I was in Dell Hell for years... a brand new laptop, top of the line power machine. Updating the virus ware every day, changing drivers when I had to, after 6 months and my third blue screen of death I put it up on a shelf where it sits today. I got a macbook pro and will never go back.
For example, to update the software, drivers etc.. you go to the top left pull down menue, select the second item and it updates all drivers, software and any other patch that's out...

and I haven't had a firewall up or a virus protector up for over a year... probably need to just in case... but nothing so far.