Holy Cow - Windows 8. OMG

[homebrew2ny]

First let me just say that I think the opinion of not liking windows 8 is a valid one because of the changes. Despite the start button being a antiquated feature, this does not automatically make it an obsolete feature for need of advancement. Windows 8 does require a bit of a learning curve to do even the simplest of tasks that most/many have taken for granted as easily understandable in a conforming way over the span of windows incarnations. And I obviously agree that windows 8 as it is now is catered to the touch screen variety and seems a bit cumbersome to the traditional non touch screen user base.

Having said all of that, I had windows 8 pre-installed on my ASUS G75 when I got it and took the first 3 minutes to download and install classicshell & 8gadgetpack, and since then it has functioned exactly like my preferential experience with windows 7. I am not opposed to the new direction of 8, it's just not for me and the way I want to interface with my PC's.

Point being, 8 has been every bit as stable as 7 and perhaps even a bit snappier. It took a couple simple downloads (as mentioned earlier) to get it to what I wanted, but that is all the 'tweaking' needed to alleviate any and all negativity towards 8 and put the functionality squarely back to what I am use to.

I guess I am just confused at all the hate that windows 8 is getting see how it is a excellent os and just a download or 2 away from ones windows 7 experience.

 

[C1]

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/03/what-to-expect-in-windows-blue/

 

[Cogman]

Meh. Windows 8 is OK. It isn't great, but it is ok. My biggest gripe about it is the "Magic locations" for charms etc. There is a lot of "Move your mouse to this corner to do x" that is a bit annoying. That and the fact that they hide the shutdown button is a little annoying as well.

Over all, it isn't a terrible experience, just a meh experience. I haven't experienced any bugs form the OS. Some of the metro apps are 'ok' and I might use them for reading something.

It is what microsoft needs it to be, a platform where they can deploy an app store. That was the main win for windows 8 where microsoft is concerned. If they can get people weened from their desktop apps (which is their ultimate goal), then they can eventually get to a point where malware is a thing of the past. With every app going through the app store it becomes a simple process to remove malicious apps.

 

[tuxberg]

I guess I am just confused at all the hate that windows 8 is getting see how it is a excellent os and just a download or 2 away from ones windows 7 experience.

Changing windows 8 into the best facsimile of windows 7 possible doesn't seem to be a great defense of 8.

Granted, it comes with modern hardware and you can't always avoid it by trade, but surely given the choice there's no reason to pick windows 8?

 

[mechBgon]

Changing windows 8 into the best facsimile of windows 7 possible doesn't seem to be a great defense of 8.

Granted, it comes with modern hardware and you can't always avoid it by trade, but surely given the choice there's no reason to pick windows 8?

Win8 has major security advantages over Win7. It's worth the two minutes it takes to de-Metro Win8.

 

[BuffaloChuck]

I don't think Microsoft has ever delivered such a divisive OS, though. I can't think of any OS that's been as polarly received.

As for security, when I see the entire USERS folder structure opened up on any Share command, I have strong doubts about every other decision those kind of "thinkers" would design and still claim "improved security".

The lack of user access to screen-element customizations (that have existed since Win95-B) is surprising, especially since all those Registry entries are there - but just not accessible in the UI. So's the Start Menu folder structure - still there, but not accessible again.

A lot of interesting decisions were made.

 

[homebrew2ny]

Changing windows 8 into the best facsimile of windows 7 possible doesn't seem to be a great defense of 8.

Granted, it comes with modern hardware and you can't always avoid it by trade, but surely given the choice there's no reason to pick windows 8?

If you re-read my entire post I think you will agree it was by no means intended as a defense with regards to windows 8. However, it was intended to combat the popular notion that windows 8 is crap, or too odd/hard to use. And if all I needed to do was download 1 or 2 simple add-on's to regain familiar function for the latest windows release then all the hate I read about it seems fruitless.

 

[paul878]

Windows 8 is going the way of Vista, bring out Windows 9.
People just don't like it and don't want it, Corporations will never adapt it.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Hold on so what you're saying is by default you can see the entire Users folder when you try to browse to another win8 pc on your network?

I don't think Microsoft has ever delivered such a divisive OS, though. I can't think of any OS that's been as polarly received.

As for security, when I see the entire USERS folder structure opened up on any Share command, I have strong doubts about every other decision those kind of "thinkers" would design and still claim "improved security".

The lack of user access to screen-element customizations (that have existed since Win95-B) is surprising, especially since all those Registry entries are there - but just not accessible in the UI. So's the Start Menu folder structure - still there, but not accessible again.

