The same could eventually happen to set-top boxes, like Roku, if Smart TV takes over.

FORBES: Anthony Wood: How Roku Prospers In An Apple-Google TV Invasion

If it's something in the living room, like your cable set-top box or stereo, Microsoft could be in trouble.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"The current refinancing situation in the top-flight is like a financial house cards which could come crashing down at any time, " he told CNN.

CNN: Premier League stricken with debt?

In the future, Microsoft could also license Kinect software to TVs and cable set-top box makers just like Google embeds its Android software in TVs to come out with Google TV.

FORBES: Microsoft Accelerates 'Net-TV Convergence With Kinect, Stock Heads To $32

Apple's stock plunge last week has also stung investors who bought complex, bond-like "structured products" tied to the shares, on which losses could top 30%.

WSJ: What's News

Conversely, a prestigious brand like BMW could miss the Top 10 by being a little more permissive, without endangering its high-end image in the long run.

FORBES: Volvo Buyers Have The Highest Credit Score, Surprisingly

The thumb grip's pair of programmable rockers similarly won our favor because of their ridges up top -- like the thumb keys on Logitech's G700, we could press these just by slightly shifting the base of our thumb, leaving our thumbtip free to hold the red sniper button -- a feature we'll talk about later.

ENGADGET: Exclusive: Mad Catz Cyborg Rat 9 review

For now the biggest threat isn't Obama but cash-strapped state governments like New York's, where Governor David A. Paterson's income-tax hikes could push the top rate for New York City dwellers to 12.6%.

FORBES: Sidestepping Taxes