Like all softhearted computer geeks, I have a profoundly emotional relationship with all things Macintosh. Windows PCs have always struck me as cold, tense machines prone to byzantine internal-code conflicts; their Apple counterparts are easygoing, intuitive open books. For very little effort, Macs provide a lot of reward. Right now, they're the only machines capable of making the Internet revolution happen for everyone, not just the techno-savvy top tier.
But because I invest so much love and hope in Apple, it maddens me when the company falls short of its plug-and-play promise. And too often it does. Take the AirPort...