1.) What e-mail client are you using and what is the error message?

2.) Outlook isn't a part of Windows Vista; It's always been a separate application and part of the Microsoft Office suite. Do you mean Windows Mail, the replacement for Outlook Express?

3.) What support are you lacking in regards to One Care?

4.) Have you checked your internet security software to see if it isn't causing the decrease in internet speed? Zomealarm and Avast, when used in unison, have been known to cause such issues under Vista unless you disable Avast's web shield.

5.) Vista gives you Wordpad and Notepad, just like XP, ME, etc. did. Productivity suites are never included in Vista, though manufacturers (HP, Dell, gateway, etc.) occasionally give you free or trial copies of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, or WordPerfect.

Honestly, it sounds like most of the problems are with other applications, not Windows Vista, and expectations off additional software that has never been included.

John