I started using computers with Windows XP and Windows 7 and the computer experience was way saner than what we have now (but that may due to the fact that everything was local in my town as internet access was scarce). It was a creation machine as well as a consumption one, mostly because it was not expected to have a 24/7 connection to the internet and software has to be file interoperable instead of having data silo in databases. No notifications other than system ones. And actual desktop design for the UI.