I'd like to add in my opinion of "this is not a problem." When do you need (or want) to move the console while the disk is moving? You don't. Yes, this technology is present in cars and walkmans, but there's a major difference: those devices are expected to be in motion. Micosoft doesn't need to invest in stabilization because the console is stationary.

I'm 20, have pink hair, and my lip pierced, and I program in Java.

Without those clauses there, they wouldn't be able to copy or print your images. It's there so they can do their job and don't get hit with a lawsuit from someone who purchased a service from them.

This has been around since... forever. Nothing new here. They have every right to monitor what people are saying on _their_ servers. "Private" chat doesn't mean encrypted between you and the recipient... it's just the method you use so you don't spam public channels. If you're using game whispers as a method of confidential communication, you're retarded. I mean, if you really were concerned, you can probably implement chat encryption through their AddOn API. You should be more concerned that Apple is infringing on your right to make biological weapons with their iTunes software (old story is old: http://gizmodo.com/5204274/you-may-not-use-itunes-to-design-manufacture-or-produce-nuclear-chemical-or-biological-weapons).

I just moved up to Rochester to attend Rochester Institute of Technology, and I can tell you that Linux is very welcome, as well as PCs and Macs. Most of the student labs are UNIX systems, and our CS filesystems require knowledge of UNIX to submit work. The professors here haven't just heard about other operating systems... most of them (professors) are intimately familiar with almost all of them (OSs).

You'd still be out 1/4 of the cost, plus the fees for two lawyers... And the contempt fines you'll get for running back and forth between tables in the court room, arguing with yourself.

Been waiting on Diablo III ever since Diablo II.

I agree. There are times I want it to be masked (at a public location), and times I do not wish it to be masked (at home). I vote it's defaulted to show bullets, and has an option to remove them.

There's a couple of servers that have similar problems across the country. I have to pass through two of 'em to get to Blizzard's servers to play WoW. It's sad when people from Europe have lower latency than I do. :-/

The "crappy prerendered cutscenes" are what we are discussing, and do "count," as those are considered the "cinematic" portion of the game.

That is the policy where I work as well. The problem is that the software is essentially transfered from the disk to the computer. So, with the ability to return opened software, customers would purchase, install, then return everything. If there was some other way to sell software (i.e. some sort of guarantee that the software was uninstalled and in most cases that the key would not be used again), then I'm sure the policy would be different. DVDs share a similar problem. Burning DVDs is common practice, and it would be bad for business if we allowed customers to buy, burn, then return every DVD in the store.

I've always felt that we could remedy this by keeping track of who returns software (e.g. Driver's License info), and bar certain "repeat returners" from ever returning again. I mean, we already have similar practices on other items, but the "no more returns" threshold is way too high, in my opinion.

On the other hand, when a TV is returned, I know (with almost absolute certainty) that the person didn't make a copy of the TV.

You should get a refund for the TV, but not be able to sue the manufacturer.

I was wondering what that number was supposed to be. Perhaps 2 1/2? This is why I prefer decimal points.