My Sony laptop is out of commission while I scrounge around for a set of drivers that will make it usable under Windows 2000. Failing that, I will revert to Windows ME. Windows XP is right out (to paraphrase brother Maynard’s colleague). I am annoyed that I have to do this, and I am annoyed that it is not simple. The Microsoft ethos, which is responsible for this mess in my mind, also annoys me. I am relieved that I know enough about computers to be able to cope. Tim Berners-Lee’s utopian ideal of standards and interoperability seems to be incompatible with capitalist motives. And yet, Apple exists, with a Vision to Design Insanely Great Products. It just occured to me that Apple could not be that great if it were not a niche company.