[Edit 10/31/2012]
Gave it a second attempt today.  The links to the license agreement did work this time around, but there still was no encryption indicator on the page.  
[End Edit]

Windows 8 was released this week.  I've been waiting for this in hopes of pumping some life into my old Vista Ultimate system.  

So, I went to Windows 8 web site, and I came across some user experience things that may be confusing users.  There is a button that says "Download Pro for $39.99", which I click anticipating a new screen with further instructions.  Instead, I got a dialog box asking me to save something called Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to my PC.

Nothing on the page said anything about Download Assistant, I thought I was going to make a payment, download, and go.  Already I am having to make a decision about whether downloading this is a good idea.  My guards are up now, because it wasn't what I was expecting.  It may be Windows phobia, but surely I'm not the only one who raises an eyebrow when a download dialog pops up.  After a long history of bugs and viruses, download trust-ability is important.  So, I almost hit Cancel because the download dialog makes me double-check.  Is this safe? Am I on the right web site?  Did I come from a link in an email?  Am I going to regret this?

[Edit: After reviewing the page, there is a description of the Download Assistant if you scroll below the visible screen.]

After consideration, I took the risk and installed the Download Assistant.  The Assistant is actually pretty cool. This little utility will do a scan of your system and let you know what programs and devices will be able to work on Windows 8.  Nice.

After completing the system check you will have a chance make your Order.  I have the option to download Windows 8 for $39.99, and add a DVD version for $14.99.  This is confusing because on the web site the Buy Now page says I can have Windows 8 shipped to me for $69.99.  Hmmm.... $39.99 + $14.99 = $54.98. So we're off by $15.01. Math error? As a user this is what goes through my head... Did I do something wrong? Did I download the right thing?  Did I miss something?  Well, what the heck, I might as well get the DVD now and save 15 bucks! But if I do, will they stick it to me later in the checkout process?

Something else, on the checkout page of the Download Assistant there is a link that says "More about downloads over metered Internet connections".  That sounds important.  Since the download is 2GB, I should probably see what Microsoft has to say.  It takes you here.  As of Saturday, Oct. 27 2012, that page provides absolutely no such information!  Thanks for the help!

Next, the Assistant asks me for Billing Address.  I am starting to feel uncomfortable.  I am running an app, not a web site.  The information is getting more personal, but I have NO security indicators.  Since I am not is a web browser, I have no padlock icon, no SSL indicators, not even a web address with "https://".  Are they going to ask for credit card info next?

YES! They do!  This is incredible.  Has security and trust been totally forgotten? This is weird.  Does anyone else think this strange?  There is absolutely no indication that gives me peace of mind about how my Credit Card number will be transmitted over the wire to Microsoft.

There is a sentence that says "Provided by arvato digital services, llc," with a link to "privacy statement" and "Imprint".  When I click either link, I am currently taken to a page that says "Internet Explorer cannot disply the webpage".  Wow! This is incredible.  No way on Earth am I going to proceed!

I'm ditching this process for now.  Maybe I can find some other way in.  I was excited, but now I'm just disappointed.

I love music.  I grew up around music.  I hear it differently than others.  I believe it has the ability to dig deep into our souls.

My wife loves fiction.  She has read hundreds of books.  She reads it differently than I do,  She believes it has the ability to dig deep into our souls.

The "why" is built-in.  It can't be defined.  It just is.  When we deny it, we hurt.  We are incomplete.  Empty.

I recently went to a concert by a husband/wife musical group called Over The Rhine.  They have been in music for many years, and have learned much about what music means to them and why they sing.  I hope that you will watch this video and consider the way that they talk about their music.  It goes beyond a song, record labels, awards, or acclaim.  They reminded me that there is more to what we do than skill, knowledge, attention, or fame.  That there are some things in life that we do just because that is what we are supposed to do. 

I almost missed the Web Design Survey Results

Every year I participate in the Web Design Survey by A List Apart.  It is always interesting to see the results from year to year.

Go check it out, and participate in this year's survey when it comes around.

There are probably thousands of books on how to be a more productive person.  If you read them all, you would probably be the least productive person.

Personally, I think we know deep inside that things aren't going right.  Sometimes we just need to stop and re-evaluate our day-to-day activities... our habits.  Changing habits is hard, but we HAVE to do it!

The thing about feeling unproductive is the guilt.  You feel like you can't keep up.  Everyone seems to be miles ahead of you.  It's not true.  It's not true.

It's time to stop, breathe, and re-evaluate what is important.

I am inspired by the honest words of Scott Hanselman in his recent post Productivity vs. Guilt and Self Loathing

It's a simple post.  READ it first. Don't click any links.  Then go back and watch his video that he references, It's Not What You Read, It's What You Ignore

Below are some take-aways from the video...

-----------------------

"Do more by doing less"

"Hope is not a strategy"

"Effectiveness and Efficiency"

"Communication is fault tollerant"

"Psychic weight"

Rule of 3  for ToDo's - 3 things for the week, 3 things for the day

Sort "data streams" - make simple email group rules... stuff directly to me and stuff i'm cc'ed on

No morning Email! - it's a bad way to start your day

"Don't put energy into what you don't want more of"

 Keep emails short, 3-5 sentences

Pomodoro Technique - work in 25 min. sprints with a specific goal.  Log interruptions, both internal (checking email, day dreaming, etc.) and external (phone call, etc)

Multitasking is not a reality... except for things like listening to a book while driving

"You're not a power blogger or Twitter star and that's OK"

"the iPhone changed the way I poop"

Some tools to consider...

RescueTime

Hipster

Evernote or OneNote

WorkFlowy

Instapaper - don't follow links, read later

IFTTT - If This Then That 

This post showed up in my LinkedIN news feed this morning.  It's a slideshow filled with data about the current state of the internet.

Mary Meeker's State of the Internet

One interesting chart is the history of Encyclopedia Brittanica which will go out of business in 2012 after 244 years of print.  For so long, they had the knowledge of the world contained in a set of books.

Another interesting point... newspaper ad revenue was not passed up by the web until 2010.  I thought this would have happened several years ago.  

There are also a bunch of Then and Now graphics contrasting how things have changed in the past 10-20 years.