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Dear Microsoft, we're through.

This has been a long time coming, so don't act too surprised. If you remember, and I know your memory is selective, we've been through this before.

First there was the disaster that was Windows '98, then the spiteful Millennium Edition and then the, what six? different versions of XP? I won't even bother talking about Vista, except to say that if anyone ever treats my parents like that again I'm gonna personally put some hurt on them; and yeah, I am talking to you.

That crap about not being compatible with Linksys router is bull; whoever heard of such a thing? An operating system that's incompatible with a router. That's totally weak. And you have the nerve to charge $125 for the 'upgrade' after the mess you created? Gimme' a break.

I sat through your tutorials, and while I could watch Latika for hours, and even though she says all the right things, it's a little bit late. I mean, respecting your customer base, creating products that are intuitive and easy of use and providing value are worthy goals of any company. But you make it sound like these are radical new ideas; maybe to you and General Motors, but not to the rest of us.

So now comes Windows 7, and we are just supposed to forget all that. "Trust me," you say. But if I understand correctly, what you're telling me is that none of my big dollar software, not Office, not Dreamweaver, is going to work? How about McAfee? iTunes? Goodsync? How about my deluxe Roxio suite? No? Maybe? And which version of Windows 7 do I need to run the virtual machine to preserve my investment? Let me guess, it's a surprise.

So what you're telling me is that I have to start all over, right? Well, OK, but not with you.

Give me back my key. I put your stuff in that box. Get out.

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