The new Surface tablet. Image: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Get out of your Apple-induced haze. Microsoft also has some new stuff that they’re hoping you’ll pay attention to.

One item is Windows 8, its latest operating system, which went on sale today. According to The Wall Street Journal, Windows powers nine out of 10 computers in the world. The story also says that computer makers are hoping that the new system will inspire PC sales, which have been in a slump recently, with consumers opting for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

“Microsoft and its hardware partners plan to market Windows 8 heavily, together spending hundreds of millions of dollars on ads. Microsoft is also opening 34 temporary stores this week, mostly in malls, to show off the new ware,” the article reports. If you watched Scandal last night you probably noticed that the next episode in two weeks (the Country Music Awards will be on next Thursday) will be “brought to you by Windows 8.” A check of the ABC Network’s website shows that a few shows are being brought to you by Windows.

And Oprah’s OWN has signed on with an app. Getting brands to sign on for apps is the next big hurdle, says the WSJ. While some magazine companies, Conde Nast, for instance, have jumped on the system with their apps, others like Meredith, haven’t. In fact, Reuters reports that many businesses say they have “no compelling reason to adopt” the new system.

Besides the new operating system, there’s also the new Surface tablet, which, The Washington Post says, has gotten some good reviews, but the reception has otherwise been mixed. It starts at $499, but you will need to spend extra for a cover that is a necessity for content creation.

However, both CNET and TechCrunch argue that the Surface is not a true tablet. “If Microsoft succeeds, in reality, it will create a new category. Surface is something between tablet and a laptop,” says CNET, citing that keyboard as a reason it’s something else entirely. TechCrunch goes so far as to call it a straight up PC. Saying its “hard to handle” because of its operating system, Windows RT, the story continues, “The problem here is that the Surface is basically a big laptop screen without the keyboard.”

Praising the device for its ability to handle the writing duties of a TechCrunch reporter, the writer also had criticisms for its size, screen, and photo-taking abilities. If you’re curious about the device, it’s worth it to read this review as well as some of the others.

Any thoughts out there? Will you be investing in a new Microsoft product?

In today’s world, earning a college degree can be done through a variety of ways. Some students will attend regular brick and mortar classes while others may enroll in hybrid classes that are a mixture of online and in-class work. However, a large percentage of college students nowadays are earning their college degree online. Online schooling is widely praised and attracts many due to the fact that it is convenient and offers more flexibility than normal classes. With online school you can do your work wherever you have a computer and an internet connection.

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Though online schooling is much more convenient for those of us with busy schedules, flexibility doesn’t mean that earning a degree online is any less demanding; in fact many would say it’s just the opposite. Online college students have to be extremely self-motivated and organized in order to be prepared for online discussions, homework, as well as tests. Here are seven tips that will be helpful in assuring you are successful at earning a degree online: