Holy Cow - Windows 8. OMG

[WelshBloke]

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.

Ok try playing a dvd or using a TV tuner without installing a third party program and then tell me that there's no need for them.

 

[Mem]

Ok try playing a dvd or using a TV tuner without installing a third party program and then tell me that there's no need for them.

I think Microsoft should of extended the free WMC offer ,I was lucky to get three WMC keys for my Win8 PCs when they had the free offer(I use one for my DTV USB tuner)however I do know Media Portal (free)works well on Win8 and I also use K-Lite codec pack (free) which basically plays anything.


I think we are all guilty of installing third party programs with any OS,I've been doing it for decades way back since XP days etc...

I know WMC is now not free due to licensing fees etc which did help keep the cost down for Win8.

 

[Schmide]

I know WMC is now not free due to licensing fees etc which did help keep the cost down for Win8.

Costs down? Windows 8 is the same price as 7!

 

[Mem]

Costs down? Windows 8 is the same price as 7!

They charge you for WMC now so that would put the pricing up if they included it in Win8 for good,besides I purchased Win8 Pro x64 with free WMC offer all for 14.99 (bargain) before Xmas .

The price may be a lot higher now but if you get Windows Blue free (yet to be confirmed)down the road still a good deal.

 

[Schmide]

I've gotten plenty of deals, but you can't claim promo pricing for the actual cost.

Shens

 

[tuxberg]

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

I didn't mean to insinuate that there were no advantages, but rather to point out the biggest selling point was that it could be fixed to appear like windows 7. Not really a good selling point.

 

[jhbball]

I don't mind windows 8, but I haven't really fallen in love with it. A few of my gripes:

1) 2 different interfaces, one of which is not very intuitive (pointing corners for everything)
2) Apps in metro don't translate well to the desktop. The only apps I find myself using are hulu/netlfix apps. In other cases, it's often a better experience to just browse to the equivalent website (ESPN being an example) or use the desktop counterpart for an app (skype).
3) Dual monitor support is strange. You can't stretch the metro interface to two monitors (though, there's not enough apps to make this valuable - see #2). You also can't force the metro UI to stay open when you click off to your secondary monitor.
4) Searching in metro requires more key strokes than searching in the windows 7 start menu.
5) What's the point of restricting random icons/programs from being placed on the taskbar? (Computer, being one of them)

 

[C1]

Well, well, well.
Could this just be the impetus behind the MS drive to WIN Hate?

Microsoft Could Be Obsolete By 2017: Gartner Report:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...d-obsolete-2017-gartner-report-154459119.html

 

[bbhaag]

Windows 8 is gross. You do know it lacks a start button right? Its so hard to use because of that. I just don't get it. It's yucky...and boring.

OMG its the worst OS ever.

 

[Sephire]

Well, after testing Windows 8, I am confident that I will be using Windows 7 for my next workstation

 

[Snoop]

Well, after testing Windows 8, I am confident that I will be using Windows 7 for my next workstation

I detest the Windows 8 Metro UI, but I have to say after using windows 8 with a start button replacement (Start8), and disabling all things metro, there is no reason to avoid windows 8. Just avoid Metro.

My only complaint would be the desktop UI is very bland and not a lot of visual contrast. I assume its just my age and I am not hip with the minimalist styling but it looks like sh!t to me.

 

[Evander]

Well, well, well.
Could this just be the impetus behind the MS drive to WIN Hate?

Microsoft Could Be Obsolete By 2017: Gartner Report:
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...d-obsolete-2017-gartner-report-154459119.html

I wonder if this showed up on the Metro Live Tiles?

 

[nephilim2k]

Why do people detest metro? It is a quicker version of the start menu...its simplicity makes life easier IMO

 

[WelshBloke]

Why do people detest metro? It is a quicker version of the start menu...its simplicity makes life easier IMO

WTF? Whether you like it or not, it's not a quicker version of the start menu at all. If anything it's a more complicated version of the desktop.

 

[Ketchup]

WTF? Whether you like it or not, it's not a quicker version of the start menu at all. If anything it's a more complicated version of the desktop.

