2012's Most Memorable Reader Comments

April

Right up there with the Windows love/hate feelings are the ... ahem ... strong opinions that many of you have towards all things Apple. Back in April, the iPad Mini was still a rumor being debated, dismissed and desired.

Reader 'offthewall' wondered if the world hadn't in fact already seen the device:

"Doesn't apple already make an iPad mini? It's called the iPod touch and the iPhone."

See the whole article and discussion.

May

There are those occasions when the Microsofties and Applephiles come together like the Hatfields and McCoys: Neither side will ever pass up the opportunity to take a potshot at the other. In May, Microsoft took heat for accusations that the Windows 8 Tablet OS favored Internet Explorer over third-party browsers such as Firefox.

Reader zman58 griped:

"Did we really expect anything else? Leverage your monopoly in one area to try to dominate another. Bend and break any rules or law that you can. Vampires just can't change their ways -- no matter what they tell you. We'll be better, we promise!"

Reader 'rkdowner' retorted:

"How about investigating why Apple doesn't allow 3rd party browsers on iOS? Why investigate Microsoft and not Apple? A monopoly is a monopoly is a monopoly."

'Mark-avo' agreed:

"Why is it that when Microsoft has a browser installed by default they get sued but Apple and Google do not? That's flippin Monopoly too!"

See the whole article and discussion.

June

In June, Facebook purchased facial recognition company Face.com, aiming to use the company's superior technology to improve picture tagging. Facebook has been no stranger to controversy in the last few years, from unexpected (and in some cases, unwanted) interface updates to unannounced security changes. Photo tagging is typically a hot-button issue for people with privacy concerns, so this acquisition didn't improve the situation.

'AustinIT' said ominously:

"Spielberg's Minority Report comes to mind ..."

Reader 'LT' echoed the sentiment:

"Facial recognition is a big negative. Facebook is just getting creepier & creepier. I deleted my account months ago & so did many of my friends. Why? We do not want to be constantly tracked, stalked & identified. It ceased to be fun long ago."

On the other hand, 'ZeroHedges' seemed resigned to his fading privacy:

"You are always welcome to drop off the grid to protect your privacy. I'm just saying that you may have to move to a ranch in Afghanistan if you want to stay off the grid."

See the whole article and discussion.

July

With social media continuing to extend beyond vacation pictures and tweets about football games, businesses continue to try to successfully capitalize on it. With all this activity, we found it a little disconcerting that 70% of Fortune 500 CEOs are not involved in their company's social networks.

'Jennifer Abernethy' offered her thoughts and a prediction:

"I hear from employees every day how frustrated they are that their CEO and/or C-level executives just don't get this social business landscape we are in right now. If they continue to turn a blind eye ... they won't be around 7-10 years from now."

'Sacalpha1' was a bit more critcial with his opinion:

"Most CEOs will never invest the time in social networking because it has no business based payback. Their job is to run their company and with all of their responsibilities, spending time with social networking would be so far down their to do list that they never even give it a thought."

See the whole article and discussion.

August

As the sticky heat of August began to cause air conditioners and fans to blow full force, a rumor started on the breeze that Samsung might be interested in buying troubled RIM. However Samsung was quick to dismiss the reports.

That didn't stop reader 'JameKatt' from this little ponder:

"Why would Samsung buy RIM? It would have nothing successful to copy."

See the whole article and discussion.