Holy Cow - Windows 8. OMG

[rhugga]

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?

 

[sandorski]

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.

 

[thescreensavers]

I used W8 on my laptop for 3 months, couldnt wait to get back to W7

 

[rhugga]

I used W8 on my laptop for 3 months, couldnt wait to get back to W7

Yea its obviously they spent a lot of R&D on their tablet junk and borrowed that R&D for their PC OS.

Definitely will be skipping this release all together.

 

[Imaginer]

I fail to see why windows 8 is exactly bad. It isn't like the desktop went away, start screen is but a corner mouse movement away like moving your mouse to the corner for the start button. It however does have a lag time for bringing up the multitask bar for Modern applications and the full charm bar.

Other than that, you aren't in the start screen for long, you can begin typing in the start screen without first hitting the text box for searching like searching in the start button, full set of applications are shown by a right click in the start screen, the task manager has improved as well as file transfer status screens, it is more efficient than 7 is.

I really don't see why other than the initial first impressions.

 

[Imaginer]

And by far it makes more sense with a touch screen. Much like how Donkey Kong Country hides all of it's information stats until it shows when information changes, the UI that would otherwise take up viewing space is also hidden until pulled up with a swipe from the edges.

 

[GrumpyMan]

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.

 

[Imaginer]

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 already....lol.

Not really needed in my opinion. But if you want to view your currently running environment while pulling up a main selection menu, then by all means, there are those options too.

 

[GrumpyMan]

:whiste:....

 

[Greenman]

The bottom line is that it's not as good of an interface as 7. I had read about the issues, and it seemed like a lot of hot air to me, now I'm sorry I wasted money on an OS that I don't enjoy using.

If I didn't play games I wouldn't have anything to do with this turd of an interface.

 

[mechBgon]

Anyone else just shocked at this version?

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.

 

[sze5003]

I'm going to switch to classic shell as today when the pc started I use start 8 and it didn't load the desktop the first few times I had to manually reboot.

 

[Maximilian]

Yup, ive been using it for nearly 2 months now and its utter garbage that the best they can offer after what... 3 years? is something that needs a $5 add on to be even remotely functional.

If windows 7 wasent being iffy about x79 drivers i would not be using this right now.

 

[Mem]

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.

You'll get good and bad remarks from both sides of the fence always happens on any new OS,I remember some of the negative threads on Win7,Vista,XP,2K etc...how far you want to go back lol...,anyway I find it easy to use and did not even bother with third party start button,I just improved Win+X menu by adding some programs to it like shut down,reboot,paint etc...I actually find it very easy and fast to use plus have everything within one or two clicks max so must of done something right lol....so there are people out there(desktop users) like me that do like it,for the record only OS's I hated was Win3.11 and WinME,Vista was fine IMHO.


All I want in Windows Blue is more customization in Metro and maybe better looking Metro tiles and I will be even more happier .

 

[C1]

Well, somehow Ive been able to stay out of the OS piss'n contest now for years, but Mem is one of the ones I remember. Brings back old memories.

Just because an OS works for YOu, doesnt mean that it is a good OS in the wide sense. There is a quality called "robustness" that VISTA lacked. Mainly, it exhibited different issues across different platforms (hardware - software mix types). That's one of the reasons there were so many complaints and why it was so controversial. (Experienced it personally.)

In the case of Win Hate, a significant number of people simply dont like or find unsuitable the OEM GUI among some other things.

And on the local "All about your computer" radio talk show, hosts Larry Pyland and son who own and operate DATEL Systems Corporation here ( http://www.datelsys.com/about.htm and http://streamingradioguide.com/radio-show.php?showid=2290 ), advise against Win7 desktop people (particularly businesses) to change to Win Hate !!!!

But hey, whatever smokes your shorts ........

 

[Mem]

Well, somehow Ive been able to stay out of the OS piss'n contest now for years, but Mem is one of the ones I remember.Brings back old memories.

Just because an OS works for YOu, doesnt mean that it is a good OS in the wide sense. There is a quality called "robustness" that VISTA lacked. Mainly, it exhibited different issues across different platforms (hardware - software mix types). That's one of the reasons there were so many complaints and why it was so controversial.

