Windows 8, ready for 8.1?

[rogwar]

So what do you think of 8 so far and are you ready for 8.1?

Wonder if it will be better?



We are seriously considering a Mac for the next family computer.

[Spikes]

If all you do is surf and stuff mac is the way to go even though they are overpriced. Linux is better in that regard for free.

Windows will always be better from a functionality standpoint as it is still the most used OS.

[Sol75]

just got myself a Windows 8 Pro Tablet (Asus)..I can say, the Windows 8 metro interface is absolutely FANTASTIC for tablets.  Note, I say FOR TABLETS. For a traditional desktop/laptop, it is HORRIBLE.  I upgraded.. then promptly went back to 7 on my my Desktop PC.  Ill give it another go when 8.1 comes out though.  The windows 8 tablet is awesome.  It is literally a laptop, with the shape, and weight, etc, of an "iPad" or whatnot..  I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone looking to buy a tablet.  The fact is, you get full PC functionality, in a tablet form, no more "I wish I could do that" on the tablet.  Granted, it's not a powerhouse that is going to runt he latest games, but, I did install and have played Eve Online on it.. havent given AH a try yet, I suspect it wont have a fast enough frame rate.. but we shall see

BTW it is a full PC, which means it has an HDMI out, USB, and of course bluetooth.. I hooked it up to my monitor kbd/mouse last night, and you would never know the difference between it and a desktop/docked laptop...

[Saxman]

Windows 8 is great for tablets and other touchscreen devices. It's miserable for desktop PCs, and it's ENTIRELY to do with Metro.

The 8.1 update isn't going to fix the main problem, in that Windows 8 is HORRIBLE to try navigating with a mouse. Putting the "Start Button" back, but just linking it to the Metro screen (which is already accessed the same way, there's just not the big obvious button) isn't a fix. They need to have an option for an ACTUAL "classic" start menu for PC use (there's a reason start menu emulators are about the most popular 3rd party apps for Win8).

That said, I do love how fast Win8 loads, and it appears to be very stable. They just need to have a Classic Start Menu option for devices lacking touch screens.

[Randy1]

Keep in mind that MS has used this method of putting out crap following a good release like W7 since 3.1.  They do it to maximize sells by reselling you something you need to fix what they have already sold you.   Newegg was offering free down grades to W7.

People like bill gates have robbed from the middle class till the middle class is nearly gone.

[Ardy123]

Windows will always be better from a functionality standpoint as it is still the most used OS.

I disagree from a functionality perspective. I prefer linux for many tasks, such as writing 'coad'. It is true that windows is still the dominate desktop environment, it has long lost its standing in the server world, also, it has failed to gain much traction in the mobile world which is dominated by iOS and Android (linux based).

[guncrasher]

I disagree from a functionality perspective. I prefer linux for many tasks, such as writing 'coad'. It is true that windows is still the dominate desktop environment, it has long lost its standing in the server world, also, it has failed to gain much traction in the mobile world which is dominated by iOS and Android (linux based).

but untill linux fixes a few things and makes it easier to install and use then windows will be the dominant os.  remember windows became number #1 because they made it easier for people to use it based on what was available before.

I remember when I was taking computer classes back in high school and our teacher told us about this guy who was writing a program where we could "open a window" and if we wanted to do something else "we would just open another window".  we all said that was awesome because our appleIIc's could only do 1 thing at a time.  she also told us about the "mouse" that she couldnt explain very well and we didnt understand yet.

I havent been able to install linux and that is probably  because of my sli cards, I think, not really sure, but it could be as simple as that.  there's instructions on how to enable it and I guess I would probably have to remove 1 card first then....or just keep win7 for another couple of years until I linux gets a bit easier.

that's how simple it is, sometimes.


semp

[MrGeezer]

I refuse to go to 8.  It's a mighty fine platform----for phones and notebooks.

I love 7.  No reason to change.

[eagl]

The only way I'll get windows 8.anything is if it is on a MS surface pro.  I have tried windows 8 on a brand new laptop and it was infuriating to use.  They made almost EVERYTHING harder to do from a desktop user perspective, as far as I could tell after using it for 3 days.  My desktop didn't need a paradigm shift towards the same level of uselessness I find that most tablets bring to my daily computing needs.  The only tablet that could truly replace my computers is a MS surface pro (or nearly identical equivalent), so maybe win8 would work for me on a tablet that was actually capable of replacing my laptop and desktop.

Putting a tablet OS on a desktop or laptop is stupid.  So I'll skip win8 just like I skipped vista.  If they never release another desktop OS, I'll probably switch to apple or Linux on generic PC hardware.  If the BIOS gets locked down to only run windows, then I'll probably quit buying computer hardware altogether and just use my phone for everything.

