I'm sure that you'll still be able to buy a somewhat less power efficient x86-64 tablet that can still run x86 apps.

Won't a thinner connector make it much easier to snap off ?

you forgot 4. troll.

I know about J#. I don't believe it was intended to be a Java killer.

It's called C#. It's not killing Java, but it's certainly doing well. And why does one platform have to "kill" another to be successful?

I'm pretty sure real left diehards are cursing him too.

My assumption is that the movie studios require it, or at least require it if Netflix wants to obtain licenses at a reasonable rate. I can be wrong, but I have a strong feeling that the movie studios have a big part in this.

I haven't looked into it in a while, but if I recall correctly, mono touch is not compatible with monodroid (though surely you can make some reusable libraries). So a mono touch app targets all of the iPhone features, while monodroid targets android features.

I just clicked the tax site and it said I needed flash (I'm on an iPad). Is there a .net executable somewhere in there? The Netflix thing is a bummer, but it's a case of drm not being compatible with open source, as I see it. DRM sucks, but as far as I can tell, Netflix can't exist without it.

You think so? In my experience, I don't find many apps using too many of the native features. Of the native features, probably "swipe to turn the page" is the most common. I'm assuming that touch is so common that something like that can be baked into the HTML spec.

I own an iPad and love it for what it's good for; consuming content. It's ok for making a quick comment on facebook or something. Other then some niche* work scenarios, the iPad is not very good at producing content. It won't be replacing "normal" computers any time soon.

*example: pharma sales reps, who need to check off items in a check list and collect signatures from doctors before dropping off samples

"Anyone whom sells a similar sized piece of glass and plastic with some computer chips will not win"

For now, maybe. Ultimately though, I think HTML 5 (and the web in general) will be what matters in the mobile space, not apps (in the same way web apps are replacing desktop apps). When that happens, it really won't matter whether or not you can connect to iTunes or not. Will there be exceptions? Sure; games for instance will probably need to be native for some time to come.

I hear what you're saying, but is it really "making fun" when the episode is filmed years before the disaster? I'm a New Yorker, the Trade Center episode not only doesn't bother me, I still find it hilarious to this day!

I'm surprised; I thought the Chinese were already "beating us" (whatever that means) in Science. Good for them! Hopefully this will inspire the U.S. and Europe to get their shit together.

She probably wants a *new* machine because her husband used the budget intended for the new laptop that was supposed to go to her for a new mbp for himself instead. I'm sure he convinced her that hid old Mac was better than any new windows laptop on the market. I can't criticize too much though, I'd probably try the same thing :)