My first win8 experience

[cytg111]

.. and so far it sucks 1 out of 1.
Just bought this, MEDION AKOYA P6815, for the daughter, allaround laptop with some gaming capabilities. After first windows-update (and a colossal one it was), we was stuck at the lock screen, mouse, keyboard was non responsive, tried different things like plugging in mouse and keyboard with no success, it would just hang there and show us the time.
Allright, into restore/failsafe modes .. And again, no matter what, a non responsive lock screen, even thou using a restore point to a date where things WERE working.
Googling that, it turns out theres quite a few people out there with this problem.
The time i've fiddled with this system (now doing a factory reset) is beggining to compare to some earlier linux distros(ubuntu would problary just, like, work!). Factoring in metro and the missing start button as a learning curve means that kde and gnome might just do better on the usability front for someone coming from win7 and earlier.

So, 1 out of 1, windows 8, clusterfail.

And yea, I know its kinda late to the party for a win8 review, non the less.

 

[teiva]

My experience was vastly different to yours. I didn't have any real software or hardware issues it was mainly getting use to the new interface. I hated it for the first 3 days but now I'm loving it. I think the whole interface is more suited to touch screen devices. I used it on my wife's tablet and it works really well.

 

[cytg111]

And I suspect that is the reasoning, one "UI" to rule em all.. but it is kinda dumb to make a tablet UI and sort-of-make-it-workstation-compatible. Especially when we can all see the win7 just benieth.. Oh, and the taskmanager .. can i plz kill the guy who did that?
Anyway, sysrestore worked, allthough it did give out an error on the way(didnt do the whole wipe) ... So I guess we're good until we update again. POS.

 

[Berryracer]

Use StartIsBack

The demo is fully functional for 30 days and the license costs only $3 USD for 2 PCs license

This will get you back the same Windows 7 start menu not just some replica wanna be like Classic Shell, this is the real thing

I also tried Start8 but StartIsBack is better for 2 reasons:

1) You can activate it as many times as you want on the same PC, no limits, whereas after activating Start8 about 3 times the 4th time the license was blacklisted. I hate those kinda licenses with such limits that don't check your computer name / hardware to realize you are not misusing the license, but rather, just reinstalling

2) Start8 has random errors when you right click on a file, explorer.exe would crash

just make sure to reboot after you install StarIsBack even if it doesn't ask you to

here is a screen shot of my Win 8 desktop:

 

[cytg111]

That looks real good .. aint 8.1 gonna bring it back natively though? When is 8.1 due ?

 

[Snoop]

That looks real good .. aint 8.1 gonna bring it back natively though? When is 8.1 due ?

It returns the start button... but the start button takes you to the start screen not the start menu many had hoped for.

 

[Berryracer]

It returns the start button... but the start button takes you to the start screen not the start menu many had hoped for.

exactly, there will be a start button only not a start menu so you'll still go to the horrible Metro Start with 8.1's start button

you still need StartIsBack and honestly 3 USD for a 2 PC license is a great bang for the buck for the crap it solves about Windows 8

 

[Zaap]

I'm running Windows 8.1 preview in a VM. Without a start menu replacement I'd never use 8, but with one, and as much metro crap beat back as possible, it's not bad.

Just tried StartIsBack, and the latest stable version doesn't work with 8.1. I had to track down the beta.

But this is exactly the problem I have with having to rely on third party software just to make Windows into what it should be anyway. So whenever there's a major update, there's a good chance my start menu will get hosed and I'm waiting on an update or replacement. And if Start8 has that silly issue of locking you out after so many installs, there's no way I could rely on that.

More reasons to just stick with what wasn't broken, and didn't need a half-assed fixing: Win 7.

 

[showb1z]

I still don't get what's so spectacular about the old start button. What does it bring back that is so great?
Cascading menus that take ages to navigate through? yay?

 

[Doomer]

Metro sucks. It appears that MS is paying an army of fan bois to talk it up.

That's quite the serious accusation. Do you have proof? Otherwise this is tantamount to flamebait
-ViRGE

 

[Zaap]

I still don't get what's so spectacular about the old start button. What does it bring back that is so great?
Cascading menus that take ages to navigate through? yay?

What it brings back is sanity for people that use computers to be productive, not just piddle around on Facejerk, or play angry birds or whatever.

When I'm working on something, usually in multiple applications with many windows open, I don't want to interrupt my workflow and switch to some half-assed full screen start window just to launch another application or check some setting on a taskbar. I don't need my entire screen taken over (and in fact multiple scrolling screens) to do what one little corner down at the bottom of the screen can do.

