Microsoft admits to a Windows user interface design mistake?

The first thing I hear when a client discusses Windows 8 is, "Where is the Start button?"  Complaints  about Windows 8 and it user interface redesign have been common place since its release, but now it seems like something is going to be done about it.  Windows 8.1 is going to be released later this year with some major changes to Windows 8, including adding a Start Button, common user tools, and a reversion to the Windows 7 look feel.  So is Windows 8 a big mistake?   I think that the issue is larger than that.  Here is a excerpt from a Forbes article that is  a good summary of the issues,  

"So, is Windows 8.1 a “mea culpa” from Microsoft? Perhaps. Microsoft has taken issue with the concept that Windows 8.1 is any sort of apology for Windows 8, or that the latest operating system  is the “New Coke” of this generation.

Whether or not it’s any sort of acknowledgement of failure for Windows 8, Windows 8.1 is essentially Windows 8 Service Pack 1. It’s the big update that fixes the bugs, addresses the issues, and adds new features users want. The fact that Microsoft is not calling it Service Pack 1, and the way Microsoft is positioning and deploying Windows 8.1 is significant, though.

Microsoft typically takes years to develop and release a new operating system. There were more than five years between the launch of Windows XP and Windows Vista, and nearly three years between Windows Vista and Windows 7. People in general have an aversion to change, but Microsoft has fostered a culture where Windows users become so entrenched in the status quo that even minor tweaks to the operating system are a major shock. More than 10 years after its launch, and more than six years after the launch of its successor, Windows XP is still the number two operating system with more than a third of the desktop operating system market."

Original Article

Some of the feature improvements in Windows 8.1 sound promising, but the one that I am holding out for is the Start button.   Weather Windows 8 is a failure or not time will tell. 

Part 1 of 3 Do you really need Microsoft Office?

It used to be that there were not a lot of options if you need a Microsoft Office compatible software system, but now wide range of options exists, here is a quick overview,

-          LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice, both are installed on your PC, both are free.

-          Kingsoft and SoftMaker Office, both are installed on your PC, both are low cost(cheaper than Microsoft Office).

-          Google Docs and Zoho, both are web browser based and both, are free, or low cost.

All of these systems provide reasonable alternatives to Microsoft Office, and in the coming week we will review the pros and cons of each system.  We will look at, specfically, where each package rates on a scale of 1to 10 for usability, interoperability with Microsoft Office, and value for cost. 

Why I like Microsoft Security Essentials

There are hundreds of antivirus programs made for Windows operating systems.   Time and time again I am asked what is the best antivirus solution?   Most recently I have been answering this question with Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).   I like MSE for 3 reasons,

-          Performance,  MSE has a minimal impact on system resources where other packages tend to eat system resources up.  This combine with a effective antivirus engine makes it stand out for me.

-          Cost, MSE is free.  Though the axiom you get what you pay for may come to mind, the reality is Microsoft has a vested interest in your computing experience. With other operating systems such as Linux, Mac OX / OS X, and even Android to a lesser extent as possible alternatives, Microsoft must ensure that their operating system runs as smoothly and trouble free as possible.

-          Ease of use.   With a single interface of four tabs and ease to configure regular checks MSE wins hands down in this case.

With that being said there are many other options that might better fit your computing needs, but more often than not I think MSE might be the best fit.

Microsoft Security Essentials