What he said. I just read that pc world article and saw a couple of web apps from that I hadn't noticed before, like the Evernote web app. I added it to chrome and logged in. My internet connection is just fine, but all I got was a message that the web app couldn't be reached right now (or something like that). I can't help but compare this to Nevernote (nevernote.sourceforge.net) running on my linux machine or the real Evernote running on my Mac, which are both working quite nicely right now, thankyouverymuch.

There are, however, a few reasons why I would otherwise consider a cheap chrome notebook. First, this would be the perfect computer for when my toddler wants to see Dora or Diego on my or my wife's laptops, which means watching videos or playing silly little flash games online. Second, I would get one for my mom, who wants to do basically four things with a computer: email, basic web browsing, sharing pictures with family and playing solitaire. For myself, this would be great as my "lunch break" computer at work - something I could leave at the office and use during my lunch break when I want to get other things done that require a computer (staying at my desk is increasingly fruitless - people just can't seem to stop asking me about work when I'm eating!)

- TaskCoach (www.taskcoach.org) for anything that warrants a task list (desktop + iPod Touch app is a great combo!)
- Dropbox for getting to files from everywhere
- {Ne,E}vernote - Evernote on my work computer (WinXP) & Nevernote on my home linux machine w/ Shutter for screenshots
- text notes on my iPod Touch for random, non-sensitive info I need close at hand
- email (IMAP + local backups)

But as many others have said, my brain is by far the most useful tool. ;-) Also, I find that with some hobbies and interests it's helpful to not use a tool or keep track for a while because it's a good way to let the more important things rise to the top and weed out the things that don't matter so much.

from http://arewefastyet.com/faq.html:

"3. Why isn't Opera/IE/something here?
Right now, the performance tests are run on a Mac, which means no IE. Also the tests rely on a "shell" JS engine that runs in a command line. It doesn't test browsers. We'll change that, eventually."

Sadly, it seems that most people just don't bother to read most of what they sign (or otherwise agree to). Often there's a lot of indirect pressure to "just sign." People look at long contracts with complex language and they feel too rushed to spend the time to actually read what they are signing. I used to work in a mental health clinic and it was frequently my responsibility to get consents, HIPAA forms, etc. signed. I always offered to explain the forms and to give them the time to read them thoroughly. We had dozens of people signing these things every day, and I would guesstimate that in any given week, no more than one or two people actually read them through. In my experience most people didn't even read the release forms, even those who were worried about who would have access to their records.

Think about software licenses & people who just click "agree" without reading anything. How incredibly small must the number of people who actually read them be?

I'm sure that most (if not all) of the JPL scientists who are refusing to sign are very unhappy with the idea of losing their jobs over this, but honestly I envy them that they even feel like they have the *option* of refusing to sign and run the risk. A situation like this is often much worse for those of us (myself included) who don't have in-demand degrees and aren't considered "top-tier" in their industry. I honestly don't know that I could even consider refusing to sign something like this if I were faced with the possibility being fired for it. I'm very fortunate to have a good job, but it didn't come easy and our family could not afford to suddenly not have my income. This is almost certainly the case for most people out there, and it saddens me greatly to think of how little actual privacy my daughter may have throughout her life.