What I wish more writers would realize is what has already been mentioned in this thread by a couple of other posters: 90% of the population has no idea how the science around them works. My knowledge of my microwave is limited to knowing that liquids heat up and solids don't, and that unless I want it to blow up I shouldn't microwave piece of metal. My car gets gas at the pump, and as long as I remember to feed it, it continues to carry me around town. I don't know nearly enough about how either one works to explain it to someone, and I don't care enough to learn. I don't need to understand how they work to be able to use them.
Computers on the other hand... I know them, because I'm interested in them. I can explain them, but I hardly ever do. The reason I don't is that the people around me either wouldn't understand (parents), are completely uninterested (husband), or they already know (co-workers).
So there hardly ever a good reason for anyone to go into great lengths about the technology around them and how it works, yet somehow that happens over and over, and it makes no sense.
That still doesn't mean that if the way the science works is vital to the plot the author can remain ignorant about it. If you want your character to use a microwave every day, they need to know that putting metal in one is a bad idea.
