Does Windows 8 still stink?

[IHateMyJob2004]

I want to get a new laptop. I have to decide on what I know doesn't rot (Windows 7) and the crappy on release, Windows 8.

I had a Windows 8 laptop when 8 was new and I hated it enough that when it died a few months later, I let it collect dust. I went bck to the 4 year old Windows 7 laptop and have no regrets in doing so.

But I haven't followed the Windows 8 updates. So, is the latest version of 8 good? Is the start bar back? Can I actually navigate without wanting to toss it through a Window?

 

[sandorski]

It never did. However, there's a button, but it's not the old Start button.

 

[stinger608]

Like you I completely hated windows 8. I recently dual booted my 4 year old laptop with windows 7 and windows 8.
After getting all updates including 8.1 and installing a start bar application I have found it is actually pretty decent.

Microsoft is going to bring back the start bar sometime later this year but until that happens one has to use a third party app for that.

I actually choose ClassicShell from here: http://www.classicshell.net/

You can find a bunch more free and paid for apps in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2283053

I choose a free one due to Microsoft planning on bringing back the start menu.

But honestly I have kind of grown fond of Windows 8.1 in the last couple of months.

LOL, of course "to each their own" but it seems to be very stable and seems to game a little better on my ole lappy.

 

[MongGrel]

It never did. However, there's a button, but it's not the old Start button.

What he said.

 

[S3trio64v2]

It's awful. Wait for the updates to bring back Windows 7 features or wait for Windows 9.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I mostly hated 8 because i was a power user of 7. I could do things in 7 with a flip of the wrist. It seems like 8 dumbed everything down. That or I just need to learn new short cuts.

This is a good way for Microsoft to loose the enterprise.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

If I get a Windows 8 laptop, will I have to pay to upgrade to Windows 9?

 

[S3trio64v2]

Yes, I'd imagine so.

 

[postmortemIA]

If I get a Windows 8 laptop, will I have to pay to upgrade to Windows 9?

latest rumor is if you have windows 8.1 update 1 you'll get free upgrade.

 

[Rdmkr]

I like the splitscreen multi-tasking in windows 8. AFAIC something worth switching from 7 for on touchscreen devices.

Windows 8 generally makes more sense when you run it on something with a touchscreen.

 

[mikeymikec]

latest rumor is if you have windows 8.1 update 1 you'll get free upgrade.

I think that could only be true if MS planned to make some serious changes (ie. rolling back significant amounts of changes that Win8 made to Windows in terms of UI) and no longer wanted to support the Win8 branch. I think this is unlikely, because MS would need a new strategy for the Surface tablets.

I think the Win9 screenshots that have circulated on the net are probably accurate - a new Start menu that's a mix of the Start screen and the Windows 7 Start menu.

Hopefully Microsoft will remove the blatantly stupid feature that is the "Microsoft account Windows login", as well as some of the oddities of their Microsoft account app login system, like requiring a Microsoft account to use the Mail app, even though the Mail app uses IMAP only so why on earth would an MS account be necessary. Perhaps they'll reinstate the free Windows games as well.

 

[MongGrel]

Got me have been using WIN 8 for at least 6 months now just fine since I put the Q5650 in here.

It's not that hard to get used to and runs better.

 

[lamedude]

Windows 8.1 added color emoji so its stinks even more.��
Though it doesn't want work to outside the onscreen keyboard and this site.��

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Windows 8 is the new Vista; and I don't mean that in a bad way. The runaway hate-hype-train just took hold and people never gave it a chance, just like Vista. Only its much better than Vista, because Vista was a great OS, but only if you had really good hardware to pair it with. Windows 8 doesn't need great hardware, it runs great on old hardware, better than 7 even, which is the #1 selling point for me:

1. It runs better on worse hardware, it has better support for more modern hardware (ie runs better on good hardware)

2. better security, also less intrusive updates

3. new search is amazing


those are the main three that really stick out for me, but there are bunch of other awesome gems that I find I really miss whenever I'm working on a Win 7 machine, some of which include:

4. new task manager is amazing

5. Independent display scaling is pretty awesome when working with multiple monitors of varying pixel density

6. run ISOs natively


and this is without even considering the strengths of the OS for use with a touch screen

 

[nemesismk2]

no windows 8 doesn't stink but i would never use it because i think windows 7 is better.

 

[Mem]

Win8.1 is my favourite Windows OS at the moment,I would never go back to a five year old OS like Win7.

I would take a modern Linux distro over Win7 ,in fact I've on two of my other PCs.

Basically Win8.1 is fast,rock stable,compatibility is great and you can still use it like a desktop OS even with good old mouse and keyboard like I do,lot of FUD about on Win8 but then same was for Vista which was a solid OS especially by SP2.


I'll be moving to Win9 down the road(something new to try) but that does not take away the fact Win8.1 has been solid for me on two of my PCs.

 

[denis280]

no windows 8 doesn't stink but i would never use it because i think windows 7 is better.