[eagl]

For what its worth, I think MS has skipped ahead of Apple by putting a desktop-class OS onto a powerful tablet, and the only thing keeping MS from absolutely crushing ipad sales is the fact that windows 8 is so horrid on a conventional desktop or laptop, plus of course MS is too stupid to release separate versions of win8 for tablets and desktops.  I would bet a lot of beers that Apple will respond within a year with a tablet running a touchscreen-enabled version of OSX.  They could probably do it with the new ipads coming out 22 Oct if the OS was ready because the hardware has gotten a lot better, but I bet they're at least 6 months to a year behind and don't have a releasable tablet enabled OSX ready.

An "ipad pro" with full-up OSX and a thunderbolt port would change things, once again.

[Heater]

Problem Solved:
https://www.suse.com/
http://software.opensuse.org/123/en

[Saxman]

The only way I'll get windows 8.anything is if it is on a MS surface pro.  I have tried windows 8 on a brand new laptop and it was infuriating to use.  They made almost EVERYTHING harder to do from a desktop user perspective, as far as I could tell after using it for 3 days.  My desktop didn't need a paradigm shift towards the same level of uselessness I find that most tablets bring to my daily computing needs.  The only tablet that could truly replace my computers is a MS surface pro (or nearly identical equivalent), so maybe win8 would work for me on a tablet that was actually capable of replacing my laptop and desktop.

Putting a tablet OS on a desktop or laptop is stupid.  So I'll skip win8 just like I skipped vista.  If they never release another desktop OS, I'll probably switch to apple or Linux on generic PC hardware.  If the BIOS gets locked down to only run windows, then I'll probably quit buying computer hardware altogether and just use my phone for everything.

http://www.classicshell.net/

Problem solved. I install this on ever client desktop and laptop that comes with Windows 8, and it works BEAUTIFULLY (even on Server 2012!). This fixes pretty much every frustration with operating Windows 8 on devices without a touch screen. It will even function in Windows 8.1, and you configure it to boot right to desktop, so you never NEED to access Metro.

[rogwar]

I have put together a new Wish List on Newegg for building a new home desktop system. My current build has lasted like 6 years with ongoing minor upgrades but is really at the end. Time to start over with something new, even the case.

Am considering the iMAC route or Win 8.1 with the classic shell. Without having learned of the classic shell recently I was really going toward MAC. We have a couple of laptops around the house for general browsing and internet but I like to have a good desktop at home for multi use including Msft Office, finance, media, home video and picture editing, movies, TV, genealogy, etc. 

The design, interface and ease of use for the iMAC are enticing.

[Hajo]

  In the past I usually built my own PC.  Because of family health problems in January of this year when my old PC gave up I purchased an ASUS PC.
Unfortunately for me it had as an OS Windows8.  I am very pleased with the ASUS PC and It's operating specs but quite frankly as everyone knows
Windows8 is horrible as an OS.  Win8 I consider an accessory program not an operating system.  The huge problem I had was getting my PC to run
my USB CH controllers.  It recognized them in devices and drivers...they  simply would not work.  I tried using CH Control Manager and still had the
same problem.  I had to refresh my PC three times during the two month episode of trying to get my USB controllers working.

I finally solved the problem by going to control panel/devises and drivers/ selected each controller singularly (stick, throttle, and pedals) and removed
the devices one by one.  After doing so I shut down the PC and restarted.  Guess what?  At that point my controller's worked fine in AH. I have to
follow this process every time I wish to play Aces High and would probably have to do so playing a game using these USB Controllers.

Splain That Microsoft!    STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS8!

[gyrene81]

http://www.classicshell.net/

Problem solved. I install this on ever client desktop and laptop that comes with Windows 8, and it works BEAUTIFULLY (even on Server 2012!). This fixes pretty much every frustration with operating Windows 8 on devices without a touch screen. It will even function in Windows 8.1, and you configure it to boot right to desktop, so you never NEED to access Metro.

  that's like putting a cotton ball on a huge hemorrhoid...just hiding the crap underneath.

but untill linux fixes a few things and makes it easier to install and use then windows will be the dominant os.  remember windows became number #1 because they made it easier for people to use it based on what was available before.

I remember when I was taking computer classes back in high school and our teacher told us about this guy who was writing a program where we could "open a window" and if we wanted to do something else "we would just open another window".  we all said that was awesome because our appleIIc's could only do 1 thing at a time.  she also told us about the "mouse" that she couldnt explain very well and we didnt understand yet.

I havent been able to install linux and that is probably  because of my sli cards, I think, not really sure, but it could be as simple as that.  there's instructions on how to enable it and I guess I would probably have to remove 1 card first then....or just keep win7 for another couple of years until I linux gets a bit easier.

that's how simple it is, sometimes.


semp

considering the fact that even 64bit distros of linux run far more efficiently than any version of windows on less hardware, what is there to fix? you should do some real research on how bill gates got his microsux operating systems onto the retail pc market and kept it there. if current generations of linux had been available for free at the time gates was trying to push his crap out, we would all be running linux based computers. the day will come when microsux no longer has a stranglehold on the pc market...until then we're going to have to suffer through the crap.