Backing up AC's comments above. During the IE8 install you get an option to accept defaults (or something like that) or customize. If you selected the default option (as you clearly did) IE8 will be made the default browser, if you'd selected customize you would have been presented with a yes/no option to make IE8 default or leave well alone (amongst other options). I never, ever trust an installer to know what I want to install with these default settings as you don't know what extra software they sneak in.

MS should have made it clearer that IE8 will be made your default browser if you selected the option you did - and I'm guessing that's what they'll be doing, or perhaps even just having the option prior to that step.

I'm happy with my 3G phone. True I don't bother with video calls, but as a 3G modem for travelling for work and for ad-hoc in phone browsing it's perfect. Can't say I've noticed any issues with dropped calls. I don't bother with all those extra Mobile TV services and whatnot though.

Of course it helps I've got a heavy discount on my plan because my sister works for the mobile operator I use.

Your average user isn't going to have a clue about this sort of thing anyway. As long as they get their "free" broadband most probably won't care.

As indicated by Markie & Killian teleworking can work very easily. I used to work in a satellite office for my current firm, but due to redundancy and people moving away as of May 2002 I was in my own in the office. There were no plans to recruit more people for the office so I started working from home as it made little sense to pay for a serviced office for just me. For most of the time since then we've lived in a one bedroom flat and I commandeered a corner of the living room for my "office" (we've since moved so I now get a room to myself). I make regular trips to the office in London down for a week at a time every couple of months. Partly so I don't go mad being on my own and partly so I'm not forgotten about which is too easy. It is easy to collaborate with colleagues on projects. It is easier for me to fit things around the working day, should I need to. I can easily start early to make up time for that dentist appointment without, if I need a slightly longer lunch to carry out some extra tasks I can take it, knowing full well I'll have started work earlier or can work a bit later and with no commuting time I don't lose personal time to do this. No-one has any complaints about my work and if anything on occasion I will end up working more than someone in the office simply because I don't need to travel anywhere.

I do occasionally having the TV on in the background, but only for certain sporting events that are on during the day (or if I've taped them), but then given I normally listen to music whether in the office or not I equate this to be the same thing as I'm really only listening to the TV and not watching it. I specifically arranged my desk in a way so that I'm not looking directly at the TV when sitting working, again removing any temptation to sit and watch it. Even if I did, doing your work during the day comes down to simple discipline and focus. Of course if you can't focus or discipline yourself perhaps you are in the wrong job.

From my own experience Office is the one thing MS usually get right. Admittedly I'm still using Office 2003 and haven't yet dipped my toe in the Office 2007 seas so can't really comment on it at present. Interestingly nearly everyone else in my office (although not the company AFAIK) have already upgraded, but as there has been no company wide policy applied yet I see no reason to upgrade. In fact I've always been like that being the last to upgrade - mind you working remotely as I do for 7 weeks out of 8 this is not unusual.