New computer

I have waited to get a new computer for quite a while now, and over christmas my existing laptop took a turn for the worse.
I could accept the fact that the case plastic was slowly cracking. I learnt to accept the fact that the DVD drive was unpredictable. But when my daughter managed to snap the headphone out socket (with 3 input/output jacks, I'd hoped that I could reroute the main sound to one of the others... but no); and when the left click on the mouse pad thing stopped working I decided that it was time to hit the sales.

So having been bewildered by the choice, I eventually found all that I wanted at a price that I wanted to pay.

The thing is, instead of being ecstatic with my superdooper new machine, I find myself bogged down in the drudgery of making it do what my old one did.
Adopting Vista for the first time is a pleasure. Not. In fairness, it is easier to set up than I remember anything else being. But its all different. And Microsoft has changed all the programs.
So when I couldn't find outlook, I discovered that it is now windows mail. But then I discovered that some of my HTTP accounts wouldn't work. So I downloaded windows live mail, and a whole host of other stuff which also probably does the same jobs as other things that are already installed.
I also spent ages trying to undo all the helpful gadgets that the manufacturers put on that do exactly the same as other things, and just mean that you don't need to open the start menu when you want a program.
And I also suspect that google is taking over the world, as it seemed to be installed just about everywhere.

But on the plus side, my superdooper machine was now ready to fight cancer (and altzheimers, etc.)
Well that has been like pushing water up a hill with a fork.
By the way, I do recommend folding at home, but perhaps its better to start with the easy programs rather than the beta stuff for multiprocessors.
So, in the last few days I've rekindled what basic knowledge of DOS I once had. What on earth is DOS doing in vista? It is like popping the bonnet (hood) of your car to find a steam engine beneath!

I've found that Vista 64bit seems to only open a 32bit DOS window. I've seen that you have the option to run dos as administrator... what on earth is that? Reminds me of an unwise foray into the world of Linux I once took.

I've also realised that I don't know the difference between an application, a process and a service; and now all 3 are listed in the task manager.

I've had a blue screen of death! That never happened to me in XP. And I would like to point out that it was while installing Norton, not a Folding at Home beta.

So all in all, I'm a little fed up with my new computer. But that is the price of progress.