Ars Technica, this is NOT news, nothing to do with Windows today

NOT news at all. Besides, this is a Windows XP screenshot!

Ars Technica, caterer to the "alpha geeks" technologists and IT professionals, published today this article which may be misleading specially for some unsuspecting Windows users who don't know better. First of all, the whole article is mostly dedicated to explain "how broken the widely used MD5 hashing algorithm is" that is, the cryptographic mechanism to provide some assurance that a transferred file (read, downloaded software, update, etc.) has arrived intact. Secondly, this is old news under the guise of breaking news (?); something that happened in 2012 and 2007, according to the article. Just read about this subject in a Wikipedia article citing that "in 2012, according to Microsoft, the authors of the Flame malware used an MD5 collision to forge a Windows code-signing certificate" and the issue goes back to 1996 (!). And how is this "news" related to Amazon Cloud, again? Last, BUT NOT LEAST, the flashy screenshot corresponds to the phased out Windows XP (!). Obviously you can always find flaws in old software, but that is not news!

Posterpedia: the big picture of MS technologies

Posterpedia is an interactive app (for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8) that uses technical posters as a reference for understanding Microsoft technologies. This graphical, easy to understand format, links directly to Microsoft TechNet and Microsoft MSDN content. Remember those huge and neat paper posters that started circulating about a decade ago with Visual Studio and .NET technologies? Well, this is the same proposition in a digital and more manageable format. Visit http://www.serverposterpedia.com/, though you could also get them individually in PDF format. This wonderful and useful collection of posters is broken down by Microsoft products: Windows Server (11 posters), SQL Server (3), Business Intelligence (1), Solutions (15), Exchange Server (5), Lync Server (2), System Center (1), Microsoft Azure (10), Office (2), SharePoint Server (23), etc.

Windows 8 myths — 3. There is a lack of apps

Compared to iPad (the tablet) and the different Android tablets there is no doubt a bigger number of apps available than in the Windows app store. However, we should make the distinction that even if you are running a Windows tablet like the beautiful and extremely functional Surface, in addition to the "metro" apps (the ones running in "tile mode") you can still run millions and millions of the traditional Windows software applications that run in Windows 7 and even in the venerable Windows XP. In sum, you have a number of choices when it comes to Windows 8 apps: desktop apps, like Microsoft Office, new apps for the new Windows 8.x, custom merchandizing apps, and all the Windows store apps.

Windows 8 myths — 2. Computers sales are down because people didn't like Windows 8. Really?!

Computers sales are down for the last couple of years, most notably in 2013, simply because most people (consumers) can do without a PC or any type of computer by just using smartphones or tablets. They have e-mail, text messaging, video, Internet browsing, games (lots of them!) and on top of that the ability to make phone calls, so who needs a laptop computer and much less a desktop computer to do those things? In addition, for a vast number of people around the world a smartphone it is most likely their first experience with a computer and that's all they know and all they need. Computers sales for corporations and businesses will fare slightly better in 2014. Post-PC era? Desktop PCs and laptop computers will continue to be in business for years to come. They're already a commodity.

Windows 8 myths — 1. It's confusing and it has a learning curve

This myth is easily debunked by evidence based on usage. You just have to use it to understand it, and getting the knack of it will take only a few minutes. Remember to also use the Windows key (the one to the left of the ALT key, to the left of the Space key). There is nothing confusing about it unless you cannot wrap your head around the fact that the tiles ("The Star Menu") are simply an extra layer of what otherwise is simply Windows 7. You have the traditional desktop on the one hand and you have the tiles on the other hand, and you can even start Windows directly in "desktop mode" if so you wish. Other than that, whatever you can run in Windows 7 will run in Windows 8.x.  Other visible difference is that Windows 8.x does not include the fancy transparent borders of Windows 7 (or Vista) called "aero effect." Are you missing the traditional "Start Menu"? If you are very fond of it it's probably because you never learned to use shortcuts on the desktop or the convenience of adding shortcuts right onto the Taskbar. Do you still miss it? Try some Windows Start Menu alternatives (I'm not endorsing any of them, though). In addition, whenever you are in the Tiles mode, simply start typing whatever you are looking for and the search box will pop up instantly for you. Please, stop complaining and just type... You can also try these very useful educational videos to get started.

Windows 8.1 may be in your near future

Beyond Windows 7 is Windows 8.1, the latest iteration in the form of a meaningful upgrade of the Windows operating system. You can do everything you are used to do (if it runs in Win 7, it'll certainly run in Win 8.1). In addition to the traditional desktop and the ability to work with all types of software you get a new taskbar, ready for touch devices, access to thousands of apps from the Windows Store, Start screen with live updates and personal settings that appear on up to five different PCs. When it comes to search you can have a single search to find things across the web, apps, and your PC; all you need to do is start typing while on the Tiles mode. See for yourself what's in store for Windows 7 users. I also understand you may not be ready to upgrade and probably don't need to. I personally always liked Windows 7, its nimbleness and the beauty of the aero effect, not to mention the amazing technology under the hood. I use and like equally both.

Internet Explorer 10 is for Windows 7 too

And a good upgrade. If you have not upgraded from IE 9 or previous versions you are missing not only on features but on improved security as it is always the case when a new Internet Explorer version arrives. Though this new version is hardly the latest news, I decided to post about IE 10 for Windows 7 only after having used it for several months now. It's a worthy upgrade for a browser that is more standards-compliant than ever. Try some showcase videos here.