[Bush2000]

Why? ... She wants to USE her computer... not work on it just to make it work.

It's funny. People don't think twice about taking their car to a mechanic when it needs a new feature or maintenance. Why? Because they can't do it themselves -- or they prefer not to. But, strangely, the same notion applied to a computer is anathema to many of you Mac bigots. There are minimal things that need to be done to a computer prior to plugging it into a router. Like a car, you want to make sure that it has the necessary ingredients -- gas, oil, tires -- before you take it onto the road. If you (or anybody else) is ignorant of what's required, that's fine ... but ignorance won't be much consolation when you try to run your car without oil and find out that the engine melted down...

[Swordmaker]

People don't think twice about taking their car to a mechanic when it needs a new feature or maintenance.

So, Bush, how many people who buy a new car immediately have to take it to a mechanic to make it safe to drive?

[Swordmaker]

If you (or anybody else) is ignorant of what's required, that's fine ... but ignorance won't be much consolation when you try to run your car without oil and find out that the engine melted down...

And how competent is a car manufacturer who sells their product without oil... or provides it, but it has to be taken out of the trunk and poured into the engine before the new owner can safely drive the product?

The Mac is ready to drive out of the box... and remains so... without an initial visit to a specialist to prepare it for safe operation.