The same here.i did try win.8 and i prefer win 7

 

[mikeymikec]

The same here.i did try win.8 and i prefer win 7

I had the choice of going for Win8x (spare licence) because I was having to replace my boot HDD, but I went with Win7 simply because I prefer it.

I dislike how a lot of UI customisation has been removed from Win8x as well, an alarming trend with most modern operating systems these days.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Can a power user eventually grow to love Windows 8?

 

[code65536]

Can a power user eventually grow to love Windows 8?

Can a power user ever go back to that craptastic dinosaur known as Windows 7 after experiencing the awesomeness of 8.1?

And that's actually me being serious.

You do realize that there have been HUGE improvements in 8 targeted right at power users, right?

Like the vastly improved file manager. Most things take far fewer clicks.
Like the Power User menu.
Like how device manager can now show non-present devices without having to manually go setting environment variables.

The only Windows 7 "feature" that's missing from 8.1 is the Start Menu, and frankly, I prefer the Start Screen over that. Because it's better for power users. I can pin a whole screenful of program shortcuts to the SS. With the Start Menu, I'm limited by the vertical space and only a select number of programs that I use can be pinned--the rest requires typing on the keyboard or menu-digging. With 8, with everything that I can pin, everything I use is just there. I still type-to-launch if my hand is already on the keyboard, but if my hand is on the mouse, I appreciate being able to launch something without moving back to the keyboard or menu-digging.

SMB has been much improved in 8 (e.g., operations that don't need to cross the network no longer do), which is good for power users like me with over half a dozen machines on a gigabit network and a file server.

Remote desktop has been much improved in 8--you don't lose Aero and you lossy compression can kick in to maintain responsiveness. Another big plus for power users who have lots of machines that they use.

I absolutely hated how they butchered the file manager in Vista and as a result, I stayed with XP and vowed that it would have to be pried from my cold, dead hands. 7 didn't really improve the situation, and 8 is the first time they rolled back all those anti-poweruser changes that they made in Vista. You know what killed XP for me? It wasn't 7. It was 8.

And yes, 8 does require a bit more work out-of-the-box, like unpinning all those junk Metro apps that I never use and setting the default file associations to desktop apps (though U1 made that automatic). But if you are truly a power user as you so claim, toggling a few settings shouldn't be a problem.

I can access advanced controls easier in 8.
I can manage files muuuuch easier in 8.
Managing/using multiple machines is easier in 8.
Multi-monitor support has been much improved in 8.
I can even launch programs faster and easier than 8.

Explain to me again, how exactly is 8/8.1 worse for power users? Name me one, just one thing that 7 does that makes life easier for power users.

 

[Quantos]

Can a power user ever go back to that craptastic dinosaur known as Windows 7 after experiencing the awesomeness of 8.1?

And that's actually me being serious.

You do realize that there have been HUGE improvements in 8 targeted right at power users, right?

Like the vastly improved file manager. Most things take far fewer clicks.
Like the Power User menu.
Like how device manager can now show non-present devices without having to manually go setting environment variables.

The only Windows 7 "feature" that's missing from 8.1 is the Start Menu, and frankly, I prefer the Start Screen over that. Because it's better for power users. I can pin a whole screenful of program shortcuts to the SS. With the Start Menu, I'm limited by the vertical space and only a select number of programs that I use can be pinned--the rest requires typing on the keyboard or menu-digging. With 8, with everything that I can pin, everything I use is just there. I still type-to-launch if my hand is already on the keyboard, but if my hand is on the mouse, I appreciate being able to launch something without moving back to the keyboard or menu-digging.

SMB has been much improved in 8 (e.g., operations that don't need to cross the network no longer do), which is good for power users like me with over half a dozen machines on a gigabit network and a file server.

Remote desktop has been much improved in 8--you don't lose Aero and you lossy compression can kick in to maintain responsiveness. Another big plus for power users who have lots of machines that they use.

I can access advanced controls easier in 8.
I can manage files muuuuch easier in 8.
Managing/using multiple machines is easier in 8.
Multi-monitor support has been much improved in 8.
I can even launch programs faster and easier than 8.

Explain to me again, how exactly is 8/8.1 worse for power users? Name me one, just one thing that 7 does that makes life easier for power users.

Honestly I don't get it either. I have the same view as you regarding 8. I keep seeing comments like "Windows 8 sucks, period", and I cannot figure out what it is that people hate so much about 8. Is it only the start screen? If so, that's a replaceable UI element that literally takes 2 minutes to switch once you boot into the OS (download Classicshell or equivalents). What else is there to hate? "Metro" apps? Don't like them, don't use them. The benefits 8 brings to the table are just too great to be outweighed by these things.

 

[Mem]

Honestly I don't get it either. I have the same view as you regarding 8. I keep seeing comments like "Windows 8 sucks, period", and I cannot figure out what it is that people hate so much about 8. Is it only the start screen? If so, that's a replaceable UI element that literally takes 2 minutes to switch once you boot into the OS (download Classicshell or equivalents). What else is there to hate? "Metro" apps? Don't like them, don't use them. The benefits 8 brings to the table are just too great to be outweighed by these things.

