My advice on Windows 8.

[MikeMoss]

Hi

After a lot of debate I'm going to raise some ire by suggesting that I don't think people should update from 7 to 8.

I used 8 for a year before it went live and I liked it for it's speed and stability.

I still like the speed and stability but as far a usability it doesn't work for me.

So my advice is for people who work like I do.

I constantly have multiple windows open, I access things from my task bar when I'm on line or in other software.

I open Word and drag stuff from my browser to it, and back.

I open or answer Skype while I'm working in Photoshop or Indesign with out getting out or minimizing the window.

I often switch back and forth between programs or have them open side by side like Poser and Photoshop and work back and forth.

None of this stuff is easy or in some cases possible in Windows 8.

It just makes things too hard to do.

Before I got my new computer with the final version of Windows 8 I didn't feel this way, but now I just use Classic Shell and ignore the Metro interface and all of the Windows 8 apps (most if not all of which are inferior to the normal Windows programs you are used to using like Live Mail) completely.

The Windows Mail app can't even access my Mail account, (doesn't like POP3) Live Mail no problem at all.

So if you are using Windows 7 and having good results stay with it until Windows 9 and we'll see what happens then.

Whew, now I feel better! LOL

Mike

[Force Flow]

Yep, it's essentially designed for mobile computing, not desktop use.

I haven't been recommending Win8 at all.

[jdeb]

Yes that pretty much sums it up well. Unfortunately, many of the OEM's are installing W8 on their hardware. Start 8 and Classic Shell help a great deal but Microsoft needed to make it an option upon installation. To bad because they did make some nice improvements in the kernel but missed the mark again. Like Force said, it is for touch devices.

The more I play around in the Mac OS, the more I like it. It reminds me of OS/2 Warp a great deal but it does lack that total configuration options found in it and eComstation. OS/2 had it so right (way ahead of it's time) but let it all get away, such a shame.

I still can't get away from Slackware though, just too engrained in it now. I am probably going to sell this Mac rig as I have had a lot of interest in it.

[Preston]

Originally Posted by jdeb I still can't get away from Slackware though, just too engrained in it now.

Thread drift coming...


I'm going to have to try Slackware...that's one that I haven't played with yet. (I'm still riding high on Mint 14 Cinnamon.)

[11290slk]

Got a new laptop recently with Win 8. Added Start8 and was pretty happy with it but just had too many issues with other programs.

Firefox seemed to be pretty buggy on Win 8 both with and without Start8. Just a lot of other issues and just wasn't a pleasant experience for me. Taking the laptop back tomorrow (wasn't really that happy with the hardware either) possibly to change brands but if I do I will be deleting Win 8 and installing Win 7 in it's place. Liked the speed of some stuff but a lot of programs just did not seem to run well in 8, at least for me.

[trulad]

Had Win 8 for 2 weeks, hated it. Why install that "shell" thingy to make it work like Win 7 when I can just stick with Win 7 that works great. Just another example of "improving" something that didn't need it.
Just my humble opinion.

[EzyStvy]

And I remember how much so many people hated XP when Win 98 did everything they needed to do

[MaxRat]

people dont like change.... and the older you get the more you dislike change.....

[SpywareDr]

Windows 8 is for those that consume.

Windows 7 is for those that create.

[MikeMoss]

I'm not going to go back to Windows 7 unless I have some kind of massive meltdown that requires starting all over from scratch, but it that happens I would consider it.

But Probably I'll just keep using 8 until 9 comes along, I'll beta that as I did 7 and 8 and hope it solves a lot of the problems that Microsoft seems to have intentionally built into Windows 8.

Thanks heavens for Classic Shell and Start 8.
If it wasn't for software like this I would have to go back to Windows 7.

I'm not hopeful, the trend for the OS provider to be more and more involved in the operation of your computer seems to be on the rise all the time.

I don't want to have to have Microsoft have access to everything I do, or have to grant me permission to access my own files, but I'm guessing it's only going to get worse.

You are going to see more of the, Download the App for X amount of money, to do what you used to do with your standard Windows installation, it's all about the bottom line, I guess.

Apple has been like this for a long time, I have an iPad 3 and I love it but it drives me crazy too.

You can't do anything with it without having Apple involved.

You can't even just copy stuff to it, you have to add videos by going through iTunes.

I was thinking that I might replace my iPad with a Windows 8 pad but I've given up on that since it looks like it's going to be the same kind of deal.

Use Microsoft App for everything and limited usage for things they don't supply.

[David M]

I have a current generation iPad as well which I do really like but sometimes feel like I am a baby in a crib where I am kept safe by not being allowed to get out of the crib to do something that might be dangerous, like finding the bottle of pills labeled "Flash". Microsoft might to a degree be adopting the same baby in a crib philosophy with Windows 8.

