This is my exact problem. Brand new Toshiba machine, bought between Christmas and New Year's. Last week have begun getting the BSOD and it just now happened again. I am typing this on a Lenovo XP machine, while I wait for the other to reboot.
You are not alone, I agree this is unacceptable. I keep thinking there will be some sort of automatic software update happening...but nothing. I am also at a loss as to what email client will actually work on Windows 8 but I imagine that topic is discussed elsewhere.
~Caroline