IMO, when you first get started in Windows 8 Metro is a pest, as there are more levels of searching to find the program you want. As Windows learns what you use the most, the it will be right there on the main screen. I call it Windows' weird way of extending the 'recently used' section of the start menu, and saying 'try to find me' to the rest.

 

[nephilim2k]

So...removing all the crap you dont want on there, then adding what you do (much like a start menu), isn't easier?

 

[Mem]

So...removing all the crap you dont want on there, then adding what you do (much like a start menu), isn't easier?

That's what I did ie remove ALL the Metro tiles you don't need,right click on Metro and select "all apps" then you can choose what you want on Metro as a tile etc and decide what you are going to pin to old Desktop taskbar job done,simple.You obviously can get more creative by making your own Metro columns and naming them etc...

For the record yet again you don't need a third party "Start button menu" ie like Classic Shell, thats just people holding on to the old legacy way of doing things from Win95 (1995) to Win7(2012) so almost 20 years of same way of doing things.

 

[nephilim2k]

Mem, I did exactly the same...this is how mine looks (name removed for security)

Everything there I use on a daily or weekly basis...quick, simple, slick.

 

[Ketchup]

For the record yet again you don't need a third party "Start button menu" ie like Classic Shell, thats just people holding on to the old legacy way of doing things from Win95 (1995) to Win7(2012) so almost 20 years of same way of doing things.

Boom! That's it, that right there. Hit the nail on the head!

For 17 years Microsoft told us we had to use the Start button to do everything (excluding icons we placed on the desktop). Now they release an OS for the same computers, to perform the same functions, without a start menu. No sense whatsoever.

 

[Mem]

Mem, I did exactly the same...this is how mine looks (name removed for security)

Everything there I use on a daily or weekly basis...quick, simple, slick.

This one of my Win8 PCs,still working on the colours for tiles might change them,

My Win+x menu (improved).

 

[WelshBloke]

So...removing all the crap you dont want on there, then adding what you do (much like a start menu), isn't easier?

Does that stop the start screen from covering up all my running programs when I open it? Does it make the start screen not broken if you use two monitors? Does it let me have proper windowed metro apps?

 

[Mem]

Does that stop the start screen from covering up all my running programs when I open it? Does it make the start screen not broken if you use two monitors? Does it let me have proper windowed metro apps?

As you know the Metro Start screen is the replacement for the old Start menu,its not perfect and hopefully Windows Blue/8.1 will make it more friendly with regards to customization etc...I see it as mark 1 version in Win8 bit like Win95 was with regards to Win7 start menu which has improved over time since Win95 days,be interesting to see what Win9,10 bring.

 

[nephilim2k]

Answer 1 - Yes it covers everything, but that is the default option, and it is changeable (In professional onwards)
Answer 2 - No, you can have it on as many monitors as you like, when you open a program, it loads up desktop which extends across all screens.
Answer 3 - Yes you can have windows metro apps.

 

[WelshBloke]

As you know the Metro Start screen is the replacement for the old Start menu,its not perfect and hopefully Windows Blue/8.1 will make it more friendly with regards to customization etc...I see it as mark 1 version in Win8 bit like Win95 was with regards to Win7 start menu which has improved over time since Win95 days,be interesting to see what Win9,10 bring.

Its fine that its not perfect, nobody expects it to be. Whats not fine is as soon as anybody criticises it or expresses a preference to the old start menu their opinions a written off as unimportant.

Answer 1 - Yes it covers everything, but that is the default option, and it is changeable (In professional onwards)

Could you show me how to have it not cover up my running programs when I open it? This is one of the things that makes it a pain in the proverbial to use.

Answer 2 - No, you can have it on as many monitors as you like, when you open a program, it loads up desktop which extends across all screens.

Mine just opens on my primary monitor and closes if I click anywhere else. You dont consider it fliting into and out off two completely different UI's broken?

Answer 3 - Yes you can have windows metro apps.

By this do you mean proper windowed apps or that weird pseudo-windowed aero snap type windowed app?

 

[nephilim2k]

I will dig up the paperwork as it is a registry hack to change the metro.

As for the multiple monitors, are you sure it is set up correctly? My set up at work has 4 screens, and works without issue.

And I do mean proper windowed apps, not that aero snap crap!