If you are the type that likes to nitpick the little things and don’t like the “techie language” as part of your Windows OS install, this article might be great for you. The author from C|Net (which is supposedly a techie site) has some issues installing Windows 8 on his 3 year old machine. I am not sure what he was expecting from an OS install, but 44 minutes to install isn’t really that bad. My experiences on newer and older hardware has shown this to not be the norm, but it still isn’t bad.

Some muddy, techie language on the installation screen for picking an upgrade that keeps my files and apps vs a custom installation: "If you want to make changes to partitions and drives, start the computer using the installation disc." What installation disk? I’m installing off a USB drive. Fortunately, I don’t need to change partitions.

Really? Complaining about the word DISC?! Should it have gone a bit more techie with it’s language and said “installation media source”, or should it have dumbed it down to the “place wheres you has the Winda’s 8 programs, Honey Boo Boo”?

I just can’t take the article seriously. A techie website and an author that has installed many operating systems over the years comes up with these trivial little things. At least you can rest assured that if the only problem you have with Windows 8 installation is that you have to click Next a few times (THE HORROR!) and have to read through the technical instructions (DISC?! WHAT’S THAT HE’S REFERRING TO?! I GIVE UP!), then your experience should be pretty darn good!

For comparison, my install on a newer i7 2600K PC clocked in at around 12 minutes to do a clean install from a USB source (also, sometimes referred to as a USB disc, USB drive, Flash disc, flash drive, thumb drive – added that for the original authors benefit). On a Core2Duo at 2.66 GHz, I did have a bit slower of an install at ~20-25 minutes but still very positive of an experience.

Feel free to check out the original article and let me know your thoughts? Do you have troubles navigating and understanding what it being said or asked for with the Windows installation? Is it really that horrible of an install experience? Should they dumb it down even more to accommodate the users with zero technical ability or experience (why they wouldn’t take it to someone that knows more is beyond me). My thoughts: author should have went to the Geek Squad.

Live Tiles in Windows 8, the Windows Phone 7 & 8 devices and Xbox Dashboard are under attack by a firm claiming to have patents on the live tile feature. While some of it does sound similar, a lot of it has been done before. Something to keep an eye on. Patent trolls are at it again. Why they didn’t start this battle when live tiles were introduced and waited until the huge product was finally released? More cash to be had via a settlement. Microsoft won’t just throw away the live tiles and modern UI after it’s been released.

Live Tiles are a feature of Microsoft’s redesigned operating system officially launched this month. They reside on the phone’s start screen and can contain real-time information. Users can "pin" Live Tiles of people (their tweets, photos, etc.), song, Web sites, photos, e-mail, notifications, Facebook and other items to the screen.

Some call it the “Post-PC” era. I don’t know why, as my desktop is still here and getting better every upgrade. Aside from that, the computer is actually becoming more personal these days. ZDNet has said that Microsoft has pulled off it’s biggest reinvention ever with the release of Windows 8, Surface and Windows Phone 8. The golden Trifecta of Microsoft products. Do you think they pulled it off, or is this just a magic trick slight of hand to look like they did?

Personally, I think they have done well. The Surface has been accepted as a very promising and well made product (Windows RT vs. Pro is a different argument). Windows 8 has it’s naysayers, but all in all it’s a very good product that can benefit from some extra refinements (supposedly incoming). Windows Phone 8 is a large improvement over WP7 in nearly every way. They’ve taken customer feedback and integrated into the new mobile OS. I think I may end up buying one when they are released on Verizon next week.

The existence of Surface (and the Windows RT and Windows 8 devices on the way) will at least give those buyers an option for a Windows tablet that hasn’t existed until now — in which case, it’s done its job. And as I’ve pointed out elsewhere, hardware is a key way of owning the relationship with the consumer, so being in the hardware business with the Surface (and most likely Microsoft-built phones in future) is now essential.

Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, has announced that Windows 8 has sold four million upgrade copies with more being bought daily. This is an excellent start to Windows 8 success, and one I hope continues. There seems to be a lot of hate (H8, as some call it) about Windows 8 and the new Modern UI Start Screen among enthusiasts and IT professionals. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship. There are quirks that I can’t stand. I didn’t care for it much at first. Now, I love the Start Screen and it takes a while to adjust to the standard Windows 7 interface.

