In the technology business you really know people are upset when developers start producing fixes for your product before it’s even been officially launched. And this is doubly true when the errant company is Microsoft and the product has anything to do with their Windows franchise. Remember the uproar when they completely altered the MS Office look and feel?

Well it looks as though the same thing is about to happen with the upcoming new version of their operating system, Windows 8. Hailed by some as a significant milestone in O/S interfaces, and by others as the worst thing to hit the streets since salmonella, it’s clear that the changes to the interface and way of working are going to drive some people nuts, and there’s an opportunity.

Step up the folks from Thinix, who have released a product called RetroUI, which basically automatically reverts the new Windows 8 interface back to the friendly, old ‘classic’ Windows look. The fact that it’s out now, and is actually a commercial product which you’ll have to pay for, says a lot about how they feel the general user is going to react when their new computer comes loaded with the unfamiliar operating system interface.

The product is obviously aimed primarily at enterprise customers, whose users are known for their resistance to new methods. People in government and large organizations don’t have the time or energy to learn new ways, so this is one way out of the problem. The price of all this lovely retro loveliness is $4.95 for up to 3 PCs for private users, which includes a full year of updates. There’s also a 7 day free trial to see if you like it. Vive la difference, eh?