They have to find some thing,fact is you can dislike any OS or even dislike change but none including Win8.1 are hard to use,its been that way since Win95,I've heard it all since DOS days.

I'm looking forward to what crap or FUD appears about Win9,its like some users throw a tantrum when something new appears that they don't like.

I keep saying this but no OS stays the same forever,things change(for better and for worst)so get over it,how do you think I have adapted since DOS days and now that I'm at 51,same goes for Linux as well.

 

[stinger608]

They have to find some thing,fact is you can dislike any OS or even dislike change but none including Win8.1 are hard to use,its been that way since Win95,I've heard it all since DOS days.

I'm looking forward to what crap or FUD appears about Win9,its like some users throw a tantrum when something new appears that they don't like.

I keep saying this but no OS stays the same forever,things change(for better and for worst)so get over it,how do you think I have adapted since DOS days and now that I'm at 51,same goes for Linux as well.

I have to totally agree with you here! Outside of DOS Windows 3.11 For Work Groups was probably my favorite MS Windows operating system. I tried Win 95 briefly and went back to 3.11 until Win 98SE was released.
Also skipped right over Vista until Win 7 was released.

Your right though Mem, people will bitch about new technology regardless of how good or bad it is.
I personally didn't like win 8 until trying it after the 8.1 update and installing ClassicShell. Now it is just fine.

 

[Imaginer]

My opinion?

The "hate" aspect was a bit overblown - but that doesn't mean it had its flaws.

1. Marketing. This was a big mistake in overemphasizing the Start Screen to the masses - with no or little advertisement on the desktop areas of work and play, only showcasing Modern areas. This leads the misconception that you cannot do anything desktop related as in the past - you can.

Which leads to...

2. Start Screen but most importantly, the initial perception. Once I realized that it is a marry of what I do on the desktop in launching programs anyways, in a more easier manner in keeping window placements, rather than "Show Desktop", the choice was rather clear for me. Combined with that I RARELY drum down the menus and folder structures of the Start Menus before (I had since done less of All Programs navigation even towards my end of time with XP - continuing to 7), this really is the more mindset approach that should be advertised.

3. Ease of power options - No where was "Settings" more confusing in the initial get go. This is where many would feel jarring in OS cohesiveness. Aspects of setting the PC or device is had anywhere, but some are specific to another, while others are in the traditional Control Panel areas. Most typical user and UI customizations would be found in "PC Settings" invoked on the bottom corner on the Charms setting cog, mostly for Modern. ONLY on the Desktop view, would the Charms setting cog would give a context to the Control Panel options. This makes a bit of sense when thinking about it.

But still, there was not a direct tile pinning of the "Power user options" on the Start Screen, much like the Start Screen had Control Panel DIRECTLY in the forefront of the menu - in any shape or form after hitting the Windows key, Start icon, etc. This was rectified, with a right click.


Above are the MAIN reasons why - perception, perpetuated bias, and adaptability. Microsoft as we all know never had been one for marketing well (Zune case in point). But given a solid direction, it would go well - which would possibly explain why Apple devices are expensive in a way - marketing costs.

Speaking of perception here is another...

4. User logins. Most people with their PCs in the past are a sole user, thus never needing to use a lock or password screen (even though they are always an option since XP (don't even mention ME/95/98 - those login screens are just comforting placeholders for me). I hear people gripe about this extra step when it really isn't an issue.

UAC is just a sanity check for me, do actually double check some of my executions - yes most people gloss over it thinking they know what they are installing, but with some actual reading, and a bit of sense, this is a perfect double checking tool. However most people impatient would just want things done RIGHT NOW since computers can do this mentality.

But speaking of logins, another is the option for Microsoft accounts and perceived privacy issues. Not one here. The account ensures a good way of accountability with the Modern store. However, it has other uses in leveraging PC settings syncing and OneDrive. Not a bad thing, and most likely the same Google has done but no one has batted an eye for that area. It isn't hard to select - use a local account either on initial setup.

So...

TL-DR: Windows 8 does not suck. It has been mostly a user problem. But Windows 8 had some technical flaws (for me, initial driver pains on release) but others have Store account issues - however, Windows in the hybrid area continues to be better.

 

[G73S]

the only reason I stick to 7 is my benchmarks are 15% in every single benchmark in Windows 7. Why is it that Windows 8.1 is more optimized for newer hardware and SSDs but sucks so much in AS SSD and 3DMark gets m 200 points less in Windows 8.1?????????? how can a dinosaur OS such as Windows 7 perform much better?

8 boots faster? WRONG, it gets u to the desktop faster but then as it starts to load things, they balance each other out. Windows 7 may boot a few seconds slower but the desktop is immediately usable the moment you see the desktop screen.