Explain Windows to me please

[3spooky5u]

I have been using Slackware Linux and nothing else for 12 years now

what has changed since Windows XP?

 

[lifeblood]

Everything and nothing?

Its evolved. Vista and Win7 were far more secure and glossy OS. Win7 has been extreamly reliable for me. It included Media Center for free. Win8 is a tablet operating system that also works on a desktop.Win 8.1 makes it more balanced between desktops and tablets.

If the software you need to run is on Linux, stay on linux. I cant think of a single killer feature that windows has and Linux doesn't other than greater software compatibity.

 

[MustISO]

http://www.theguardian.com/technolo...1-to-windows-10-29-years-of-windows-evolution

http://gizmodo.com/a-brief-history-of-the-windows-start-menu-1640875471

http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-is-here-so-lets-take-a-look-at-30-years-of-windows/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqkkByP8RDM

 

[Maximilian]

I will tell you a tale! Things were beautiful once in the land of windows... we had windows 7 with its magical colorful see through thing known as aero

Then with windows 8 disaster struck and an evil being known as metro struck down aero and the time of great sorrow began...

The people revolted and in windows 10 metro has been cast out, it is not dead but its power is diminished significantly and things are improving

Of course that's just the GUI... from a technical standpoint it generally still just werks.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Interesting. The W7 looks like it's ready for business and the other 2 examples look like they are ready for a frat boy beer/let's get together and play some Xbox party.

 

[Defenestration]

UAC was a big change compared to XP, but you can turn it off if you want XP behaviour.

Search box on Vista/7 start menu makes it quick and easy to find what you're after.

Start menu was removed in 8/8.1 but there are 3rd party alternatives (eg. StartIsBack), and it's obviously making a comeback in Win 10.

 

[Skaendo]

Windows 7 was nice (classic windows style), thats prob why it is still the most used version with 53% of the market share.

Windows 8 & Metro is a disaster, and as long as they keep the metro apps and continue to make you see the Xbox crap it will continue to fail in my eyes. I mean really, come on Microsoft, not everyone who has a computer likes, has or even knows about Xbox. Keep them seperate.

Just becaust the Xbox is technically a computer doesn't mean that a computer is technically a Xbox.

 

[Skaendo]

The people revolted and in windows 10 metro has been cast out, it is not dead but its power is diminished significantly and things are improving

Is this an actual screenshot of a running W10TP? Or just a generic stock image?

I have questions like;
1. Where is the clock that used to be in the taskbar?
2a. Are all the icons in the taskbar running programs?
2b. And if I have 5 instances of notepad running will I see 5 notepad icons?
3. Why did they switch to icons in the first place?

If the answer to question 2b. is 'yes', it seems kind of counter-productive to me. At least before you could see the name of the notepad document and wouldn't have to check each one every time you wanted to switch between them.

 

[Maximilian]

Is this an actual screenshot of a running W10TP? Or just a generic stock image?

I have questions like;
1. Where is the clock that used to be in the taskbar?
2a. Are all the icons in the taskbar running programs?
2b. And if I have 5 instances of notepad running will I see 5 notepad icons?
3. Why did they switch to icons in the first place?

If the answer to question 2b. is 'yes', it seems kind of counter-productive to me. At least before you could see the name of the notepad document and wouldn't have to check each one every time you wanted to switch between them.

Stock image from google. Good spot... where the hell is that clock :\

 

[bbhaag]

Maybe you guys are so caught up in the hype that you really haven't given it a chance.:shrug:

 

[ArisVer]

Since WinXP, 64-bit Windows came out. Greater stability and usability, pin to taskbar was the best improvement IMO. I also didn't like the metro thing of Win8 but for people that have tablets is a must. Currently I use Win7 and will stick to it until 2020, then switch to a distro.

@ Skaendo
This is a screenshot of Win10 on a VM. The clock is there, currenty two programs are running from the taskbar (notepad x5 and bittorrent), not sure what you mean at q3.
Edit. PS. Why don't you run it on a VM to see how it behaves? It's easy. Taskbar is the same as Win7, Win8.