Metro is 100% worthless towards a fully productive use of a desktop/laptop computer. It's a distraction and a hinderance, not a help. It's clearly designed as a gimmick, it's on the same 'quality and usefulness' level as the shovelware that some vendors load up their PCs with. "Hey look, our handy-dandy HP Media Center is in your face 'cause it's better than whatever you'd choose to use!" No it isn't, and it's gonna get uninstalled the second I turn the computer on for the first time. I don't want shovelware from HP or Dell or anyone else dicking up my systems, and I don't want MS's shovelware either.

Metro is a perfect example of a company pushing some hoop-dream BS on their users (We wanna be Apple and make PCs into iPads, yay! So here's a half-baked touchscreen interface crudely stapled over the rest of the OS). It's Microsoft acting like it's OS is more important than what I'm using the computer for in the first place. Newsflash to MS: It isn't. I want your OS out of my freakin' way 99.9% of the time. All it is a means to an end (running applications I need and getting tasks done) not the reason I'm using the computer in the first place, just to stare at some crummy preschool-level tiles.

A start MENU makes sense. A full-screen, scrolling start screen is just a waste.

 

[escrow4]

^^^^^

How so? Full screen, type the program, hit enter, back to all your windows. Why would you want an archaic menu from the 90's? Just because you are used to it?

 

[Red Hawk]

^^^^^

How so? Full screen, type the program, hit enter, back to all your windows. Why would you want an archaic menu from the 90's? Just because you are used to it?

You don't even need to go full screen. Mouse over the side, click "Search", type in the app you want. If you need to find a file quickly that Search won't come up with, pulling up File Explorer is as fast as the Start menu ever was.

 

[Zaap]

^^^^^

How so? Full screen (useless) type the program (HUGE waste of time), hit enter (waste of time) back to all your windows (I never had to leave them)

Why would you want an archaic menu from the 90's?

That's EXACTLY it- I don't want an archaic menu from the 90's, which is why I don't use Metro.

I love how people describe this archaic process of 3 to 4 steps rather than 1 or 2 and think that's simple.

I also love how Microsoft's 'touch screen' is so "futuristic" it requires the most legacy input of all (the keyboard) to use. People don't even realize they're just illustrating how poorly designed it is.

 

[John Connor]

Use StartIsBack

The demo is fully functional for 30 days and the license costs only $3 USD for 2 PCs license

This will get you back the same Windows 7 start menu not just some replica wanna be like Classic Shell, this is the real thing

I also tried Start8 but StartIsBack is better for 2 reasons:

1) You can activate it as many times as you want on the same PC, no limits, whereas after activating Start8 about 3 times the 4th time the license was blacklisted. I hate those kinda licenses with such limits that don't check your computer name / hardware to realize you are not misusing the license, but rather, just reinstalling

2) Start8 has random errors when you right click on a file, explorer.exe would crash

just make sure to reboot after you install StarIsBack even if it doesn't ask you to

here is a screen shot of my Win 8 desktop:

Now that is freaking awesome! The way Windows 8 should have been!

 

[showb1z]

What it brings back is sanity for people that use computers to be productive, not just piddle around on Facejerk, or play angry birds or whatever.

...

I can understand people don't like the aesthetics of it, the mouse gestures (not a fan either) or the hot corners (same), that's all a matter of opinion but I really don't see how it changes anything for productivity.

Full screen (useless) type the program (HUGE waste of time), hit enter (waste of time) back to all your windows (I never had to leave them)

Uhm, how do you open a program then? Can you telepathically command the start button what to open?
Fastest way to open in a program that isn't pinned (with and without start button):

Windows 7:
Windows button > start typing name of app > enter

Windows 8:
Windows button > start typing name of app > enter

I must be missing something. What functionality does the start button actually ADD?
At my job they're still stuck on XP (EOL can't come soon enough) and navigating through the menus when I need a program feels like a chore every time.

 

[beginner99]

I still don't get what's so spectacular about the old start button. What does it bring back that is so great?
Cascading menus that take ages to navigate through? yay?

What it brings back is sanity for people that use computers to be productive, not just piddle around on Facejerk, or play angry birds or whatever.

When I'm working on something, usually in multiple applications with many windows open, I don't want to interrupt my workflow and switch to some half-assed full screen start window just to launch another application or check some setting on a taskbar. I don't need my entire screen taken over (and in fact multiple scrolling screens) to do what one little corner down at the bottom of the screen can do.

