The whole integration of Microsoft into the OEM and whitebox space regarding licensing and the implementation of this aspect of computing IS too hard and too encumbered for most average computer users to understand.

My main complaint, if all things were to stay the same but save one is to have appropriate computer self-maintenance hardware and software utilities imbedded in the computers being built. My main client issues are dervived primarily from simply not keeping drivers and the O/S up to date and optimized.

And honestly, there minimum requirements for an O/S should be set much higher. Even Dell recommends 3GB RAM and a QUADCORE processor with a dedicated video card to run Vista Premium. All computers should be at least that standard.

I totally understand your frustration and I went through this tons of time.

This is exactly what make me switch to a Mac, I simply couldn’t afford to spend so many time fixing my computer (and friend’s one).

The thing is, the world of PC has become too complex; too many different components and too many companies and no one “owning” the device.

The openness of the PC was its strength but it’s now it major flaw — and it’s totally out of control.

The thing with organisational settings is that you are to some extent covered. It’s the businesses fault that a frustrating application was installed, and the business should have back-ups in case something bad happens. But who is responsible in a B2C situation?

I should also add that I’ve had several crashes on my Mac, after which I get a nice error-report when I reboot. In that report I can usually see where the problem is, as Apple just knows what parts are in the machine + OS and how they should work together. The error-codes in a Windows-report tell me NOTHING! Now that is frustrating.

Corrected: sleep-deprivation-related typos. Sorry!

If you’re a the user and decision-maker, you can make a switch. I had to change my bank after enduring total frustration with my previous bank (featured recently at the daily wtf, http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Sampo-UhOh.aspx?view ).

The problem is, often in enterprise setting, you don’t really have any say in the matter. The decision-maker (buyer and payer) is different than the user, who has to bear the frustration cost. I guess this is one reason why enterprise softwares have notoriously bad UI and user experience, it just isn’t a factor.

I guess for many using Windows is the true Mojave experiment, you’re in an unfriendly, hostile environment not suitable for humans but you just have to grin and bear it… (yes, a really cheap joke)