Flame wars! The hottest Microsoft topics of 2013

I love getting comments. When I write opinionated posts for this blog, folks jump in with both feet and air their frustrations, with other commentors or with me. I always keep coming back to see what new sarcastic, and often rude, digs will be posted.

In 2013, the biggest generator of comments involved the Windows operating system, which has created an amazingly emotional debate ever since the release of Windows 8 in fall 2012.

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Here are the 10 Enterprise Windows posts that generated the most heat and light in their comments:

1. “Windows ‘Blue’ will leave Microsoft customers seeing red” had 89 comments that focused on the frustration of feeling Microsoft simply wasn’t listening to customer feedback. Suggestions called for a “legacy mode” so that Windows Desktop users could benefit from the security of Windows 8 without involving the touchscreen side, whether because their systems didn’t have a touchscreen or if they simply preferred the Windows 7 look and feel.

2. “It’s time to loosen your cold, dead grip on Windows XP” brought in 77 comments. Unlike my very first articles with InfoWorld, where I promoted Windows Vista over XP only to be beaten down by many angry IT pros (who needed their mouths washed out with soap), these comments told a new story. There were entire paragraphs written with incredibly lucid reasoning on why they preferred to stay with XP, while others explained in great detail the value of migrating. It was a true interchange of ideas, with only a sprinkling of, umm, colorful commentary.

3. “The battle for user choice in Windows 8.1” generated 77 comments that seemed to show a bit of a defeated spirit on the readers’ part. Many said “just install Start8,” while others battled back and forth about the UI frustration of Windows 8.1.

4. “Forget about Windows ‘Blue’ — stay focused on Windows 7” got 60 comments. Even after the release of Windows 8.1, the heated comments on Windows 8’s removal of familiar UI elements like the Start menu continued. In Windows 8.1, Microsoft added the Start button, which disappointed many people because it doesn’t display a Start Menu, but carries off what the physical Start button already did: Get you back to the Start screen. “Thanks for nothing!” was the theme of most commenters. One funny comment: “You will never get your Start menu back, and your desktop will die … get used to it!” Ironic, considering the rumors that the next version of Windows 8 will indeed have the Start menu, and future versions will allow Metro apps to pop up in windows on your desktop. We’ll see how that plays out.

5. “Could Surface RT 2 be the Windows tablet we’ve been waiting for?” had 40 comments that shocked me primarily because most of the notes expressed how much the readers loved their RT tablets, which had flopped big time in the market. As an RT user myself (I have both the first and second versions of the Surface RT tablet), I understand what they love about it. At the same time, there were valid comments about the need for more apps, better battery life, and so on. One reader said, “Despite its minuscule market share, it’s a productive and useful device for those of us who use it.” He also went on to ask the critics, “Is it just possible the naysayers are a very noisy clutch of trolls who simply don’t like anything Microsoft does?” — that one made me chuckle.

6. “There’s no free lunch — but there could be a ‘free’ Windows” garnered 30 comments on the possibility of a “free” Windows (which simply means the price is baked in, as it is currently with new PCs). The one that caught my attention said, “Do you want ‘free’ software or ‘open’ hardware? Choose one. It’s very unlikely that you’ll get both.”

7. “Resistance is futile — you will use PowerShell” got 29 comments, with some real frustration from admins. This post focused on the continued push by Microsoft to use PowerShell to accomplish server-side tasks without a GUI alternative, and why folks need to embrace that shift. However, the comments pushed back on the idea. One funny (but solid) point: “This is ‘Windows,’ right? I mean, should they start calling it ‘PowerShell Server 2013’? The whole point of Windows being so successful was that is broke away from the traditional command-line grind. Now they are ditching the GUI and telling everyone to use the command line?” Hard to argue with that, but I stand my ground that the modern IT admin should at least become acquainted with PowerShell. Don’t shoot the messenger.

8. “Microsoft brand loyalty does not mean brand blindness” pulled in 26 comments that mostly took aim at me for what they called my excessive “fanboy” attitude toward Microsoft. The purpose of the post was to stress a need to break with technoreligious convictions and choose the right tool for the task, so I was surprised that the commenters didn’t quite see that point clearly.

9. “Solving the mystery of Windows 8.1’s missing features” got 17 comments that seemed to focus more on the Windows 8.1 UI frustrations than on my points in the post. My goal was to help you find what happened to features from Windows 8 (or earlier) that are either hidden or removed. But the comments are mostly venting rants.

10. “It’s time to give Bing the respect it deserves” surprised me by getting only 16 comments. I would’ve expected 100 angry responses, but I think the mild reaction shows Bing has indeed been improving in the eyes of readers, so there wasn’t much to argue. Nevertheless, there were still a few good zingers in the mix. Here was one of my favorites: “I assert that we have been giving Bing the ‘respect it deserves’! Thus the lack of popularity for this poor, me-too excuse to try to compete with Google.”

There you have it for 2013! I like it when readers are so passionate about a subject that they weigh in, whether with me or against me. And remember, Microsoft employees also read these columns and your comments. You never know when Microsoft may take one of your arguments to heart and create a change in the product.

This story, “Flame wars! The hottest Microsoft topics of 2013,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more of J. Peter Bruzzese’s Enterprise Windows blog and follow the latest developments in Windows at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.