Recently I realized that one of the main reasons I like Windows is that I build my own boxes. Most of the PCs sold are lame, including those by Dell, HP, and Acer. You can build your own computer using similar specs to anything from these manufacturers and generally (1) save money, (2) get better performance, and (3) avoid all the low-quality, resource-hogging software that comes pre-installed on retail PCs.
One other significant reason that I like Windows is that I haven’t been running Windows XP for a long time. I was one of the brave few who decided to give Vista a try and I have to tell you, XP is absolutely archaic in comparison. Even more so when you compare XP to Windows 7. Windows 7 is very, very good.
A simple example of what you get when you upgrade from Windows XP is the ability to mute annoying system sounds, like those “online/offline” dings that I can’t seem to turn off in Trillian. I know this feature may seem trivial, but all these little goodies add up to a great experience.
Don’t get me wrong, I also like Mac OS X and Linux. If only PC manufacturers would raise their standards, more people would like Windows as well. Fortunately, looking at the announcements coming out of CES last week, things are trending in the right direction.
