I know there are a lot of fundamental problems with the way programs and Windows works today, especially regarding the masses of people who are left in the dark on how to use their computers and understand complex (or even simple) interfaces.

     So anyway, here's a quick interface idea that I made in about half an hour on an idea that I had to separate Programs from System tools in the Start Menu, and save a ton of extra clicks (you save 1 click per Start Menu visit - for launching a program, that's 1/3 less time spent in the Start Menu). It also removes the unnecessary blending of Programs with System tools (not a good idea), so that users (especially noobs) can have their programs list in one place (bearing in mind that these users are ONLY interested in accessing their programs 95% of the time) and have the System tools in a completely different menu, where advanced users like me will find a powerful and simple command panel, with functions and tools that are normally scattered absolutely all over the place.

     Anyway, here's a look at it. I would give the design and implementation some revision before calling it final, but the basic idea is here. 

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     Simple Documentation
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     1 (Start Menu) - Programs Menu is launched from Start button. Command Panel is launched from Windows button.

     2 (Quick Launch) - Links that you don't specifically put in the Quick Launch yourself go to the Quick Launch Trash - the blue button on the right, with the arrows. It's essentially a menu that pops up, where crap like Winzip and media players go. Since this is controversial, what I would do is have an option whenever you right-click on the QuickLaunch that says "Activate QL Trash". Subtle details like that would allow the noob nature of the OS to thrive, while allowing advanced users to still breathe and customize. But, if you're like me, you'll just keep it turned off and delete the stuff you dont want in the Quick Launch.

     3 (System Tray) - Like the Quick Launch, the System Tray would have a right-click option to enable hiding new icons by default. That way, you only see your Network Activity, Volume, Calendar maybe, and whatever you WANT to see. You can just right-click on any icon to instantly set "always show" or "always hide" etc. Because of controversy, this feature could start out turned off, allowing Advanced users to take advantage, while preventing noobs from getting confused when they can't find their Norton Anti-Virus icon... even though noobs need this feature more than anyone, to simplify the System Tray, and remove the icons they don't need to see.
 

     4 (My Computer, My Documents, My Network Places) - Just right-click any of those icons, and select "I'm not 2 years old" and it'll remove "My" if you want.

     5 (Command Panel features)
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     -- Windows Updates -- for those who do NOT allow Automatic Updates, this link appears here and tells you how many updates are available at all times, leaving you informed and in control of when to install them, and which ones. I imagine Windows update should be more than just bug fixes, and should one day include things like new mini-games, widgets, applets made for Windows by MS Developers (and others), and other useful things approved by MS that could optionally plug into the OS. In such case, this link should remain and keep you informed of important and interesting optional updates. After all, a "Windows Update", like a video-game update, doesn't have to be all bug-fixes. It can be add-ons and fun stuff too.
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     -- Program Updates -- I long for a day when Windows can link all of your programs to feeds that tell it when there are new versions and patches available. A simple database on Microsoft.com would be all that's needed to inform you of new releases and program versions. This link in your System Menu would simply check that database, and tell you how many of your programs have newer versions out there. Of course, all the better if Windows can do the update automatically, or at least help you get to the developer's page quickly, and start downloading the files. So, whenever there's a new version of a program, an MS Developer would just update the database, and you'd be informed.
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     -- Driver Updates -- same as above. Whether nVidia likes it or not, Windows will tell you when there's a new driver for your video card, and probably link you to nVidia's Drivers page to get it. It would be all the better (and probably more competitive for nVidia) if, for instance, nVidia allowed MS to download the driver automatically, and install it as part of the update. It would be a competitive advantage against ATI (or anyone else), because everyone would want hardware with auto-updating drivers... or that at least has that option. Of course, if and when to install the updates is entirely up to you.
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     -- Task Manager -- the good ol' Task Manager, only this time everyone knows where it is.
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     -- Uninstall Programs -- The convenience of Add or Remove Programs, but in a place where noobs can actually find it, and without the mis-informative name (nobody "adds" programs from Add/Remove Programs - Oh, and when you're talking about computers, you say "Install/Uninstall")
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     -- System Backup -- I've found that the best way to save your system, rather than relying on Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware (because it simply won't save you all the time) is to just backup your entire system to an External Hard Drive (or an internal backup drive) once a week, then Restore your entire system when you get the next incurable spyware invasion. Users shouldn't have to rely on Norton Ghost, and have to figure out this technique themselves. Windows shoulder come with a feature that can simply stuff their entire hard drives into a recoverable system-image file that can be easily restored from a bootup screen. I would call the service "Windows OOPS, I've Crashed It Again".
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     -- Training Videos -- The masses are absolute, totally embarassing computer noobs because they are uninformed. There's nobody there to hold their hand, and walk them through the ropes of mastering and actually understanding your computer. That's where appealing, highly interactive Training Videos come in (probably something you'd do in Flash format, so the user can practice what the video is telling them to do in a free, sandbox environment). Each video would have about 15 minutes worth of speech, not including the "free practice time", and should start from simple basics , eventually leading to more advanced functions by the 10th and final video, like what to do with 'msconfig' and 'safe mode'. Basically, with an excellent, intuitive set of Tutorial Videos that are given absolute forefront attention when you first install Windows (and after), you'd convert the entire planet into computer experts in 10 days... Imagine, your Mom would become tech-savvy,... and your sister would soon be upgrading YOUR computer. Now that's scary, but the world really needs to become that smart about computers. Right now, everyone's just kind of along for the ride, dragging along and not knowing anything. If the masses become computer-savvy, you'd watch the spectacle as the stock market and economy surged forward with a freshly invigorated and zealous computer-user base. Oh, and you'd be able to drop all the noob aspects of Windows. Imagine that.