 

[bbhaag]

It's still all there just like in previous versions including the clock. Even with different names for different .txt files. No not every .txt file has its own taskbar icon. The taskbar in Win10 is just like Win7/8/Vista Treat it just the same. Pin and unpin.

 

[sweenish]

Metro was never as bad as people made it out to be.

Windows 8.1 was a great advancement, regardless. Some very selective histories being given. I saw one mention the start menu search bar for Vista and 7, the exact functionality is also in 8.

In 8, if you actually take the 5 minutes to arrange the metro screen, which was apparently wrongly assumed by MS, it's great. I rarely have to actually drop down to the all apps section. If it's not pinned on my screen, I just start typing.

The start menu is generally slower by design. In 10, the speed may be moot since I can still pin stuff to the right side.

Obviously visuals are subjective, but I think the un-usability of metro got blown way out of proportion.

But I was also fine with Vista, since I could actually identify that OEMs were at fault for my lack of sound drivers.

 

[denis280]

I have been using Slackware Linux and nothing else for 12 years now

what has changed since Windows XP?

Owner.my friend.Owner thats all:|

 

[coffeejunkee]

Is this an actual screenshot of a running W10TP? Or just a generic stock image?

I have questions like;
1. Where is the clock that used to be in the taskbar?
2a. Are all the icons in the taskbar running programs?
2b. And if I have 5 instances of notepad running will I see 5 notepad icons?
3. Why did they switch to icons in the first place?

If the answer to question 2b. is 'yes', it seems kind of counter-productive to me. At least before you could see the name of the notepad document and wouldn't have to check each one every time you wanted to switch between them.

Have you never used Win7? It's called the superbar and it lets you launch programs and switch between them at the same time. Old buttons were faster if you use few programs, but if you open up 20 notepads and every button shows just 'not' it gets hard to find the one you want.

For me best improvement in win7 and up vs xp is snap to side and search box in win explorer. Winxp search was a disaster. Also, 'new folder' button in explorer, used to have to do right click > new > new folder...wasted so many clicks on that.

 

[Skaendo]

Thank you for the better screenshots, ArisVer & bbhaag.

I wont use W10TP, (I dont agree to their privacy statement for Windows Technical Preview). I'm going to give W10 a try when it is officially released.

Have you never used Win7? It's called the superbar and it lets you launch programs and switch between them at the same time. Old buttons were faster if you use few programs, but if you open up 20 notepads and every button shows just 'not' it gets hard to find the one you want.

I have a running Win7 box and never heard 'superbar'. My taskbar is like it was when I had XP except for the buttons dont have titles, they show up like in W10TP pics here. But I only have 1 that is there constantly (Windows Explorer), and the other side is pretty much like is always has w/clock, network, etc.

 

[zokudu]

Thank you for the better screenshots, ArisVer & bbhaag.

I wont use W10TP, (I dont agree to their privacy statement for Windows Technical Preview). I'm going to give W10 a try when it is officially released.



I have a running Win7 box and never heard 'superbar'. My taskbar is like it was when I had XP except for the buttons dont have titles, they show up like in W10TP pics here. But I only have 1 that is there constantly (Windows Explorer), and the other side is pretty much like is always has w/clock, network, etc.

I'm not sure about the superbar monicker but I've always equated it to the dock from OSX or Gnome 3 (I assume you've used at least Gnome 3). You can attach applications to the taskbar/dock and if the application is not open it will open when you click on it. If it is open it will show any active windows of that application.

 

[Skaendo]

I'm not sure about the superbar monicker but I've always equated it to the dock from OSX or Gnome 3 (I assume you've used at least Gnome 3). You can attach applications to the taskbar/dock and if the application is not open it will open when you click on it. If it is open it will show any active windows of that application.

Yea, thats how it is in my Win7, but I only have Windows Explorer there. I don't need a bunch of icons cluttering up the taskbar. I only use my Win7 system for media like DVD's and recorded shows.

I have used Gnome 3 & 4. I don't like them at all. I use KDE because it has the more classic Windows style to it.