But hey, whatever smokes your shorts ........

Works both ways as well .
To be honest I'm so use to using different operating systems from Amiga/Atari ST days to DOS 6.22/Windows and Linux distro's,throw in my Android tablets as well so Win8 is piece of cake.

I'll say only Win3.11 and WinMe was only operating systems I really hated so pretty easy to please and able to adapt to most operating systems.

Kind of sad when you like something some people take offence to that(not you),oh well off to game now .

 

[snoylekim]

I'll jump in as well .I've been through MSFT Operating System Upgrades in the Enterprise and my own environments... Windows 3.51 for Workgroups to NT 4.0 ( THAT was a real blast...) , NT 4.0 to XP, and now XP to 7 ..same in my own , and thrown in the Mac OS changes since 2004 ... So, I had a spare machine around, and a few months ago, upgraded to 8 ... With a Group Policy Edit to get rid of the first <stupid> lock screen, hiding/nuking a lot of apps , rearranging my tiles so Desktop in the upper left , and creating a shortcut shut down button, I can get right to the desktop I know an love. Within said desktop, I only mildly miss Aero, and actually like the new theme. The Task Manager new look is great for my tired eyes, Ribbon capability on Explorer, and the under-the-hood security enhancements actually impressed me. It took everything I threw at it , without a BSOD ( happily..they did dumb down the BSOD screen ..) .
Next , recently , I built a second machine for media serving, backup rendering, 24*7 uploading to Weather Underground and a few other things I wanted off the other box. I did a build and a bare metal install of 8 .. was the quickest, smoothest one I've ever done..and that machine has been in service 24*7 for 6 weeks .. And I still only interact with Metro very rarely ( there is an app or two that's kinda useful) .. I realize everyone's use case is different , but , from an aggravation/upward compatibility perspective , 8 is NOT Vista ..
That being said , I think MSFT was being a little silly and a little 'Sybil' in the decision to combine Metro/App with the desktop ..I see their thinking , but .. But I do applaud that there are some relatively easy, quick and one-time steps one can take to move it cleanly out of the way . And, as a previous poster mentioned, don't underestimate what they did under the hood, especially with security; it changes the game for the evil ones out there ..

 

[Stone Rain]

It's not as bad as it sounds, it can be adapted to. The real problem is that MS released a system with a learning curve, A) right when they should have coasted on Win7 for another year or 2 (I'd buy another service pack for Win7), B) When companies are starting to build legitimately attractive competition.

Also, the biggest enemy to Windows 8 is Windows 7.

 

[Gunbuster]

Been using it for many months and the only complaint I have is the charms bar/time popping up when I'm trying to get productivity work done on an app snapped to the right side of the screen.

 

[CurrentlyPissed]

Start 8 has made it bearable.

 

[beginner99]

I fail to see why windows 8 is exactly bad.

This sums it up pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYet-qf1jo

There are similar videos also from tech sites stating the same.

Modern UI is crap and the fact that you now have to work with 2 UIs with 2 different paradigms basically means you need to know 2 UIs.

The thing is that they could have just given the option for a start menu or leave it there in the first place. THE ONLY F REASON TO REMOVE IT WAS TO SHOVE THE MODERN UI CRAP INTO YOUR FACE SO YOU CAN'T AVOID IT. There was no technical reason for it. It is so obvious: "Learn this new UI so you will then buy our phones with the same crap on them". Seriously...shows how much confidence MS has in their own stuff. I mean if it would be better than Android or iOS, no need to force you to learn it...

Also Aero. leave it an option. I mean WTF? In Win 7 aero is disabled with power settings and MS claimed they removed it to save power??? Plus removing something takes work so if it does not hurt, leave it in. My guess is they had issue to get it to work together with Modern UI and/or the new ribbon in explorer and hence disabled it.

I would probably lose at least half an hour a day at work working with win 8. And add the growing frustration to that...

A experienced Windows users will find it user to work with one of the common Linux UI's than with Win 8.

 

[Imaginer]

This sums it up pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYet-qf1jo

There are similar videos also from tech sites stating the same.