A lot of interesting decisions were made.

 

[Hugo Drax]

Been using it a month and really don't get the hate. Works fine for me, it just took a little adjusting. By little I mean very little.

Windows 8 is very popular amongst a certain crowd.

 

[sandorski]

Windows 8 is very popular amongst a certain crowd.

:biggrin:

 

[capeconsultant]

Bottom line: Start8 rules the day. I would not go back to 7. Fast and smooth. But give me my start menu or I will move to Linux real quick and never look back. I hate it when MS forces me to change my ways in such a totally poorly though out disconnected manner.

So, like I said, Start8 RULES the day. Windows 8 does not suck. METRO on a desktop SUCKS.

 

[Stone Rain]

My qualms with windows 8 are not that they've changed the interface, but that they've removed key functionality for power users (all apps full screen, wtf?), as well as the below list:


The UI change, ok, I get that. But what portions of the WIMP interface remain are terribly designed, they look cheap and blocky.

IE10 is not as good as people claim. Even speed-runner-up Firefox walks all over it's butt, plus IE has long had the worst security record of any browser. Plus its' standards compliance is abysmal, MS even has the gall to build a website that scans your pages to advise how you should change them to better work with IE. Microsoft, build a browser that works, stop trying to change the Web to fit your crappy paradigms.

Windows 8 will not play DVD's out of the box. Enough said.

File Explorer is infinitely less powerful and usable than its' predecessor.

In a semi-humorous way, the BSOD, should you unfortunately ever see it, no longer displays the necessary technical information! All it shows is a sad face and minimal reports!

Application installers or apps themselves can no longer programmatically configure, change or query file associations or set themselves during installation as the default for a file type or protocol! File type associations have to be and can only be configured manually by the user from Default Programs Control Panel! The Windows 7 Open With dialog already respected user choice. If a program was associated with a file type from the Open With dialog’s 'Always use the selected program to open this kind of file' option, there was no issue of programs taking over the user's file associations.

All sound schemes except Windows Default have been removed.

Windows Update settings for showing notifications and allowing all users to install updates have been removed. Windows Update no longer notifies with a balloon notification that there are new updates available.

Search option to use natural language search has been removed from Folder Options.

Running Internet Explorer purely in 64-bit mode is not possible unless Enhanced Protected Mode is enabled which disables all addons. Otherwise, 64-bit IE10 opens 32-bit tabs.

Global search option to not perform a recursive search initially and search only in the current folder without searching its subfolders has been removed. Search is always performed recursively and the Ribbon has an option to search only the current folder which must be activated each time.

The ''Snap To'' mouse pointer option to move the pointer automatically to the ''default button'' in a dialog is broken on many re-designed system and application dialog boxes and windows in Windows 8 (e.g. the new file copy conflict dialog). The mouse pointer does not move or ''snap to'' the default button in several dialogs which are re-designed.

Chkdsk when run at startup hides any information about file system repairs besides % complete. This screen with scanning and correction details is gone when Chkdsk runs at startup and replaced by just a “Scanning and repairing errors” message with % complete indicator.

Device Manager no longer shows Non-Plug and Play Drivers or non-present devices (devices for which drivers are installed but the device itself does not show until it’s connected/on). The "Devmgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices=1' environment variable has no effect.

Pen, Ink and Touch Input Desktop features which Windows 7 had, including the The Tablet Input Panel (TIP) are no longer included. Some buttons ('num', 'sym' and 'web) are removed from the Handwriting input panel and UI changes to it require more clicks for example to switch from handwriting to keyboard, or access the editing commands (join, split, delete). It is now touch-friendly but no longer stylus-friendly. Desktop tablet features are replaced by a dumbed down touch keyboard.

Windows DVD Maker is removed

Network Map feature and some network profile management UI (setting a network as Private, Public, customizing the network name and icon etc) from Network and Sharing Center is missing.

Redialing options (redial attempts, time between attempts, idle threshold) for VPN, PPPoE, DSL and dial-up connections are removed. For PPPoE connections, the option to display progress while connecting and whether to include Windows logon domain are also removed.

View Available Networks (VAN) UI has been crippled with access to the most important dialog: the Network's Status dialog removed. The VAN UI now covers the notification area icons unnecessarily and the Metro look is out of place on the Aero desktop.

The VAN UI in Windows 8 also does not display Virtual Wi-Fi (hosted wireless) connections when they are started.

The ability to create an ad-hoc wireless network connection has been removed.

