XP Home has turned into a permanently sick kid
you need to have anti virus anti spy ware tools
and no doubt we will need more anti stuff to keep
it well in the future.
I've been Google searching for a program that will keep a watchful eye on what all my Anti-Spyware programs are up to, but is it right to spy on your anti-spyware? LOL
On the serious side you brought, for all the complaigning about Microsoft, That company pretty much singlehandedly brought the PC to the masses, which meant constant improvements, lowered prices due to volume and an exploding software market at reasonable (usually) prices.
Without Microsoft (or another company like it) PCs would still be for the elite few. I wouldn't call Microsoft a perfect company by any means, but I sure think they get a bum wrap on a lot of things just because they were successful.
And we all seek success.