I've been using an HP Probook 6550b for the last two weeks or so now and, while it is a nicely put together machine, I am reminded from moment to moment just how much I dislike the over-convoluted mess that is the Windows OS. In this case, it is running Windows 7 Professional which looks nice and seems quick enough.
It looks decent enough but has the same annoying quirks and fickleness that plagues every Windows operating system. To get anything done on this thing, you've gotta be willing and able to dig into the underpinnings. Even for something as stupid simple as plugging in a set of headphones and making them "just work" without having to fiddle with the damned dials all the time.
Yes, in this case I was using my iPhone 4 headphones that happen to have a built-in microphone and that probably threw the poor laptop into a tizzy which made it forget what headphones are primarily for. The poor laptop never had a chance against such a calculated foe.