There is only one conclusion we can draw from this. Windows 8 is an ugly, crippled operating system that should not even be given away. It's speed does not make up for what Microsoft has taken out of the core functionality. Moreover, there has never been a worse time for MS to fail like this. Alternatives are not only available, but the competition to Windows 8 is now more functional, as well as more user-friendly.

 

[ControlD]

Bottom line: Start8 rules the day. I would not go back to 7. Fast and smooth. But give me my start menu or I will move to Linux real quick and never look back. I hate it when MS forces me to change my ways in such a totally poorly though out disconnected manner.

So, like I said, Start8 RULES the day. Windows 8 does not suck. METRO on a desktop SUCKS.

If the only criteria you need to leave Windows is the lack of a Start button why are you staying with it in the first place? You obviously don't need Windows then. Just pull the trigger and make the switch.

 

[Hugo Drax]

All Microsoft needed to do is add all the Windows 8 improvements but keep the Windows 7 interface.

And add a few enhancements such as Spaces like what OS X and Full screen mode like what OS X has.

And then the Metro Tablet world could be a dashboard overlay like what OS X has. where you press a button and it swoops down and you can run these new Metro apps etc.. and swoops right back away. but its a sand boxed world.

Instead they create a huge UI clusterfuck.

 

[GrumpyMan]

My qualms with windows 8 are not that they've changed the interface, but that they've removed key functionality for power users (all apps full screen, wtf?), as well as the below list:


The UI change, ok, I get that. But what portions of the WIMP interface remain are terribly designed, they look cheap and blocky.

IE10 is not as good as people claim. Even speed-runner-up Firefox walks all over it's butt, plus IE has long had the worst security record of any browser. Plus its' standards compliance is abysmal, MS even has the gall to build a website that scans your pages to advise how you should change them to better work with IE. Microsoft, build a browser that works, stop trying to change the Web to fit your crappy paradigms.

Windows 8 will not play DVD's out of the box. Enough said.

File Explorer is infinitely less powerful and usable than its' predecessor.

In a semi-humorous way, the BSOD, should you unfortunately ever see it, no longer displays the necessary technical information! All it shows is a sad face and minimal reports!

Application installers or apps themselves can no longer programmatically configure, change or query file associations or set themselves during installation as the default for a file type or protocol! File type associations have to be and can only be configured manually by the user from Default Programs Control Panel! The Windows 7 Open With dialog already respected user choice. If a program was associated with a file type from the Open With dialog’s 'Always use the selected program to open this kind of file' option, there was no issue of programs taking over the user's file associations.

All sound schemes except Windows Default have been removed.

Windows Update settings for showing notifications and allowing all users to install updates have been removed. Windows Update no longer notifies with a balloon notification that there are new updates available.

Search option to use natural language search has been removed from Folder Options.

Running Internet Explorer purely in 64-bit mode is not possible unless Enhanced Protected Mode is enabled which disables all addons. Otherwise, 64-bit IE10 opens 32-bit tabs.

Global search option to not perform a recursive search initially and search only in the current folder without searching its subfolders has been removed. Search is always performed recursively and the Ribbon has an option to search only the current folder which must be activated each time.

The ''Snap To'' mouse pointer option to move the pointer automatically to the ''default button'' in a dialog is broken on many re-designed system and application dialog boxes and windows in Windows 8 (e.g. the new file copy conflict dialog). The mouse pointer does not move or ''snap to'' the default button in several dialogs which are re-designed.

Chkdsk when run at startup hides any information about file system repairs besides % complete. This screen with scanning and correction details is gone when Chkdsk runs at startup and replaced by just a “Scanning and repairing errors” message with % complete indicator.

Device Manager no longer shows Non-Plug and Play Drivers or non-present devices (devices for which drivers are installed but the device itself does not show until it’s connected/on). The "Devmgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices=1' environment variable has no effect.

Pen, Ink and Touch Input Desktop features which Windows 7 had, including the The Tablet Input Panel (TIP) are no longer included. Some buttons ('num', 'sym' and 'web) are removed from the Handwriting input panel and UI changes to it require more clicks for example to switch from handwriting to keyboard, or access the editing commands (join, split, delete). It is now touch-friendly but no longer stylus-friendly. Desktop tablet features are replaced by a dumbed down touch keyboard.

Windows DVD Maker is removed

Network Map feature and some network profile management UI (setting a network as Private, Public, customizing the network name and icon etc) from Network and Sharing Center is missing.

