That's different, "JC should've". You're talking about virtual computing. I was hypothesizing about replacing the shell of one OS with one designed to look and act like another OS. I just see that as a recipe for disaster.

I'd be willing to rent a Chrome netbook, but it would have to have some basic computer features as well. I understand I could type on it in Google Docs, but I'd also want to be able to play media, e.g. off an external drive.

Caveat: Sometimes the Open/Save dialog will not let you select more than one file at a time, depending. So if you want to work with multiple files, you *may* be out of luck.

Does it still require you to install the toolbar? Even the PortableApps edition would wise up after a few times being ran, and prompt you to go through the setup (and install the toolbar) to continue.

I've never been impressed by these UI transformation packs. It's still very obviously Windows 7. Now, if it were a suite of little programs that actually made it look and feel, through and through, like Mac OS X, I would have to be impressed. But basically they would have to completely re-create the OS X GUI on top of…

I think it's easy to over-analyze. Obviously if I'm in an active conversation, I'm not gonna be checking my TweetDeck feed. But if it's a more casual environment and people are just hanging out, there isn't a problem. Then again, I don't socialize with people who are going to take it personally if I read an incoming…

Thank you, I will look into that app. TuneIn Radio seems to use 32k streams. As for the ads, they're part of the stream.

Except when it isn't, like if the activity requires more than one read/write cycle at a time. Even the best flash drives lag like mad running Portable Firefox and Portable VLC at the same time. Running an OS off a flash drive, unless that OS is specifically designed to operate off a flash drive, considering all the…

I think it bears mentioning that we falsely accept "getting wet" as a bad thing. Sure, it's unfavorable, but is it less favorable than looking like an idiot? Now, if it's pouring down rain, that's one thing, but if it's just a drizzle, just walk through it like a boss. You're going to get wet regardless. Unavoidable.…

I win? Not trolling but, you guys pick the Aero Press as the best, but say the Chemex and it often tied for first. Chemex is $35 and filters are $7-10 for 100. Okay. I use the Melitta Ready-Set-Joe over-the-cup filter basket ($4), a Pyrex 2-cup tempered glass measuring cup ($5), and a nice mug with a "stand" ($2.50).…

I'm now a huge fan of this app. While it's nice to have access to the local stations, any decent FM radio can do that for me. What I like is access to the radio stations in my hometown. I moved across the country in 2005 (long story there) and, while I don't have any particular connection to any of the stations there,…

You make some good points, but what you say you can do on an office computer that, let's assume, doesn't have a crashed hard drive, doesn't have a keylogger — I can do with the PortableApps platform (plus a few apps they don't offer). I have OpenOffice — I haven't put LibreOffice up there yet. Too lazy and I hardly…

On another note, dear God MusicBrainz is terrible. I tried it once a couple years ago. Not only is it completely counter-intuitive to look up and tag music and actually write the tags, it doesn't clear past lookups out of the right-side pane, so it's sloppy, and it favors Greatest Hits packages and even peoples'…

Who is really going to need this?

Huge thanks for the album art tip. I've been trying to tag my collection manually with Mp3Tag, and one of the biggest bottlenecks was getting the album art. I have yet to meet a tagging program that is automatic or fast that doesn't screw something up for me.

I've blogged about how to make a great cup of coffee with minimal effort a few times, but I don't want to spam... I use the Melitta "Ready Set Joe" over-the-cup filter basket, which means each cup is the first (only) cup brewed. I use more filters, but I never get the last, bitter cup. That's a huge improvement over…

And I agree about the Dreamcast. I never owned one, but a friend was kind enough to loan me his for a week or two. He had Crazy Taxi and Resident Evil: Code Veronica for it. I remember the detachable memory cards with the built-in screen, but I don't remember doing anything with it. I do recall you could do a bit with…

I'd love to contribute to the wiki, but the site is down. I have a weird phone — America's sixth-largest carrier, regional US Cellular's exclusive, most underpowered Android, the Samsung Acclaim. Should be pretty rare, especially in areas without US Cellular presence. Anyway, rooting is tricky — you gotta get the…

I have that exact AC in my bedroom. Different brand though. (Why is it fans — and I guess AC units — can be the same but with different brands?) Otherwise identical. A little bit of opening around either side. I rent the place, so I probably shouldn't seal it, but then again, if it'll save on the bill, I probably…

I have a 12MP camera at home, and I loved it when it was new, but as soon as I got my Android phone with its 3MP camera, I just carry that everywhere, where I used to never be without my camera. I take far fewer pictures, too. It's kinda sad but I can't justify carrying both.