In fact, Allen dedicated an entire section of this blog to the topic of "Puzzling aspects of the Windows 8 UI" that detailed everything from multiple-monitor desktop and notebook setups to the lack of a clock on the Start screen.

He concluded, however, that even with its out-of-the-box quirks, Windows 8 would be manageable by users and that Microsoft would address them in the next release. "While these changes may prove confusing initially, after a short period of discovery most of these changes should quickly become familiar," said Allen. And like most other long-time Windows users, he applauded Microsoft for assembling an OS suitable for tablets, the hottest category of computer-like devices.

"Touch seems a natural progression in the evolution of operating systems, and I'm confident that Windows 8 offers the best of legacy Windows features with an eye toward a very promising future," Allen wrote.

Allen's mere mention of Windows 8 was newsworthy: Computerworld could not find any evidence of Allen blogging about earlier editions of the OS such as 2009's very successful Windows 7 or the problem-plagued Windows Vista of 2007.

At times, however, Allen has not been shy about speaking up about the company he co-founded. , for instance, Allen said Microsoft "needs to accelerate the pace of product development" to stay competitive with rivals Google and Apple.