Here's an example of a good video-tutorial: Yahoo Mail Beta Tutorial (an example of good presentation):
http://us.f584.mail.yahoo.com/dc/quick_start
 

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(you don't have to read anything below this, unless you like OS design philosophy)

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     Advanced Documentation
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     (Taskbar) - Like the Quick Launch, the Taskbar (where your Volume Control is) would have a right-click option to enable hiding new icons by default. That way, you only see your Network Activity, Volume, Calendar maybe, and whatever you WANT to see. You can just right-click on any icon to instantly set "always show" or "always hide" etc. Because of controversy, this feature could start out turned off, allowing Advanced users to take advantage, while preventing noobs from getting confused when they can't find their Norton Anti-Virus icon... even though noobs need this feature more than anyone, to simplify the System Tray, and remove the icons they don't need to see.
 

     (System Tray) - (continued from Simple Documentation) The System Tray would let you just right-click on any icon to instantly set "always show" or "always hide" etc, without needing any more of the Start Menu and Taskbar Properties>Customize madness that you normally have to go through, which results in 0.1% of the population actually taking control of their Tray. If this would be controversial in any way, or upset software makers in a way that would stop MS from doing it, then you'd just default it turned off, and have an option when you right-click the Tray that lets you check "New Apps Start Hidden" or something that you can enable without going all the way to the control panel.

     (My Computer, My Documents, My Network Places) - Just right-click any of those icons, and select "I'm not 2 years old" and it'll remove "My" if you want. It'll also remove "My Places" from My Network Places, because that sounds retarded. If I were making a movie about the future, I would be really ashamed to show a computer screen that said anything with "My" on it, as if people still haven't learned by then. The future, at least in some minds, is all about streamlining, and getting rid of all the corporate phrases and trite stupidities that mar the commercial world and make consumers vomit. One day, advertising will be direct and appealing, and largely devoid of BS, simply because consumers are getting smarter - look at TV commercials from the old days compared to now. They used to be 90% phony advertising tactics and BS, and now they are trimmed down to mostly what people want - something that doesn't try to cheat or manipulate them, and doesn't insult their intelligence. Using "MY" in this manner is a profound dive into the marketing ways of old, and is something that will soon be "so yesterday". Might as well prove to the world that you're done BSing them now, and are ready to get serious. Like with Google, people appreciate the no BS mindset, and flock to products that don't insult their intelligence, but compliment it instead. If I were in charge, "MY" in Windows would get the AXE. Of course, people are used to it, so it would have to start as an extremely easily-accessible option to get rid of it. Then, later versions of Windows would gradually do without.

     Along that line, when you install Windows for the first time, it would ask you three simple questions:
     1: Are you a noob? (answering No disables all noob features)
     2: Would you like to be treated like a noob? (answering No activates all advanced features)
     3: (if you answered yes) Would you like to actually LEARN how to use Windows, so that you aren't a noob?

     So then, the noobs that say Yes to number 3 would be treated to a simple video-tutorial course that teaches them, in a FUN way, how to become an advanced user in just 15 minutes a day, for 10 days. If they don't say yes, the Training Videos link will always be there in the System Menu, until they right-click and tell it go away... something they'll learn to do after they finish watching.

     One of the biggest problems, I think, is the blatant, serious, huge, and obvious lack of training that comes with Windows. Newbies simply don't know about the "Windows Basics" section in Windows Help, nor can anyone even find it on the main help page... and when they do, and go to it, it's simply a 100% unattractive, daunting, counter-intuitive way to learn. Unlike a lot of advanced users, I really sympathize with the computer noobs, because they have absolutely nothing their way. Even MS's idea of putting all the features and buttons of a program out in the open so they'll be seen just causes apps like IE6 and Outlook Express (and especially Word 2003 and previous) to have fantastically complicated and cluttered front toolbars and interfaces that just scare noobs out of their wits. IE7 does away with this problem, with great results. The IE6 default main toolbar, on the other hand, was an absolute disaster in the name of user-friendly accessibility; and yet even many of the most advanced users, like me, found absolutely no need for most of the buttons, and wiped them out. Now, IE7 doesn't get everything "perfect" for the noob (or even the advanced user - why can't you move the File Menu back to the top of the window, like every other app in existence?), but it's finally turning to face the right direction.
 

     So anyway, here are some examples of good video-tutorials, such as what I'd like to see Windows come with:

     (Yahoo Mail Beta Tutorial - an example of good presentation: http://us.f584.mail.yahoo.com/dc/quick_start)
     (And another, slightly lesser one - still very good though:http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/us/)
Windows needs something where the user can mess around in a sandbox, and practice everything the video is teaching them to do.

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     Well, that's good enough for now. I could write an entire encyclopedia describing how I think apps and OS's should be, but I think that's enough for describing one interface idea.