Windows 8 -

[DevilDog]

I'm looking at getting a netbook(or whatever they're called now). All the ones I'm looking at run Windows 8, TBH Windows 8 looks like crap...although I just found out tonight that it still has a desktop(that should demonstrate my ignorance on the matter). Anyway, does anyone here have anything to say about Windows 8? My main uses of said netbook would simply be Word/note pad and iTunes. The only other thing I want is the Realtek HD Audio manager...can anyone tell me how I would go about installing/downloading that? Thanx for any help

 

[Trombonista]

I just got a new computer with Windows 8. It's not that bad. I'm having more trouble with the touchpad than with the OS.

 

[Enig]

Windows 8

Get that shit out of here.

 

[The Hunter]

Windows 8

Get that shit out of here.

This.

Seriously, I don't know if you know this, but the blue screen looks like this:

 

[Fibonacci]

Many businesses have chosen to stick with Windows 7 in spite of companies like DELL pushing Windows 8 on every new product, which I think says a lot right there. And currently, most programmes are optimised for Windows 7 and under anyway.

 

[Surtur]

WIndows 8, from what I have tried works fine. Not enough to convince me to upgrade my Desktop but im thinking of nabbing a Windows 8 Tablet.

 

[José Mourinho]

Windows 8

Get that shit out of here.

This.

Seriously, I don't know if you know this, but the blue screen looks like this:

I miss the good old one with lots of text.

 

[Midnight Kissy Bull]

I was thinking about getting a new laptop straight from my workplace, but every single one has Windows 8 installed on it. Dell still offers laptops with Windows 7; I hope they still do around the fall when I might finally be able to afford one. Otherwise, I'm going to have to downgrade, and that might be a pain in the butt for a fairly non-technical person like myself.

 

[José Mourinho]

To me, it's just one question. Why Windows 8 has to be too simple compared with the previous Windows versions?

 

[DV 259]

To me, it's just one question. Why Windows 8 has to be too simple compared with the previous Windows versions?

Microsoft wants to shift into integration as far as gaming/entertainment/mobile and looking more towards uniformity across all of its platforms - Xbox 360, Windows Phone, PC. They also simplified Win8, et al. in order to be more "inviting" to people who may not have originally been too interested in Microsoft's products.

Personally, I'm a Mac girl, but I'm also in a position where I have to do a bunch of learning about Windows 8.

 

[Fibonacci]

To me, it's just one question. Why Windows 8 has to be too simple compared with the previous Windows versions?

Microsoft wants to shift into integration as far as gaming/entertainment/mobile and looking more towards uniformity across all of its platforms - Xbox 360, Windows Phone, PC. They also simplified Win8, et al. in order to be more "inviting" to people who may not have originally been too interested in Microsoft's products.

Personally, I'm a Mac girl, but I'm also in a position where I have to do a bunch of learning about Windows 8.

A simplified UI is pertinent in establishing an ease of access OS for touch screen, tablet and mobile computers - Microsoft's new target market. Windows 8 still has a regular desktop like we know, but it's been downgraded by almost twenty years. Now it looks very similar to the old Windows 3.x application screen but overlaid with the hip and touchable Metro UI in lieu of a Start button (which never existed in Windows 3.x anyway).

Really, the biggest complaint that I've seen is not about Windows 8's functionality - in fact, for its intended use (touch screen, tablet, mobile) it has actually been praised - the real complaint seems to be regarding Microsoft's policies. The same way Microsoft essentially ruined the Xbox for developers, they're now doing the same thing for the PC.

 

[Surtur]

Eh, you can still access a standard desktop in Windows 8. It really is not as bad as people make it out to be.

 

[Enig]

Eh, you can still access a standard desktop in Windows 8. It really is not as bad as people make it out to be.

No Start Menu, only the giant box screen. Also, the Networking panel's a nightmare, and burying Shut Down in "Power Options" in "Settings" in the "Charms Bar" is fucking stupid. I wanted to move forward, not jump to a weird mix of Windows 3.11 and the Wii Menu.

 

[TL 611]

I've had Win 8 from release here in sometime in October.

