Empyrean Nikkou wrote:WAnd while it's a different matter, I'm going to have a field day figuring out what programs I can trash and which services to disable or make manual, because most of them are either worded like they're important and required, or they don't give enough information for me to tell either way. Which means I'll be doing a lot of searches on the Internet to figure out what should stay and which should go. =_=
http://www.blackviper.com/ Tis website will tell you what is necessary, and what is not. Very simple, and that's a problem of getting used to a new system anyway rather than a problem with the new system. As far as the confirmation boxes, those are the best defense you can get against malware. Even with a solid antivirus, if you allow programs to install the antivirus will often be unable to protect you. Those boxes keep that from happening, unless you don't pay attention.
As far as Japanese, I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but it may be. <http://www.declan-software.com/japanese_ime/>
Once again, it sounds like your complaints are about it being different rather than being bad. That's fine, but you'll have to get used to it eventually. Admittedly, though, waiting for Windows 7 would probably be a good move.