Just like MSFT's patents they are not the first to do it (and once again being software its based on math which has already been ruled can't be patented). In this case Windows OS's have had this ability since evil Active-x was created, we see it happen on spyware/adware affected pc's and even in running chat programs like Yahoo chat and MSN chat. Therefore because 1) Math isn't patantable, therefore software can't be patented and 2) Apple is not the first to do this I don't believe this "patent" should be allowed.

This is just another example of academics trying to justify their jobs and twisting the meaning of the word addiction.

don't you mean to "rent" you their stuff?

frackin gov't. When will people get it through their heads that gov't is NOT the answer, it's the PROBLEM. Leave us alone like the founders intended.

yea but gov't regulation? This country has gotten so socialized its pathetic.

They make great targets at a firing range :)

pfft they don't do that at all. Any given hdd could have any level of security on it at any given time. Hard drives, like all "excess property" goes to a DRMO (defense reutilization marketing office) where they are either distributed out to other units who could re-use it or disassembled completely. Circuit cards are even cut up for the elements.

Yaaaayy!!! Let's all go BUY a service pack so we can have the OS we should have gotten when we got Vista. MSFT, I'm done with you.

exactly. The fact that keyboards, mice, and even GUI/desktop ways of driving our computers are still used is just sad. If even a third of the R&D costs wasted in gaming hardware development had been spent on changing user interfaces to not be dependent on keyboards and mice we'd likely have sci-fi ways of manipulating our pc's rather than these joint destroying and litterally dumb devices.

bah it's not "free" at all because it has a prepaid 25 movie rental requirement. Netflix service has a subscription that grants us physical dvd's for an unlimited time and as many movie downloads as we want at no extra cost. That is not surprising though as Blockbuster has a history of fine print and outright hostility to its customers.

hmm isn't that a modern way of the old heat a knife over a fire then burn the wound closed with the side of it like on movies?

Rogerborg is absolutely correct. Any interest your child has in computers right now is simply because he sees you at the computer so he's doing what children do: monkey see monkey do. What I did for my child when she "showed an interest" is gaver her an old keyboard which at 5 she still plays with. At 5 the computer things she does is limited to noggin.com pbskids.com sproutonline.com and a couple Disney Pooh games that are simple point and click. Even those kid-friendly websites still have too many links to non-games and ads that frustrate her. It takes time to develop the understanding what's on a screen (especially when their reading is non-existant or limited) and the dexterity to work a mouse or trackball. At 2 you're better off with lightup music toys. My 2 copper is get him a toy piano keyboard with flashy lights :)

speaking as a veteran military supply officer you'd be amazed at how many parts come from overseas in the military - especially from France.

Good point bigtomrodney. It reminds me of the all the panic over online credit card use. I used to respond to people like this: "hmm so you trust the unshaven overweight fella in the gas station who could have a camera snapping pics of your card as he swipes it over an online JCPenny.com computer that has no feelings or motives?" Every time the response I got was that they never considered that and then thought differently. I don't mean to sound like I'm playing "blame the victim" here, what I am trying to do is point out the responsibility of self defense. I honestly wonder (which means I'm looking to hear some answers from people here) why kids let the 'net and their peers be so important to them in the first place. The only answer I can think of that can be proven is they are too lazy. Remember the phrase "Idleness is the devil's business"? That seems to come into play here. A school athlete or even music and drama student doesn't have the time for this kind of thing to bother them or be bullied by anyone in the first place. Contrary to hollywood likes to show serious bullies are not found in athletic programs because bullies tend to have lousy grades which gets them booted from athletics in the first place. Oh some of them act like jerks once in a while but that's a far cry different than a bully. If any of them did act that way you have a recourse through the coach and the practice field. In essence bullies are losers so the best way to avoid a bully is not be a loser as well. Be involved in activities wether it be school affiliated ones, a martial arts or dance school, or volunteer at the local nursing home. Being active and non-idle reduces the time and chances to be bullied! Why is this not emphasized more? Instead the emphasis we see is on enforcement against bullies which is as useless as the overall fight against drugs. Oh sure the sting operation leading to a pushers arrest one day might maybe prolong one users life for one day but the overall effect is miniscule. But the programs to keep people from becoming users in the first place has proven to have large long term effects yet it gets the less emphasis and funding. See the correlation? Your thoughts? Rob

Wether she's actually intelligent is up for debate; the facts seem to indicate otherwise. There's a fellow in my hometown that has done the same thing despite warnings from the president of the bank even and family members but last I heard he still was believing it would pay off. I think it's the same phenomenon that happens when people refuse to hear the evidence against the lights in the sky they saw as anything but a flying saucer from outer space. "I know what I saw!" - actually they don't know what they saw, they are not a trained observer and don't know how the brain forms patterns and refuse to hear evidence to the contrary. There's bound to be a psychological term for this.