@adam
Normally I'd agree with you, but I lucked out a few months ago and got a Fido $17/Month deal. (No data, but I don't use that anyway as I have access to wifi 90% of the time.) So having that rate guaranteed for 3 years actually made the long contract nice.

I'm not sure that's the best place for a dartboard

I think it depends very much on what you consider as 'real' work. 95% of my work, which is as real as your work, is actually better in an open source environment.

OpenOffice is more than suitable for my needs (occasional word processing and spread sheet use) so paying for the latest version of MS office would be a complete waste of money for me.

However, developing LAMP application is actually under Linux, using free tools like notepad++, eclipse, phpmyadmin, mysql gui apps, etc. In fact I personally find these tools much better than the equivalent commercial products (dreamweaver, frontpage, db2, access, etc)

I can of course develop in windows as well (using the same set of free tools), by installing WAMP. But there are too many inconsistencies, even when using strict XHTML.

So I have a dual boot, windows xp & ubuntu hardy heron. I spend most of my time in linux doing my real work and only go into windows when I'm not doing my real work.

This idea would be useful for stores that want to implement a windows or web based POS system. POS systems don't need to be very precise, this would save on having to find extra space in the till area for a mouse and keyboard, and it's cost effective.

For a home or office user it's, as you say, a bit pointless.

There is a flaw with your argument. The iCrap may have taken less time to build and release, but it's dated crap technology, the hardware is poor and the software is just a bubbly interface on top of a poor, unresponsive system that freezes all the time. I think taking time to make something that's good quality (and looks aside the G1 and android both look pretty good quality) is much better than rushing out a hillbillie piece of junk, ala Apple

you should really just ignore the apple fan boys, they're just retards who want to flame the comment system. *you* don't own an iPhone, therefore you haven't wasted any of your money on one. They have. Who cares? If they want to spend money lining Apples pockets let them, it doesn't effect you in any way does it. Next year a new iPhone will come out (iPhone : CnP) that has a couple more features and all the fan boys will go and spunk another months wages to get the upgrade. You on the other hand can save your months wages for a more useful gadget, and you can be happy in the knowledge that while they are flaming comment boards with fanatical apple love, you've spent your money wisely and have had the better deal.

As this is a phone article I assume we'll be getting a bunch of apple retards pretty soon. So just for them:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/local_idiot_to_post_comment_on

you could also remove "for more than 30 minutes." and there would still be a significant number that haven't.

Haven't dell done this before with Linux (RedHat / Fedora??)

It's sweet that they are offering this, I'd personally prefer to see opensuse on there, but hey, switching a distro is no big deal...

... hang on a minute, this is a engadget comment, what am I thinking!!!

Buy an iphone, it does all this already and PCs suck.

First! no I mean Second, no I mean will it run crysis?

@miguel

Yes they do, it's called british summer time. The time change dates are different though, so sometimes there's a 4 hour difference, and sometimes a 5 hour difference (I think, maybe it's actually 5/6 not 4/5). Agree with your comments on it's pointlessness.