In an interview with Julie Larson-Green, the question of why Windows was redesigned came up.

One certain answer bugged me. Yes, it’s a bit out of context, but it is still somewhat a step backwards in my opinion. The emphasis is mine, but it’s very interesting to me. They didn’t want you to have to make a choice. Yet, the majority of users that I hear from (online, offline, forums, etc.) say they WANT the choice of the Modern UI touch style interface or the classic Start menu. In fact, many are resorting to freeware or payware alternatives to return to the classic Start menu. They have chosen to go elsewhere for a solution.

Can touch coexist with a keyboard and mouse interface? Some people have said it doesn’t feel right to have both the newer, touch-centric elements and the old-style desktop in Windows 8.
It was a very definite choice to have both environments. A finger’s never going to replace the precision of a mouse. It’s always going to be easier to type on a keyboard than it is on glass. We didn’t want you to have to make a choice. Some people have said that it’s jarring, but over time we don’t hear that. It’s just getting used to something that’s different. Nothing was homogenous to start with, when you were in the browser it looked different than when you were in Excel.

They assume people are going to stop complaining about it being jarring. I’m sure they will stop complaining (people don’t like shouting at brick walls all day), but it won’t make the issue go away. The people complaining about these things are very vocal, and with some of the points, I really do agree with them. Windows 8 is not a bad operating system at all. It has a lot of new features. The Start Screen isn’t bad, either. But, there is a few issues with the implementation of the Start Screen and the desktop application that really need some work.

Consider it constructive criticism, and not just bashing of the OS. I’m a Microsoft fanboy, but I’m not blind to the areas that need some work. The Windows 8 team made some piss poor decisions when it came to the new OS. There are businesses that don’t want to rely on a big learning curve with a new OS. They want the ability to retain the classic Start menu. There are businesses that were waiting for Windows 8 for a refresh from XP. Now, they are just going with Windows 7. A step backwards, just because of the lack of choice.

Mrs. Larson-Green, your users DO want to make that choice. Windows gained a lot of respect by allowing the consumer to have choice – in customizing various aspects of the OS (now third party tools are needed to customize the Start Screen).

Will I go back to Windows 7 or switch to Mac? No way. Windows 8 is a step forward in a lot of ways. Microsoft just needs to listen to the consumers that are buying the product instead of assuming what they will want and forcing them to use it that way. Give the consumer back the choice. Don’t make it for them.

Countless hours of every office worker has been spent playing Solitaire on Windows. It’s been a huge part of the operating system for years, and it always expected to be there. But, it was lacking in the initial releases of Windows RT Surface tablets. Well, that is about to change. Microsoft is releasing Mohjong and Solitaire for Windows RT. Solitaire has been such a bit part of Windows, yet so simple, that when you take it away people definitely notice. So, while this may seem like small news – to some it is really big news. I’m still waiting for Microsoft to re-release Hover.

Now it seem the prayers of RT-loving casual gamers everywhere have been heard by Microsoft. If you’ve already used them on Windows 8, you’ll get the exact same experience on Windows RT. However, the games do take a little longer to load – initially and throughout the game. I’m still expecting Microsoft to significantly address performance issues in the short-term future.

Six Microsoft interns are responsible for the creation of the new SkyDrive for Xbox application. Of course, other Microsoft employees took over the reigns to give it some finishing touches, but the majority of the design and work was done by college interns. Not sure on the names, but they came from Harvard, Cornell, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; University of New York, Stony Brook; DigiPen Institute of Technology; and Olin College. Some top names there. Great job people!

But as self-contained and flexible project bridging two of Microsoft’s most high-profile consumer products, the SkyDrive app for Xbox Live was “a perfect fit for the interns,” said Dan Somrack, a Microsoft program manager who worked to finish the app. (Somrack, a recent Cornell University graduate, was himself a two-time Microsoft intern before joining the company as an employee, so he has an appreciation for these things based on a first-hand experience.)

Microsoft has decided to extend the reach of the Surface, allowing the Surface to be purchased at other retailers instead of being a Microsoft Store and online only exclusive. This is due to increased production due to the higher demand for the Surface RT tablet. Also, several of the temporary holiday stores are going to become permanent fixtures in several locations.

As early as mid-December, consumers will be able to go to retail stores in the United States and Australia to purchase a Surface with Windows RT. Additional availability will be added in a number of countries in the coming months.

“Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier,” said Steve Schueler, corporate vice president, Microsoft Retail Sales and Marketing.

Microsoft’s popular cloud storage application, SkyDrive, is coming to the Xbox 360. What can you do with your files on the Xbox? Share photos and videos. With Windows 8 PC’s able to sync to SkyDrive (as well as Windows Phone devices), this can help make everything a bit more seamless when sharing your adventure pictures… Or disaster vacation pictures!

The entirely new SkyDrive experience for Xbox 360 spotlights your photos and videos. The app connects the cloud to your Xbox and TV: every photo, video, movie, and other file you put in SkyDrive from Windows or the web will be available on your Xbox-connected TV. Your Windows Phone is also now connected to Xbox and every photo you snap can be available on your TV automatically.

Ouch. The once highly recommended free antivirus software from Microsoft, MS Security Essentials has failed AV-Test’s virus detection tests. Zero day exploits as well as standard virus scanning. It has been verified by other independent testing companies, as well. Hopefully, Microsoft can get back on top, otherwise I’ll have to start recommending something else. MSE has been great for me so far, and has a very small footprint and integrates into the OS very well. Time to move on, or wait a month or so to see if they can rebound?

According to the testing firm, Security Essentials was only able to spot 64 percent of zero-day malware attacks during September and October. This is down from the previous testing period in which Microsoft’s antivirus was able to spot 69 percent of zero-day threats. Still, this is well below the industry average detection  rate of 89 percent.

Computer Science in high school? When I was a kid, that meant teaching yourself BASIC and/or C using a school computer. The teachers for computer class taught Wordperfect and very simple PC usage (using DOS, of course!). I would really like to see more computer science classes taught at the high school level as well as have more ways to advance from the high school level to college level. Computer Science Education Week is this week, and it hopes to inform people of the huge computer science curriculum gap.

I hope so, as I’ve seen some very talented kids cruise through high school and being taught the basics of the Internet (what kid doesn’t already know about that these days?!). I’ve even seen colleges that require beginning PC classes (usage of the mouse, etc.) as a required course for computer science majors. Having a placement exam, you could gauge the students level and find that they could start in C++ classes instead of beginning Windows classes (which is a waste of time and money for the student, and really turns them off of school). 

Even interested, high-potential students are being kept out. I recently spoke with a young woman in Massachusetts, who, when asked if she planned to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) course, said “I’m hoping my teacher will let me sit alone in a classroom and work on it by myself,” and that it wasn’t offered at her school or through their virtual school exchange. Nationwide only 7 percent of high schools offer the APCS course. This is a wake-up call. We are squandering a precious resource – our students.

The Surface is doomed! It’s insecure, unstable and is designed around Windows. Ok, so this guy is really spewing some major FUD. But, don’t worry, he’s quick to say that the iPad can fix all these problems and you can even get an increase in productivity! This ex-programmer (assembly), tech writer has some issues with Windows, and he really shows it. He puts the failure on the Surface on the Windows operating system. Basically “It runs Windows, so it sucks!”.

I’ll admit that Windows 8 isn’t perfect. I’ve found a few flaws, but if the Surface fails, it will not be from anything this guy has said. Price? Maybe. Availability? Maybe. When reading the article, be sure to read the comments. They should really help you understand how many people can see through his huge Apple bias.

If so, you’re making a huge mistake. Because the Surface is based upon Windows, it is, and will remain, inherently unstable and insecure. That’s because Windows itself is a security and stability nightmare.

With Nintendo throwing the first punch in the newest next-gen console race, Microsoft was sure to deliver a follow up. The newest Xbox is rumored to be delivered by the holidays of 2013. With a 70 million user base with the Xbox 360 and sales still very strong, Microsoft has been hesitant to release a new console. But, with the competition strong it’s time to debut the new machine.

Sources can’t say when or where the new console will first show up, at E3 in June, or at a stand alone party similar to the Surface launch. Time will tell. Cost? Unknown, but a huge factor when people are making their purchases, especially in this economy.

Since the release of the Xbox 360 in 2005, the gaming market has changed, as casual games played on tablets and phones gain in popularity. Microsoft introduced full-body motion controls to console gaming with the Kinect. More than 40 million of the 70 million Xbox 360 customers also have Xbox Live online subscriptions, many of which are used to watch TV and movies, rather than play games.