Yo, Microsoft – two simple changes could have saved Windows 8

Nothing like being ravaged as the reason for a hockey-stick drop in PC sales, is there, Steve Ballmer. As CEO of Microsoft, you have to take the ultimate blame for making two small wrong choices that had a major impact on Windows 8 acceptance.

First, why in hell do you force everyone to start with the touch-friendly tile interface formerly called Metro? When I spoke to groups before Windows 8 shipped and showed them screen shots of the release candidates, everyone groaned. Today, when I sit at my own Windows 8 desktop, groans have changed to curses.

Second, why can’t I get a list of application like the reliable pop-up menu on the bottom left of my screen? Now I have to drag tiles around into groups, and they don’t stay still. How hard is it to give me a button or icon to open up an application listing?

Shame that two stupid decisions will cost the PC industry millions and millions and millions of dollars. Even bigger shame that you, Ballmer, made those decisions willingly and against all good advice.

I Am NOT a Content Creator, I Am A Writer

Let me explain this as politely as I can: I do not “create content.” I take knowledge and wisdom from one source and translate, explain, clarify, and humanize that information for better understanding by readers.

Yes, Bailout the Porn Industry

You have to admire someone with balls, especially when they’ll show them to you for $2.99 per minute. Larry Flynt, taking over the mantle of Old Porn Guy Spokesman from Hugh Hefner, made plenty of headlines recently when he said the government should bail out the porn business. I say yes.

Microsoft Disses Vista Once Again by Extending XP

This is starting to look like one of the soap operas where a guy marries one girl but keeps dating his old girlfriend. Microsoft said Vista is their new true love, but they just can’t give up XP yet.

Can Your iPod Kill You?

According to the Reuters story “MP3 Player Headphones May Hinder Pacemakers” your iPod won’t kill you, but the headphones might. Why? The strong magnets in the headphones can, when held on your chest near your pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, interfere with your life-saving heart machine.

ATT Rebate Program to Customers: FU

I finally remembered to call ATT customer service (a misnomer if there ever was one) and requested my rebate card, with $38.30 still unused, be reactivated. Quick answer? No joy.

ATT Rebate Program Sucks

I bought my daughter a new phone for her birthday in the spring, and the phone included a $100 rebate. Normally, I avoid every product with a rebate, but my hatred for rebates couldn’t bring me to reject the phone my daughter wanted. So I got the phone, and the rebate came in a decent amount of time.

Unfortunately, ATT sent the rebate on a gift credit card.

Microsoft Starts Freezing the Market with Windows 7 Promises

It’s political season, so we should expect dirty tricks. But I expected super spin on candidates, not operating systems. It appears, at least according to the story “Windows 7 Looking Like a June 2009 Delivery” that Microsoft’s dirty tricks division is already at full strength, just like we’d describe a hurricane. Since every hurricane and politician creates enormous hot air, Microsoft evidently decided to blow plenty of hot air itself.

Lenovo and EMC Offer Deals for the Stupid

ITworld’s story EMC, “Lenovo Offers Unlimited SMB Backup Service” sounds like a great deal for Lenovo laptop buyers until you get out a calculator. Turns out the deal will cost Lenovo users an extra $24.30 per year. Don’t you feel Lenovo’s and EMC’s love for you? Or is that for your money?

Buy a Lenovo SL laptop, be a small business, and you get this special “deal.”

Why All the Wireless Printers?

Tipping point for my aggravation about the rush to wireless print: a new Epson press release about special printers for “the smallest of small businesses.” You guessed it, the leading printer in the offering is wireless.

Here’s what I know: wireless connections will always be slower and less secure than wired connections. Period.