I recently bought a new pc with Vista pre-installed. The system crashed so often that I eventually downloaded a Linux operating system and use Ubuntu now.
vista is the best thing that ever happened to Mac and Linux. I agree with the statements about large companies not really caring about the customer's wants, and only being interested in creating demand for new products. This system works well during easy economic times. I would note that Japanese car makers made a killing here in the United States after american car makers did exactly what Microsoft is doing now.... and a joke to follow:
The European Environmental Protection Agency passes several new stringent directives about exhaust pollution from automobiles. Every car manufacturer in the world rushes to hire hundreds of new engineers; except the American manufacturers who rush to hire hundreds of new lawyers.

kevin