Really, not letting most users or applications modify the OS is a good thing. Microsoft (and others) have had a TERRIBLE model in permitting this. Third-party stuff has no business altering the foundation of the system's operation. Now, not letting an application that doesn't want to monkey with the OS get installed is probably going too far. I mean, who's gonna run an OS they can't put an app on? That's broken.

Yeah, that would be because they're only pseudo-libertarians. They're actually much closer to anarchists in many respects. Amazon and Wikileaks may have had their issues, but these yahoos have made it into MY issue by stopping my holiday shopping at Amazon. Maybe in protect I should shut down their bank's website and ATM network right around your next payday? After all, you can always bank elsewhere.

Really, I am already re-thinking my earlier reply. The issue here is summed up in one word - "Just". You think you need "Just" a programmer, or "Just" a marketing guy, or "Just" a salesman? You have already told me that you don't really value their contribution to the effort, and additionally that you don't really understand fully what goes in to the work they're doing. Yeah, you have a genius idea. You don't want "Just" a programmer. You want a genius programmer, preferably either with a passion for your cause, or a resume of working in coding similar things. Otherwise, your operating system is being written by "just" a database programmer, and while you will have great search times, you may find other areas coming up short.

I would have to disagree. The difference between wealth and having a second job isn't in whether you can code the idea. Any 15-year-old idiot can probably code an idea, unless it's very complex. How well you can do it is nearly paramount. You know, for example, that most sort algorithms max out at an efficiency of Clog(n)[element_count], as a rough description. You know who makes six figures a year? The guy who can reduce "C" by five percent. And no, you can't do that with shell scripts and lines of spaghetti code.

I have fun with my non-resolution-limited PC games, thanks! Left 4 Dead - not a crappy console port. I don't buy most console ports anymore.

I play most of my games at 1920x1280...oh, wait, that's because I use a COMPUTER, not a limited machine, for my gaming. Ooops.

1) As computers get cheaper, they will become less expensive, or will do more for the same price. 2) As computers get smaller, they will take up less space, or do more in the same space. By "Space" I simply mean that they could exist somewhere in the known or unknown universe or multiverse. Ah, I see how this works. I'm gonna write me a book!

I quote: "However, this concept proves once more the advantages of open source over proprietary software..." WTF??? You could have a machine read ANY pointless information into a 'net radio. It's not like this is useful in any way. If Open Source needs to have its source code read over internet radio to demonstrate an advantage over proprietary software, it needs to crawl into a nice quiet corner, lay down, and die. You want real advantages? Get reliability, scalability, security. Those are Open Source (potential) advantages. Reading source code on the net radio station? What a waste of time.

Thank you! Best point I've seen on the topic yet.

You know, if you CANNOT FUNCTION without the data on the computers, you need to have verified backups and a plan for when the machines catch fire. If you can't manage this yourself, there are vendors that specialize in this very thing. Failure on this level probably warrants a firing, when the dust settles.

Amen. By not providing *any* of the truly necessary information, I postulate that this implies that: 1) He doesn't know the stuff he needs to know to build an appropriate solution 2) He doesn't know what he doesn't know He is below what is frequently referred to as the "threshold of ignorance", and only pain will come of this unless he's ready to tell the /. community WAY more than his employer wants him to about EXACTLY how they do what they do.

Not to be mean, but I would really have to agree. The OP didn't provide nearly enough information to make any of the decisions he's asking about, which makes me wonder whether he even *realizes* that he doesn't have the information he needs to answer these questions. It may be time to bring in someone with more practical experience.

Yes, because my Congressman is without a doubt the best qualified to draft intelligent, thoughtful cyber-laws to deal with cyber-threats! :) I now await his first press conference talking about his "Superior Cyber Technology"...

So, I should discount the scientific study because some Computer Scientist is unaware of any evidence about ear printing technologies? I think we should avoid all computer devices, because the head of the Home Soapmakers Guild has never heard of reliable digital information exchange, too! How do I get an eyeroll on this thing?

I was just thinking that - I am brand new to Blender, and am running the (now) current 2.5 beta. I have already discovered that virtually no documentation anywhere about how to do anything is correct any longer with the new UI. I'm learning it all the hard way! Guess I'll have to wait for the next version of the book.