That really doesn't bode well for your average linux program then. I've had to learn a few new tricks just to use a standard 10" netbook and I'm talking about configuration screens - not even some esoteric application.

but closing your eyes and wishing really hard isn't a viable option either. When it comes to stuff like this it's as if everybody has access to Pandora's box and you're wanting everybody to a) not open it and b) not abuse it if they have opened it. This sort of thing needs to be publicised so that the developers of browsers help to plug the holes they didn't think of when they first designed these mechanisms.

Well in fairness haven't linux users been waiting longer? Seems to me Microsoft haven't exactly been forging ahead when it comes to 64bit.

Assuming the wikipedia entry for TrueType hasn't been buggered about with then it's summary (there is no article) that is confused.

wow, using Microsoft products has left you bitter!

Everybody keeps talking about how the player should have used it but wasn't he just couriering for his alliance? I don't play EVE but if he used them there is no way to turn them back into PLEX I assume.

I'm sorry but those examples are terrible.

Internet + computer. The majority of machines will not be purchased from the ISP and there is no need to even have an ISP if you don't want internet connectivity.

Cable + TV. See above.

and so on. The most suitable of your examples would probably be the phone (assuming you meant mobile phone and very much dependent on the system in place in a particular country). If you want an expensive phone you'll probably pay an initial fee and then you have your monthly payments on top of that. Even then it breaks down. You're paying an initial fee because they are using the phone, which is manufactured and sold by a totally separate company in most cases, as a sweetener to bring you to their network (this is very much dependent on the business model used which differs by country). In your examples there is rarely any link between the two companies. A more similar example might be purchasing an xbox 360 and then their subscription for online play (I think I have that correct - don't own a console so could be wrong) but again, you don't need to pay the subscription.

What little I've read about Blizzard recently it seems the top guy is all about milking their customer base for every penny they have. I can't comment on WoW but I'd suspect they're possibly money grabbing buggers too.

Are you sure about this?

from the linked article:

(bold part is my emphasis)

You're not suggesting the police were agitating the situation are you? (~4:15 in audio recording in the independent link) ;)

Well I can't speak for your 5 year's worth of painful experience - all I can say is this hasn't been mirrored in my use of the language.

As for the insinuation that I'm biologist speaking our of my depth. I will have you know that the code I am referring has been tested against many other simulation packages in the same area, with no discrepancies (beyond the typical bug) discovered. I won't even bother to inform you of my background as there is clearly no point.

It's obvious you don't like Java and your clients are welcome to listen to your advice. I for one believe some of that is probably down to the skill of the supposed developer. Stick to what you feel comfortable with - html.

Finally somebody with a little clarity! I haven't read every comment in this thread but a pretty big sample and what almost every person (with very few exceptions) seems to be forgetting is that we don't represent the majority type of user. If you're machine is spending a significant amount of its time compiling or you ponder what RAID setup to use then you're not the common user!

A laptop will be more than sufficient for the average user these days. I'm not saying the article isn't total rubbish but my seriously, some of the people here have to get a grip. We're tech geeks and our requirements from a computer aren't the same as Joe public.

and you're basing this on what exactly? Java enabled me to write an application that, except for a couple of issues over SWT, did indeed run as expected on multiple OSes, something that I seriously doubt would have happened without Java (based on the funding and manpower this project had). As for being a resource pig and unstable - if it's good enough to run bio-chemical simulations in I think it's good enough for the average user.

Well I can't speak for the GP but I'd like to respond to yours.

Any purchased disk of OS X has no serial verification or copy protection. All allow a fresh install as far as I know. Now the fact that they do this (and don't try to restrict the number of machines which it is placed on) is, I believe, separate from the licence agreement. The offer of a cheaper upgrade for Leopard users was meant in some way as a nod towards the short time between Leopard coming out and Snow Leopard. Somebody wishing to move to Leopard from Tiger was expected to pay the full amount, just as they are expected to if you move from Tiger to Snow Leopard. There very well may be perfect examples of Apple doing as you suggest, I would argue that this isn't one of them though.

Congratulations on clearly not reading the article. I'd explain myself but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't read it :)

I know of large companies that are still using NT so I wouldn't joke about that too much if I were you.