It crashed like 3 times a day and showed the blue screen of death for a while (updates now have fixed this for me but ffs it was frustrating). My fucking laptop came with Win 8 pre-installed, but because it was so new it had Win 7 drivers and I didnt realise until the other day, so I had to update them all. The system files are really disordered, and I had to run a couple maintenance programs to sort it out, and it only helped slightly. All the system messages are really fucking condescending and treats you like a 5 year old ("your battery is low, you might want to plug it in" FUCK YOU LAPTOP. I DONT NEED YOUR SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT I "MIGHT WANT TO DO). It uses contracted words like didn't, and haven't. This annoys me far more than it should, its fucking lazy. It instructs you to "click or tap" on selections, and I know its supposed to be touchscreen compatible but I want it to be able to differentiate between a laptop and a touchscreen. The font they use pisses me off for some reason, like really pisses me off.



The desktop is absolutely no different and the start menu just seems like a different way to do the exact same thing, for a touchscreen I can understand why (I have a HP Slate with Win 7 on it, the start menus a bit small so I can see how this would help). For non-touchscreens its a bit of a pointless change but meh I have no problem with it.

The apps are a pointless weighted pieces of shit. It has default "apps" to do everything. The only difference between an app and an application is that an app has a bright colour on the start menu and it doesnt run on the desktop (as a result of not running on the desktop, it takes you away from the desktop and it loads independently, which takes ages, is really annoying, and you forget theyre open. The "app switch" keys ALT+TAB dont display them which means the only way to open them is to go into the smart menu every time, which in my experience restarts them and you have to wait for it to open again) and find it want to look at a picture? double click on it and it takes a solid 15 seconds to load up a pointless photo viewing app, when it could just use Windows Photo Viewer application (which it does have, it just likes being awkward). You can change all the defaults, but its annoying.

If you expect to change any of the settings ever, be prepared to spend fucking ages going through its seemingly random options. There are like 10 different ways to get into 10 different types of settings.

To be honest I'm probably just being overly negative and a bit pedantic, but I'd stick to Win 7 if i had the choice. I might even downgrade this one at some point (even if i does mean starting new on this laptop)

P.S. OH AND FUCK WINDOWS 8 UPDATES.
I'm sure people are familiar with this warning

on windows 8 you cannot fucking postpone them. Why take away my fucking postpone button?! All it does it frustrate me because I no longer feel in control of my own laptop.

 

[Freecell]

I've read that it's better optimized than 7 was, to the tune of being able to get a few percentage points higher FPS out of games. It's handy if you use a Unix distro for day to day stuff and dual-boot Windows for games.
Personally, I'll continue to use 7 until ReactOS is stable enough for me to jump ship.

 

[GFYS]

Good kernel, don't entirely like the UI, but I've been immediately switching to "Windows Classic" since WinXP. All of my clients are sticking with Win7, and the occasional Vista and Win2k workstation.

For a tablet or smartphone, I still prefer vanilla Android. I've kicked around Ubuntu 12.x on a Nexus 7. Not quite ready for prime time, but seems promising.

 

[BALLZ-BROKEN]

Windows 98SE was the best OS Microsoft produced, and everything after has been slowly crippled and fruited up. I'll give you a rundown:

Win98SE: Perfect

Windows 2000: Based off of NT (No Testicles)

WinXP: Decent, except it hides the shit in the start menu, and if you have the audacity to shortcut your programs to the desktop, it'll nag you saying you have unused icons on the desktop (click here to run desktop optimizer)

Vista: So shitty nobody remembers

Win7: The start button is round and the windows are transparent (WOAH NELLY!) Other than that, not too terrible.

Win8: Mash this here button here to run Angry Birds and to update your Twitter!

 

[Niachu]

Windows 8 doesn't look too bad (at least not as bad as the many, many people I've seen screaming about it) from what I've seen. I wouldn't want it though, I'm too used to the windows 7 formula.

 

[Enig]

Windows 98SE was the best OS Microsoft produced, and everything after has been slowly crippled and fruited up. I'll give you a rundown:

Win98SE: Perfect

Hi there, Mylarballoonfan!

 

[BALLZ-BROKEN]

Windows 98SE was the best OS Microsoft produced, and everything after has been slowly crippled and fruited up. I'll give you a rundown:

Win98SE: Perfect

Hi there, Mylarballoonfan!

I have no idea who that is. Is that the chick who gets a release by popping balloons?