Redialing options (redial attempts, time between attempts, idle threshold) for VPN, PPPoE, DSL and dial-up connections are removed. For PPPoE connections, the option to display progress while connecting and whether to include Windows logon domain are also removed.

View Available Networks (VAN) UI has been crippled with access to the most important dialog: the Network's Status dialog removed. The VAN UI now covers the notification area icons unnecessarily and the Metro look is out of place on the Aero desktop.

The VAN UI in Windows 8 also does not display Virtual Wi-Fi (hosted wireless) connections when they are started.

The ability to create an ad-hoc wireless network connection has been removed.

There is only one conclusion we can draw from this. Windows 8 is an ugly, crippled operating system that should not even be given away. It's speed does not make up for what Microsoft has taken out of the core functionality. Moreover, there has never been a worse time for MS to fail like this. Alternatives are not only available, but the competition to Windows 8 is now more functional, as well as more user-friendly.

OMG, you are in trouble now!!! :hmm:

 

[beginner99]

then they can eventually get to a point where malware is a thing of the past. With every app going through the app store it becomes a simple process to remove malicious apps.

At that point most users will have switched to linux.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah, I was shocked... at how much security hardening they did under the hood, ranging from the boot mechanisms, to the kernel security overhaul, to supporting the new security features in the latest CPUs (SMEP), to high-entropy ASLR and mandatory DEP... shocking.

I prioritize on security, so rather than throwing out Win8 because of the crazy UI (which I don't like either), I added a start-menu add-on and now have the best of both worlds. Win7 UI, plus Win8 security advances. If you want your mom's computer to be as secure as practical, then you might want to rethink this. And if you do, remember to re-enable Secure Boot and confirm it's active.

Isn't forcing users to download third party software to hack the UI a security risk in itself?

Wouldnt it have just been better for Microsoft to have just left in that option themselves?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

In case anyone missed this before -

Quick Tip: Invoke god mode to take control of settings in Windows 8
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...to-take-control-of-settings-in-windows-8/7456

 

[5630ledbulb]

Windows 8 is great, my laptop also comes up with Windows 8.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

First brief history.

I've been using windows/dos since the very first versions. Vax/VMS on the job before that. I ran OS2 Warp for a time. And of course MacOS, Linux and Solaris. I'm a solaris/storage guy during the day. So I've been around a few operating systems going back 20+ years.

I just bought my mom a new laptop and it came with Windows 8.

After 2 weeks of running the gambit I'm just floored at how awful Windows 8 is. Man. Give me Windows ME or Vista over this rubbish. Holy cow. I finally ripped it off and put on a hacked copy of Windows 7 after Dell refused to swap my restore CD with a Windows 7 one. (Even offered to pay for it)

Just baffled at what Microsoft was thinking. You would think they learned their lesson with Vista.

Anyone else just shocked at this version?

Oh, stop whining. Just install Start8. Only takes 5 mins.

 

[xXdragonbatXX]

Windows 8 is crap but we've know this before it came out, it's the pattern.

 

[wiin]

There s no need for third party program(s). However, if you are so inclined to use or or two for that matter, it is your choice. Don't blame it on Win8. that'sjust silly.

Well other than having to install 1 or 2 3rd party programs to make it work like the previous versions of Windows that everyone is used to, it's fine. It's like Scotch, an acquired taste for some. Boots faster, under the hood improvements, better secuirty, yada yada.....whatever. Don't say you hate it or you'll get the typical responses like in the other threads about this subject. See you got some already....lol.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I was recently helping someone who is older and has been using XP for years, and had to get a new pc. He was very frustrated with win8, and ended up returning it and now is planning to buy a mac.

Microsoft Really should have included some kind of intro/tutorial video with it!

 

[Doomer]

First brief history.

I've been using windows/dos since the very first versions. Vax/VMS on the job before that. I ran OS2 Warp for a time. And of course MacOS, Linux and Solaris. I'm a solaris/storage guy during the day. So I've been around a few operating systems going back 20+ years.

I just bought my mom a new laptop and it came with Windows 8.

After 2 weeks of running the gambit I'm just floored at how awful Windows 8 is. Man. Give me Windows ME or Vista over this rubbish. Holy cow. I finally ripped it off and put on a hacked copy of Windows 7 after Dell refused to swap my restore CD with a Windows 7 one. (Even offered to pay for it)

Just baffled at what Microsoft was thinking. You would think they learned their lesson with Vista.

Anyone else just shocked at this version?

You, sir, hit the nail squarely on the head. I wonder if the Win 8 fanbois are being paid by MS.

Yes, I understand the hate completely, it's the love that has me baffled.