Dear New, Out of Touch Head of Microsoft
I could look up your name but Microsoft has never bothered to get to know me, in fact I feel like the forgotten computer user so let me introduce myself.
1. I am the solo-entrepreneur
2. I need to be able to run programs without your annoying ‘This program is not responding’. When that happens you cost me time.
3. I would like you to realize that the forgotten computer user is a reasonably intelligent person. I don’t know as much as my computer geek people, I am not a twenty something gamer but I know more than the housewife in Podunk.
4. I long ago gave up on asking you for help with a problem because after making my way through your frustrating online forms the answer reflected one of the stereotypes mentioned above. That is when and if you do reply.
5. As a coach I use my computer mainly for business – I have a website, blog and a presence on web 2.0. The majority of my business is done by phone sessions and I want to expand to web conferencing. All this means that I will spend money to keep my computer, virtual presence and company running efficiently.
In closing I want you to know that I have over the years sorted my through the maze of useless/unnecessary programs that you have shoved at me. I now use a mixture of what works for me………the solo entrepreneur. In case you are still confused this also means that I don’t have ‘people’ and your Small Business promotions are usually worthless to me.
As I start to research my next computer purchase (to meet my growing needs) I am so glad to hear the Vista is proving to be the same time consuming frustration that Windows XP was. But then I don’t exist. Well, maybe you won’t either in 2008, I think I will look into Macs. Of course my research will be done through Google as MSN search results are as always inadequate.
Thank you for your time.
Jill Crossland, Business & Life Coach
Posted in 
Dear Jill,
I hear your frustration and I have shared it. I use to be an IT consultant in the Windows world and even I was frustrated by the shoddy quality from Microsoft.
3 years ago I bought a Mac and I have never looked back. I was tired of being a cash cow for Microsoft. Today, I just don’t have problems and NO I am not knocking on wood. My Mac just works well.
I am a Business & Life Coach and conduct my entire business from my 3 year old PowerBook laptop that still works very well. How is that from a Windows perspective? Apple was actually cheaper to use since I still have my original investment (laptop) working 3 years later and doing very well.
Ultimately, Apple has everything I need out of the box to get going. And there are plenty of free software for your work (think SugarCRM, a free customer relation manager) Once I released the Microsoft shackles, I started enjoying being on my computer again. The best part is that it actually works.
You can email me privately if you have questions. Anything I can do to help a fellow frustrated entrepreneur
Great post.
Nick