Modern UI is crap and the fact that you now have to work with 2 UIs with 2 different paradigms basically means you need to know 2 UIs.

The thing is that they could have just given the option for a start menu or leave it there in the first place. THE ONLY F REASON TO REMOVE IT WAS TO SHOVE THE MODERN UI CRAP INTO YOUR FACE SO YOU CAN'T AVOID IT. There was no technical reason for it. It is so obvious: "Learn this new UI so you will then buy our phones with the same crap on them". Seriously...shows how much confidence MS has in their own stuff. I mean if it would be better than Android or iOS, no need to force you to learn it...

Also Aero. leave it an option. I mean WTF? In Win 7 aero is disabled with power settings and MS claimed they removed it to save power??? Plus removing something takes work so if it does not hurt, leave it in. My guess is they had issue to get it to work together with Modern UI and/or the new ribbon in explorer and hence disabled it.

I would probably lose at least half an hour a day at work working with win 8. And add the growing frustration to that...

A experienced Windows users will find it user to work with one of the common Linux UI's than with Win 8.

Didn't pay attention to the video long, because of two things:

He mentioned of religiously doing a clean install. Now I use to do these all the time on occasion back in the Windows 2000 / initial XP days. Now? It takes forever to get things back up from scratch. When I had a virus back in Windows 7 that what I normally clean install on that took control and prevented me of going into various settings and task manager to disable the running virus? I safe mode and did a rollback with the system restore. And did some final cleanup after if I remember.

Never, did I ever wanted or needed to "clean install" anymore. After initially installing a new machine from scratch, that is all the "install" I had to do.

If I bought a pre-built computer, I cherry pick the programs I want to uninstall anyways. There is absolutely no need to nuke a hard drive to start fresh.

Control Panel in Windows 8? When you are viewing the desktop, the charms bar's setting icon will vary depending on what is shown on the display. In a app? The settings will then show a list of settings for the app. In the desktop? It will show "Control Panel". It was NOT THAT HARD. Hidden, but not hard.

Conversely, a windows button and typing in "Control Panel" brings that up too.

 

[beginner99]

Didn't pay attention to the video long, because of two things:

He mentioned of religiously doing a clean install. Now I use to do these all the time on occasion back in the Windows 2000 / initial XP days. Now? It takes forever to get things back up from scratch. When I had a virus back in Windows 7 that what I normally clean install on that took control and prevented me of going into various settings and task manager to disable the running virus? I safe mode and did a rollback with the system restore. And did some final cleanup after if I remember.

Never, did I ever wanted or needed to "clean install" anymore. After initially installing a new machine from scratch, that is all the "install" I had to do.

If I bought a pre-built computer, I cherry pick the programs I want to uninstall anyways. There is absolutely no need to nuke a hard drive to start fresh.

Control Panel in Windows 8? When you are viewing the desktop, the charms bar's setting icon will vary depending on what is shown on the display. In a app? The settings will then show a list of settings for the app. In the desktop? It will show "Control Panel". It was NOT THAT HARD. Hidden, but not hard.

Conversely, a windows button and typing in "Control Panel" brings that up too.

Then view the video. It explains why the UI is complete crap without a touchscreen.
Right-click on an icon on top of the screen and you get a pop-up bar at the bottom? It's a context menu...seriously. So retarded. Yeah people with carpal tunnel gonna love that...and others will get it.

 

[Imaginer]

Then view the video. It explains why the UI is complete crap without a touchscreen.
Right-click on an icon on top of the screen and you get a pop-up bar at the bottom? It's a context menu...seriously. So retarded. Yeah people with carpal tunnel gonna love that...and others will get it.

Oh you mean the start screen all apps button access. I don't agree with that, but carpal tunnel is no problem.

I use a trackball.

There should be a tile at the very end that is "all apps" though. One that probably can be hidden with a change in settings and by default there.

Still, it doesn't make it bad. But for normal mouse users, I can see it be a pain. But maybe my experiences with Windows 8 fared better by having a trackball.

 

[cbrunny]

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?

What shocks me is the hatred. Pure, uncut hatred. Its not the demon spawn from hell come to eliminate life on Earth. Its an operating system.