So, either these people have been directed to dance whilst neglecting their customer service roles, or the MS stores are so quiet, they're able to choreograph sub-par splashy musical numbers to kill time. Worrying thing is, both explanations are plausible.

Is anyone else looking at the screen on the right and seeing something a bit rude?

No? Good, just me then.

@ Badger_badger_badger
So how does a lack of facts size up against blatant misinformation? See the analysis on Microsoft's Laptop Hunters ads, for a case in point.

@ EminiSP
That's not the point. It's not that anyone's claiming that Apple don't strategically lift ideas from other manufacturers, they clearly have done and continue to do so quite successfully (go google PARC if there's doubt in anyone's minds). Patent infringements not withstanding, there's nothing wrong with that. If an idea is good, it doesn't matter where it comes from, Apple, Microsoft, HTC... if it gets out and other manufacturers run with, develop it, and above all else - do it well, it's the consumer that ultimately wins. And that last point leads me onto...

Neither is it the point that people are complaining that Apple's product-design mojo is being nicked. It's that HP are doing it so openly, yet so poorly.

The point being made, is that if this laptop, with *these* specs and *this* price-tag had an Apple logo on the case, the MS fanboys would be shouting it down as over-priced kack. They aren't, they're rationalising the problems away and claiming it's a quality little sex-kitten of a laptop. That's the hypocrisy. That's also the insight.

Each camp both defends their own *and* agressivly prosecutes the other, more than is objectively appropriate. They each gloss over the flaws while focussing on perceived benefits. Look back at the launch of the MacBook Air, you'll see more or less the same argument playing out there - the fundamental difference being that back then it was the MS Massive who were spitting transistors over the lack of fundamental connectivity options and functional gimping dictated by styling factors.

Let's face it, there's far more important things out there to get hissy and wet in the eyes over. Let's mark this up for what it is, and get on with our irrationally, subjectively entrenched lives out in the real world where such trivia as personal OS choices are just that - personal. Come on chaps, let's hug it out.

Can I just point out that the camera in the photo is a D*0 model, and as such, is not a full-frame body.

Who's Pengadget?

@ Joseph: indeed. I only ever buy L glass...

Here here.

A-ha, once more the rational pro-iPhone corner gets voted down for no actual, logical reason other than personal preference.

@ avester: Not in 'other words' at all. It's better for my needs than every other handset I've ever used (liberally spread across every major brand of manufacturer and operating system), so I'm happy to overlook it's short-comings on that basis.

If it doesn't do it for you, and/or it doesn't support the functionality you need, that's fine by me. But please don't knock the iPhone, just because it's an iPhone. Recognise it for the breakthrough that it is. We'd never have seen the likes of the G1, the Touch diamond or the Bold without it.

@ the world in general: See, I think the no-Flash issue is a bit of a red-herring. The way I look at it - and let me preface this by saying I'm a digital creative, Flash is my life - if I'm out and about, I'm generally using my phone to draw information, not for entertainment; and now that I've got , the last place I need to go is online for the latter. Even if the iPhone had Flash capabilities, I wouldn't access the majority of Flash content anyway as it tends to be bandwidth intensive, and'll therefore take forever to pull it down, plus will suck battery. If I'm at home, or otherwise within reach of an open wifi node, I've generally got my MacBook Pro on me, so I'd prefer to revert to that in any case, at which point Flash accessibility isn't an issue.

I don't miss Flash on my iPhone *at all*.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't - and routinely don't - recommend the iPhone to everyone. it's just not suited to a good portion of users. There's far too many people who've bought the hype - and I include people on both side's of the fence in that ;)