20 years ago, I was excited to get OS X updates and each one made the system better. When Software Update showed something new, it was always going to be good.
At the same time, Windows Update was an anxiety engine.
Now Software Update has mostly become what Windows Update was. Uninteresting security patches. Each new major update makes the interface worse and adds new bugs or drops old hardware.
Actually Windows would be much more lovely if MSFT keeps the Windows 7 core and just release security fixes and bug fixes. In the forseeable future, 64-bit should be enough. And I already had everything I need on Windows 7.
Windows audience will always be split between the people that loved it for what it is (Win7), and those who tolerate it as long as it plays nice with everything else (*nix subsystem, latest hardware etc)
The win7 audience is IMHO shrinking the fastest, while the other camp has nowhere to go and is less demanding, making it an easier customer base.
At the same time, Windows Update was an anxiety engine.
Now Software Update has mostly become what Windows Update was. Uninteresting security patches. Each new major update makes the interface worse and adds new bugs or drops old hardware.