In the case quoted above, the CIO believed that his IT department had been on a storage buying binge and it was high time to in fact use more of the raw disk capacity on the machine room floor that was already powered-up and spinning.

FORBES: No new storage in 2013

But as more portable devices--like digital cameras and camcorders--come with FireWire capacity, the Windows machine cartel may consider small concessions too keep the high-end digerati happy.

FORBES: IPod Redux

Only six of the 109 U.S. machine tool companies surveyed devote 25 percent or more of their current production capacity to these high-end machines.

FORBES: Is Foxconn Fleeing China? Sure Looks Like It.