Well, if we are drawing racing analogies, in this case I would use the space race as mine. I recall no rules or limits on tools for that one - as I don't know of any for solving age-old mathematical quandaries. Having snarked that, I do like your analogy - you clearly illustrate the mode of thought. Still, I can't help but think of any time a tool is created which makes something possible, or at the very least easier, there is no end of individuals ready to declare that tool something bad (or at least that which comes from it) - or to be ashamed of using it.

Like digital music, "it's not as warm as analog" - these same complaints were/are heard for digital photography/film.

I don't like that mode of thinking.

Seriously man, take the million. Why is it that some feel if a tool is used to accomplish something ( in this case a computer to generate the proof ), then it wasn't "truly" accomplished? Math itself can almost be considered a "tool", albeit a mental one. I mean, what? Does this guy never use a pencil or chalk or pocket calculator, or own a digital watch!?...actually, when I think about the kind of person that turns down a million dollars, especially for simply being considered really smart, maybe he doesn't...

I'm on the toilet in Burbank flying to Sacramento checking email and server logs. Yes server logs. So I would say I'm doing quite a bit of work. ...I work in tmIT: )

Thank you!

In my documentation, I have begun referring to these devices as "communicators".

Basically, I see the blackberry as the end of the phone/pager era and the androids as the start of the AI-companion era.

A story: My executive user returned his Droid because his running apps kept causing phone calling to be a problem. I tried to show him ATK (advanced task killer), but he did not listen/didn't have time to learn about background processes and available memory - I can't blame him, he's not a computer person, he's got other stuff to worry about.

He got a blackberry again and makes frequent calls. He does, from time to time, make comments about missing this app or that cool feature from the Droid. I told him we will try the Nexus One when it is on Verizon.

Blackberry(s(ies) are phones: Androids aren't.