[glc]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy And I remember how much so many people hated XP when Win 98 did everything they needed to do

XP was pretty nasty till SP2. Win2K was the solid winner, I kept it till I was forced into XP by wanting to use some software that required it.

[Preston]

User impressions of Microsoft releases seem to have a 'tick-tock':


Windows 98 GOOD, Windows Me BAD

Windows XP GOOD, Windows Vista BAD

Windows 7 GOOD, Windows 8 BAD

Windows 9 GOOD?

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by Preston User impressions of Microsoft releases seem to have a 'tick-tock': Windows 98 GOOD, Windows Me BAD Windows XP GOOD, Windows Vista BAD Windows 7 GOOD, Windows 8 BAD Windows 9 GOOD?

What about 95?

Yeah, that seems to be the pattern, though.

[glc]

95 original was a bit rough, OSR2 was excellent, OSR 2.5 was terrible, 98 FE was rough, 98 SE was solid.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Originally Posted by glc XP was pretty nasty till SP2. Win2K was the solid winner, I kept it till I was forced into XP by wanting to use some software that required it.

Pirch?

[glc]

No, I wanted to update my mapping software.

[martson]

Originally Posted by SpywareDr Windows 8 is for those that consume. Windows 7 is for those that create.

I use Windows 8 and create ..well kind of. Anyway, 8 rhymes with create and so must be good for creating.

These were created when I used Windows 7 but 8 now runs the creating program..

Xara Xtreme vector drawings

[SpywareDr]

I didn't say you couldn't create with Windows 8. It's just designed more for consumption.

[martson]

Windows 8 does everything Windows 7 does. It opens and runs programs like it's supposed to do. It just serves that purpose in a different way. No real problem as far as I can see. Everything else is just a matter of finding your way around.

[strollin]

Originally Posted by martson Windows 8 does everything Windows 7 does. It opens and runs programs like it's supposed to do. It just serves that purpose in a different way. No real problem as far as I can see. Everything else is just a matter of finding your way around.

Exactly.

[Force Flow]

List of features removed in Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[martson]

Originally Posted by Force Flow List of features removed in Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A good list of removed functions and features but some may have been little used and/or not entirely necessary. When compared to the list of features added, I think all it really amounts to is that Windows 8 is a changed operating system rather than a poorer one.

Features new to Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All I've missed personally from Windows 7 is the disk imaging function. I made good use of this but many didn't like it and used a third-party program anyway. Maybe that's why it was removed. It has been replaced in Windows 8 by other backup and recovery methods but I haven't used them. I installed EaseUS ToDo to replace the missing disk imaging function.

Apart from that, I just get on and use Windows 8 and reckon it does its job OK.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by martson When compared to the list of features added, I think all it really amounts to is that Windows 8 is a changed operating system rather than a poorer one. Features new to Windows 8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Outside of the new UI, there isn't a lot that has actually changed.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Force Flow Outside of the new UI, there isn't a lot that has actually changed.

Not much to add.

[SpywareDr]

Originally Posted by martson Windows 8 does everything Windows 7 does.

The ability to run two Metro apps side by side, one occupying 34 per cent of the screen, and the other 66 per cent, is not "multi"tasking. "Multi" means more than two. Two is dualtasking.

I require full-blown multitasking, i.e., several or more dynamic sources of information being displayed across all of my screens. AFAIK, Metro does not provide this option.

[strollin]

So don't use Metro apps. Win 8 runs the apps you used in Win 7 in addition to Metro apps.

[martson]

Regarding Metro Apps, it is possible to do this (just some selected at random):



Run the mouse up the side to select a running App.

As said, any number of non-Metro apps can be run at the same time. 5 running at once here:

[martson]

Originally Posted by martson All I've missed personally from Windows 7 is the disk imaging function. I made good use of this but many didn't like it and used a third-party program anyway. Maybe that's why it was removed. It has been replaced in Windows 8 by other backup and recovery methods but I haven't used them. I installed EaseUS ToDo to replace the missing disk imaging function.

Just to set the information straight on this, I've since discovered that Windows 8 does include the disk imaging function that Windows 7 has. It's found under: 'Control Panel > Windows 7 File Recovery'.

[passn_thru2]

this is all very very interesting.. but i keep my life pretty simple.

all I really use my computer for is researching , watching video documentaries, and multiplayer games, mostly gaming. I would like to learn how to do some simple Youtube videos.

so if I'm basically playing the new games is 8 going to get me anything useful.?

I'm into gaming seriously enough to build the computer in my signature. I'm 64 years old and it keeps my mind in shape, i love the competition, plus i read books and do a subscribed neuroplasticity practice daily for PTSD and I do Wild Divine meditation practice on the computer, i lost a hand in a catastrophic accident, bad PTSD. computers are very important in my life.