To paint this as Apple vs Microsoft is to miss the bigger point. Regardless of how you trivialize the experience the author had with Windows, many people share it. Hell, a lot of the same is true for OS X; even with the app store. Likewise, the experience on the iPad is just as the author describes. The bigger question is, which will people prefer?

This is where it gets much broader. This isn't Microsoft vs Apple. This is space shuttle vs passenger car. One you simply get in and drive. The other you need a lot of training and a hell of an intellect to operate. I think it's pretty obvious which one your average person is going to prefer.