I downloaded the Windows 7 Release Candidate this morning. When I plugged in my mouse, I was presented with this dialog box. I'd like to say a few words about how this epitomizes the Windows predicament.

First of all, this dialog box is totally useless. There is no good reason why Windows should not download "realistic" icons or the best driver software for my mouse. But it forces me to make a choice while totally locking the rest of my computer. But that is only the beginning. The question itself is impossible to parse and understand without spending several seconds considering the bizarre combination of seemingly random choices.

I can download driver software and realistic icons automatically, which is recommended. Great. Or I can "not" download driver software and realistic icons automatically, but "always install the best driver from Windows Update" -- which I assume involves downloading the software automatically -- and "replace generic device icons with enhanced icons." What is the difference between a generic device icon, an enhanced icon and a realistic icon, and why do I have to choose one?

I can also "not" download driver software and realistic icons automatically, but -- if I don't have a driver on my computer already -- automatically download the driver software. That selection essentially means "install the worst driver software possible -- either the outdated one on my computer, or if it doesn't exist -- and only if it doesn't exist -- download and install the better one online automatically."

Finally, I can choose to always install the worst driver possible or no driver at all. But I can still have realistic icons. Or not. 

This is Release Candidate Software. I do not know what to say.