Basically, yes - you don't have to carry around batteries or chargers, just a methanol reservoir. As more devices come to be powered through methanol fuel cells, you'd cut down on the number of accessories to carry with you.

CBC's national science show recently had fairly good coverage of multi-tasking, and this is what they found:
"Dr. David Meyer is a cognitive scientist and Director of the Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan. He studies multi-task performance [...] he does say that, in many cases, multi-tasking can lead to greater inefficiency in performing each individual task. For example, using a cellular telephone while driving can lead to both poor communication and poor driving."

The whole podcast is available on the Quirks & Quarks site: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/07-08/feb16.html and the segment as an MP3: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/media/2007-2008/mp3/qq-2008-02-16_01.mp3

As for myself, I rarely even talk on my phone while driving, let alone attempt to text. For those saying you can do it without looking at the phone, do you use T9?

Despite the fact that Canadian banking practices are somewhat behind the times, there are advantages to the Canuck system. Our Interac system, for instance, would not have become nearly so widespread so quickly had we had to deal with hundreds of banks in thousands of jurisdictions - five banks, all national, makes for easy implementation of interbank technology.

Is there any reason this has to be done with visible light, or could they transmit the communications/instructions/orientation via radio?

So close, but maybe he'd still like to hang out with Terri Hatcher...

"We imagine this is about as close to a God Complex as any of us non-surgeons will ever get."

Also as close to a real girl as anyone with that haircut whose name isn't Lenny Kravitz will ever get...

In six months, everyone who bought one will have six months of use on it, instead of waiting for the next one "right around the corner".

One wonders why this wasn't their opening offering. If the price is right, it could have been a far superior competitor to the Eee PC. I feel they've lost a huge amount of momentum with their stumbling on launching the original Cloudbook. Too bad, because this looks promising...

Will it open the pod bay doors?

They still upconvert regular DVDs.