If you haven’t tried it, there are some great deals out there so you can upgrade for $40, or if you recently bought a new PC you can get it for as little as $15.

Ballmer, speaking at a meeting for software developers at Microsoft’s headquarters near Seattle, said hundreds of millions of Windows systems would be sold over the next year, and the company was seeing strong interest from business users.

The lack of being able to customize Windows 8 Start Screen is one of my critiques of the OS. I’m the kind of person that likes to make the OS feel like it’s "mine". Custom skins, icons, etc..

A developer on XDA Forums has developed a small program that allows you to use your own images (found online or self made) for tiles. It has a lot of potential, and as usual is a work in progress (large tiles not supported at this version, but is coming in the future).

More info and download: [APP] OblyTile – Tile Creator for all programs. – xda-developers

Sample from CrimsonKnight13 in the forums (also a friend on [H]ardForum)

Now, if someone can help with the background on that thing. Those “tattoo’s” are sad. I want a real picture on that. Heck, animated background would be cool, too. I like my eye candy!

The wait for the Windows Phone 8 devices is finally nearing it’s end. In the next couple weeks, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile will have their new Windows Phone 8 devices in the hands of their users. Prices aren’t that bad, either.

In the U.S., the phones will be available on Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. (There was no mention of Sprint — sorry Sprint users.)

In the U.S., Verizon will be getting the HTC 8X and the Lumia 822 (the Lumia 820 equivalent, not the 920 equivalent) as of Thanksgiving. The 8X will cost $199 for a 16 GB model for those on contract. The Lumia 822 will be $49 $99 on contract.

Verizon also has an exclusive on the ATIV Odyssey (a variant of the ATIV S). It is due out in December 2012.

T-Mobile will have the Lumia 810 (the 820 equivalent) for $99 on contract, and the HTC 8X for $149 on contract by November 14.

Not happy with just using the newly released Surface, the fine folks at iFixIt decided to tear one apart to show you what is inside the tablet. To be honest, I was really expecting a lot more. It is very amazing how tiny things have gotten over the years. The amount of power in such a small space is mind boggling. I snagged a quick picture to give you an idea, but hit the site for the full teardown and some other shots.

Google has posted a way to replace Bing as the default search engine as well as adding Chrome to Windows 8. Little fun video, with some comedy. They also have a new website to help with it. So, if you’re not a Bing type of person (give it a try at least!) and want to go back to the Google goodness (have to admit, Chrome is damn awesome!), check out the video and go to http://www.getyourgoogleback.com.

Consumer confusion? Really? I am not sure if consumers walk into a store uninformed to drop $600 on a tablet without doing any research. I would like to think that most consumers aren’t blindly buying these things. As far as retailers and salespeople not knowing the difference? That’s up to the store to hire knowledgeable people. I am sure I could find a couple that would tell me that the iPad could run OSX applications, too. Heck, I saw someone at Best Buy trying to sell a Sony Zune to a customer. I’m sure if the retailer, consumer or sales person spent five minutes to educate themselves on the tablets, they would be in a much better position.

Retailers calling Windows RT “Windows 8 RT”? Not confusion. They are trying to leverage the Windows 8 hype.

As far as the comments that Windows RT will fail? Not so sure. There is a good price difference between the ARM and i5 processor powered tablets, and battery life is a bit better, although not stellar. Room to improve for sure. But, it’s not a reason for it to be doomed to failure.

I’ve spent a lot of time pointing out that ARM-based tablets won’t have a cost advantage or a battery life advantage. This is why I’ve argued that Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet or any other Windows RT tablet is doomed to fail. Windows RT tablets have all the limitations and none of the commonly assumed advantages of ARM-based systems such as battery life and low cost. But most shoppers won’t know the difference, especially if the Microsoft Store and other online retailers hide the limitations of Windows RT.

The Associated Press is calling Windows 8 Steve Ballmers Make-or-break moment. Is Microsoft’s CEO really that close to getting the ax to where the success or failure of this OS can put his job on the line? Windows 8 is a great OS, but convincing the masses and enterprises that it’s a great OS is going to be the real test.

Ballmer’s margin for error is slim after being consistently outpaced by Apple and Google in his nearly 13 years as CEO. During his tenure, Microsoft’s stock has lost nearly half its value, wiping out more than $200 billion in shareholder wealth.