MANILA, Philippines — I was introduced to computers via a DOS-running Tandy TRS-80 computer. BASIC was the first programming language I encountered.

But it was Windows that made me fall in love with personal computers. It was infatuation with Windows 3.1, which later became a full-blown love affair with Windows 95. Windows XP made me settle down. But this domestic bliss almost turned into a family feud courtesy of the Vista.

Fortunately, Windows 7 helped us kiss and make up.

Now, I can barely hold still with anticipation growing for Windows 8.

Will Microsoft’s next-generation operating system keep the fires burning; will it help the software giant stay relevant, or finally banish Bill Gates’ company to where dinosaurs plod on to?

Raspberry Pi

Designed primarily as a low-cost computer platform for children, the Raspberry Pi was finally released last week. Apparently, the Raspberry Pi Foundation failed to anticipate how much demand the group’s no-frills computer has created among hobbyists.

The Web sites of the two UK-based electronics component retailers were promptly overwhelmed by online traffic. The computer just as promptly sold out at Farnell’s retail store, while the other retailer, RS Components, tried to console potential buyers by taking down their personal details.

So what are the reasons why this lowly computer, available in $25 and $35 models, both of which come with paltry features (compared with today’s typical desktop and laptop computers), has become such a huge bestseller?

And why have some other filled-to-the-brim-with-features computers failed to even make the shortest and slightest impression on consumers?

Google+ Wasteland

Google+ has recorded quite an impressive growth rate. Since its opening to the general public some few months ago, Google’s latest stab at the social networking market has garnered some 90 million registered users.

In theory, this makes Google+ the most serious challenger to Facebook’s stranglehold on the global market for social networking.

In real life, however, things seem to be rather unpleasant for Google’s social-networking business.

Market research firm ComScore, for example, said that users spent an average of 3.3 minutes on Google+ in January. They spent 5.1 minutes on Google+ in November last year. In December, it fell further to 4.8 minutes.

In contrast, MySpace’s 27 million users spent an average of more than 10 minutes on their favorite social media site.

Of course, the average time spent by Facebook users doing their things on the world’s largest social networking site dwarfs those of everybody else.

My experience with Google+ doesn’t stray too far from ComScore’s data. After creating an account, I might have checked it twice or so. I now can’t remember my password, or which email address I used to create the account in the first place.

Regaining access to my account does not seem that urgent, somehow.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.