 

[coffeejunkee]

I'm not sure about the superbar monicker but I've always equated it to the dock from OSX or Gnome 3 (I assume you've used at least Gnome 3). You can attach applications to the taskbar/dock and if the application is not open it will open when you click on it. If it is open it will show any active windows of that application.

And there's more: if you rightclick an icon you get a list of recently opened files.

Yea, thats how it is in my Win7, but I only have Windows Explorer there. I don't need a bunch of icons cluttering up the taskbar. I only use my Win7 system for media like DVD's and recorded shows.

I have used Gnome 3 & 4. I don't like them at all. I use KDE because it has the more classic Windows style to it.

Ah, so you haven't really used win7. Guess you hate the ribbon too?

 

[Skaendo]

Ah, so you haven't really used win7. Guess you hate the ribbon too?

I did have Win7 on my other laptop, and did use it daily, when I had a HDD in it.
What ribbon?

 

[Chapbass]

The Ribbon is what Microsoft used to move away from menus. It started with office 2007, then expanded in office 2010, and now is also used in OSes newer than Windows 8. It looks like this:

The ribbon changes based on what you're clicking on / looking at. It got some kickback in the office 2007 days, but people have slowly adopted it because ultimately it is a faster way of doing things, its just a big departure from the typical menu driven system.

EDIT: The Ribbon is the top section with the File, Computer, and View tabs, with the sections below it changing depending on tab.

 

[Skaendo]

Oh yea, I did find it useful for a few things, but I had it hidden for the most part in Windows. I did find it more useful in Office 2013 than I did in Windows Explorer.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Is this an actual screenshot of a running W10TP? Or just a generic stock image?

I have questions like;
1. Where is the clock that used to be in the taskbar?
Looks like someone took that screenshot from a second monitor.
2a. Are all the icons in the taskbar running programs?
This the docking feature from Windows 7. If they are small icons, they are not running. If they are longer and outlined, they are running. You can pin programs here.
2b. And if I have 5 instances of notepad running will I see 5 notepad icons?
Depends. If can either combine them into a single icon that when you mouse over it shows 5 preview windows, or have it show 5 separate buttons in the task bar
3. Why did they switch to icons in the first place?
Don't even know what you mean here

If the answer to question 2b. is 'yes', it seems kind of counter-productive to me. At least before you could see the name of the notepad document and wouldn't have to check each one every time you wanted to switch between them.

When did you last use Windows? Much of this stuff has been present since Vista or Win 7.

 

[Skaendo]

When did you last use Windows? Much of this stuff has been present since Vista or Win 7.

I didn't use Vista. But I do use Win7, just not a lot as a regular computer lately.
As for question #3, my Win7 computer is like that, just didn't notice it so much since I don't use it for a computer, per se.

 

[Raduque]

Metro was never as bad as people made it out to be.

Windows 8.1 was a great advancement, regardless. Some very selective histories being given. I saw one mention the start menu search bar for Vista and 7, the exact functionality is also in 8.

In 8, if you actually take the 5 minutes to arrange the metro screen, which was apparently wrongly assumed by MS, it's great. I rarely have to actually drop down to the all apps section. If it's not pinned on my screen, I just start typing.

The start menu is generally slower by design. In 10, the speed may be moot since I can still pin stuff to the right side.

Obviously visuals are subjective, but I think the un-usability of metro got blown way out of proportion.

But I was also fine with Vista, since I could actually identify that OEMs were at fault for my lack of sound drivers.

The Windows 8 and Vista hate can be summed down to one thing: People hate change.

"They changed it, now it sucks!" It happened when we went from Windows 98/2000 to Windows XP, it happened when we went from XP to Vista, and now it's happening again as we go from 7 to 8.1.

"All of this has happened before; all of this will happen again."

Myself, I welcomed it with open arms. I ran Vista from an early beta version right till RTM, whereupon I secured (thanks to that old Bing Rewards thing that gave you points for playing games) several copies of Vista Ultimate and Home Premium.

Windows 8/8.1 Start screen is not a problem for anybody with a functioning brain. Simply press windows, start typing, click what you were searching for, and go about your business. So it covers your windows, big deal? Nobody cares. Get over yourself.