Daaang it Microsoft! I want to like you. I anticipated the launch of the WorldWide Telescope. I thought to myself, “now there’s something cool they are doing.” And then, I get this …

Now, I am running a MacBook Pro with 256 MB of NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. I am trying to run this out of a virtual image of Windows Server 2003. 3d Graphics and a plug-in whose installation I just endured? Are you kidding me?

I had forgotten the joys of getting geeked out on figuring out what contrived interaction Microsoft had chosen to perform something in the OS. Once upon a time, I found pride in “roughing it,” on my way to some invisible merit badge. Microsoft, please make it easier … Vista no … Allow me to see what cool things you’ve made. I want to see them. Can you help me?