Still, it's nothing compared to the 250 million in the US. And if all 28 million were switched to ethanol instead of 8 million that would require a lot more biofuel. Then there's China and India which are building cars like crazy.

Why not conserve and use less? We can drive less, build more rail, add more transit, build walkable communities, etc. There's lots we can do besides finding new stuff to put in our cars.