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I dislike some other things too. The installation took an hour, and unlike previous upgrades, you actually have to sit there for most of it, answering questions. Also, you can install XP on only one machine. If you have other PCs, you will need to buy more copies. (Microsoft is coming up with a multiuser pack; pricing hasn't been announced yet.)
Sometimes, simplicity didn't work. I was running a home network that linked my wife's machine before installing XP. But after I tried to upgrade to XP's home network, my connection to the Net disappeared. I had to spend 90 minutes on the phone with Microsoft's pros untangling the thing--a courtesy that civilians won't get.
Finally, in the Microsoft Conspiracy Department, a number of programs did not work--from Microsoft's competitors. My AOL connection refused to recognize my cable modem and tried to connect via the phone, something Microsoft says AOL will "fix" in its forthcoming 7.0 release. Liquid Audio, a popular music player, had the dubious distinction of causing my machine to gag. And Java programs now require you to find, download and install a special piece of software. Oh, well. Life's not perfect under a monopoly. Better get used to it.
--By Josh Quittner