I can think of one industry where profits are at record levels, and we all contribute every time we fill up the jalopy. Business creates the problem by its very nature. Sales and profits must always exceed last year, partly because most people, from the janitor to the stockholder, would like to earn a little more than they did last year. MS could still provide upgrades to a stripped-down OS by increasing the speed and efficiency, not eye-candy that actually slow it down. As far as those little digs that everyone seems to get into every product or service... anyone changed their TV provider lately? hmmm.. I now have digital sevice with a DVR...but I can't use the DVR for recording anything unless I want to pay yet another $12 a month. I have free On Demand, but it costs $3.99 for each program I 'demand'. I have "free" HD, but to actually see the HD channels... you guessed it, an additional $10 a month. All sorts of 'free' stuff, that doesn't work without spending more. I'm getting nostalgic for the days when you spent one day a week adjusting the antenna on the roof, and the internet was all words. erm... maybe not. ;)