MS all the way?

I hate fiddle-fartin' around with something that bewilders me. 'Bout the same feelin' I get when I'm lost... well, I've posted elsewhere that I am lost in this cyber world.

I've been reading Windows 7: the missing manual backed up w/ the Windows 7 Bible. Now these references deal only with MS products. I got fed up with MS when they started Live Mail, bugging me about upgrading to this or that constantly. Along with the yammering from Vista, it was maddening. I dumped my MS accounts and went to gmail. I had problems with IE as well, so I use Firefox as a browser (and Google as my search engine).

I've gotten used to them, but there's no way I would call myself proficient in either one. I looked on Amazon for help with Firefox, but most of the materials were outdated. I've experienced some real headaches with Google, trying to get my searches narrowed and gmail with password recovery woes.

I spend too much time on this machine as it is. From what I've read so far, Microsoft has come a long way in improving the security and reliability of their products, though I'm aware that Google and Mozilla have their advantages. I'm wondering if it would be prudent for me to consume my references wholesale and just stick with Microsoft (cringe). It would flatten my learning curve dramatically.

Thoughts?

I personally don't find much difference between IE and Firefox except that my firefox flash locks up after 5 to 10 videos and I am forced to shut down firefox and restart it. I use Windows live mail with very little issue but I've never tried gmail as I avoid google in general.

Any product will require you to understand/learn/know the basics and if you want more advanced it requires even more time. I've been messing with computers for 30 years but my Dad won't touch them. He knows electronics and can solder circuits etc but has no interest in computers. I think you either get comfortable with whatever you use or you simply don't use it but all will require some effort.