Windows OS - I give up

Ok it's happened. After about 15 years of using, defending and being loyal to Windows I've given up. Why you ask...let me explain.

A couple of months ago I got a beautiful new laptop. However it had come with Vista so since I had a chance to try Windows 7 I installed it. I'd heard Windows 7 was the OS to save Microsoft. I hated it. Yes it was smaller OS, no stupid trial games and it even had mahjong included which is a fav game of mine. However there were several things which drove me crazy. The biggest was the lack of remembering where folders where supposed to open. Here's the thing. I like 'My Documents' on the right, 'My Computer' in the middle and a space on the left for programs like Word and PsPad. That way I only have to minimise one window to get at my desktop icons.

So I open 'My Documents', put it on the left, open 'My Computer' put it in the middle. Go about my work close My Computer, close My Documents. The next morning I come back, open 'My Documents' and it opens....randomly in the middle of the screen. Long story short the entire part of Windows that remembers where I want the folders had gone. I looked up some forums. Found over 500 posts of annoyed people wanting the same function. MS refuses to comment or solve the problem.

Alternatives.....I HATE Ubuntu. I know I'll get my butt kicked in the comments for this but it's true. I've tried it at least 10-15 times and each time I feel like screaming with frustration after 5 minutes. People swear it's the answers to all things OS and yes, for a while I was using a very old version. However enough is enough. I just don't like it Ok!

I've also tried Mac. I worked at a web design company for a while which forced me to use a Mac and whilst I could see it was very fancy, and probably better quality than Windows, it's like driving a bus when you are used to driving a car. Just too different for me. I've used Windows since I was about 10. I used Microsoft before they even had Windows.

So this brings me to my solution....I'm going to make one. Yes. I am going to MAKE an OS. I'm going to design, code, compile and build my own OS. It will be free, the one part of Ubuntu I agree with, and it will be made for the USERS! Not for coders (like I suspect Ubuntu is), not for business the way Windows and Mac are, but for the users. And to that end I need your help!

I want to know your most loved and hated features of your OS. Any of them. I want to know what it always does that drives you crazy, what you love about it and what you always wish it would do but doesn't. ie. My most sought after feature is an Australian Dictionary which is actually an Australian dictionary. In Aus we spell colour with a 'u', centre with 're' and customise with a 's'. My "Australian" dictionaries always spell the words: 'color', 'center' and 'customize'.

So that's a feature I'll include. What would you include? What do you really not care about. Would you want to set everything or have it all done for you? Would you want more vertical space or are you happy with documents being wide because of modern screens but only have windows have enough space for 5 lines because of all the toolbars?

So give me your comments! Because some day, some way, some how...I will have a computer which doesn't make me scream!


BTW - If you are a coder/designer who wants to help me out keep an eye on this blog. At some point I'll put out a call for people to help me. This is for users. I'll need help from users. NOTE: I am totally serious about this. I don't care if they are obsolete by the time I'm finished. I'm still going to do it and I know it will take me a while but you watch...I'll do it!