Two of my birthday presents this year were Neal Stephenson’s latest works: Quicksilver and The Confusion. Stephenson was the only author I requested this year by name, and the books are much appreciated.
Looking at these books reminded me of the essay Stephenson wrote a while back: In The Beginning Was The Command Line (also available without download here). The essay does an excellent job explaining the problems with Windows, why Apple has survived, and why more difficult systems like Linux maintain their popularity. If any of this interests you (even in the limited sense of wondering what makes me tick), then go read the essay.