Metro is 100% worthless towards a fully productive use of a desktop/laptop computer. It's a distraction and a hinderance, not a help. It's clearly designed as a gimmick, it's on the same 'quality and usefulness' level as the shovelware that some vendors load up their PCs with. "Hey look, our handy-dandy HP Media Center is in your face 'cause it's better than whatever you'd choose to use!" No it isn't, and it's gonna get uninstalled the second I turn the computer on for the first time. I don't want shovelware from HP or Dell or anyone else dicking up my systems, and I don't want MS's shovelware either.

Metro is a perfect example of a company pushing some hoop-dream BS on their users (We wanna be Apple and make PCs into iPads, yay! So here's a half-baked touchscreen interface crudely stapled over the rest of the OS). It's Microsoft acting like it's OS is more important than what I'm using the computer for in the first place. Newsflash to MS: It isn't. I want your OS out of my freakin' way 99.9% of the time. All it is a means to an end (running applications I need and getting tasks done) not the reason I'm using the computer in the first place, just to stare at some crummy preschool-level tiles.

A start MENU makes sense. A full-screen, scrolling start screen is just a waste.

This.

And one very important reason is that the start menu entries are there automatically after installing an application. In Metro /Modern UI you either get a page that shows everything and that page just plain sucks if you actually use your computer to be productive and have many applications installed. If you want a nice overview you manually need to organize your start screen. MANUALLY. The start menu is automatic and very easy to understand.

 

[Berryracer]

This.

And one very important reason is that the start menu entries are there automatically after installing an application. In Metro /Modern UI you either get a page that shows everything and that page just plain sucks if you actually use your computer to be productive and have many applications installed. If you want a nice overview you manually need to organize your start screen. MANUALLY. The start menu is automatic and very easy to understand.

very true, I find all sorts of crap I dont need like help files of a program and stuff in the metro start...

 

[Gunbuster]

Random whitebox/off-brand pc not working right. CLEARLY the fault of Windows 8

 

[akugami]

To the OP, part of your supposed Win8 problems seems to be hardware related. Just a thought, don't blame Win8 for everything when it seems possibly hardware related. Have you tried RMA'ing your device?

I can assure you that while I'm a huge critic of Win8 and there's lots to dislike about Win8 (at least for power users), I haven't had the huge problems that you've had. Aside from not knowing how to use Win8 at first, it did work once I learned how to use it. Now, not knowing to use Win8 on the first boot was a major functional and design failure because it's suppose to be an easier OS. But the OS itself was working as intended. Mouse worked, keyboard worked, no freezing.

 

[Blueychan]

What's the point of this thread? The OP bought some cheap brand PC and as soon as it's not working, BLAME WINDOWS 8! He didn't even use it and call it a failure. It must be easy to join the hate bandwagon.

 

[Zaap]

Fastest way to open in a program that isn't pinned (with and without start button)

This is silly. Why would I constantly be opening programs that aren't pinned? Do you use your computer to do actual work and tasks with specific applications, or are you just constantly using random applications willy-nilly?

And all you did is demonstrate how if one has to use the search in order to open an application, that Windows 8 is no improvement over 7.

It's funny to me- you *REALLY* believe the most efficient way to display a search tool for a computer user is using a bloated full-screen program full of ugly multi-colored tiles, rather than just a small area at the bottom of the screen?

I notice no one can ever really give any actual reason for why that would be, just a lot of finger pointing and spouting off at those that don't want all that getting in their way to do something so simple.

 

[showb1z]

This is silly. Why would I constantly be opening programs that aren't pinned? Do you use your computer to do actual work and tasks with specific applications, or are you just constantly using random applications willy-nilly?

Well you were going on about how it's such a huge bother to use the UI, now you're saying you just run everything from pinned apps (obviously), meaning you never even have to see it in the first place. Still wondering what you used that start button for then.

And all you did is demonstrate how if one has to use the search in order to open an application, that Windows 8 is no improvement over 7.

aka refuting 7 is better than 8.

It's funny to me- you *REALLY* believe the most efficient way to display a search tool for a computer user is using a bloated full-screen program full of ugly multi-colored tiles, rather than just a small area at the bottom of the screen?

Nope not all, I agree, there's no reason for search to go full screen (more visible search results? ). BUT it doesn't matter at all productivity wise. You're not doing anything else while doing a search, whether it takes up the whole screen or a fraction of it.

I notice no one can ever really give any actual reason for why that would be, just a lot of finger pointing and spouting off at those that don't want all that getting in their way to do something so simple.

And I notice nobody can ever actually give an example where win8 is slower than win7. Several things where win8 is clearly faster than win7 though. And in the end that's what I care about most, getting things done.

Well whatever, these discussions never amount to anything.
For me, the improvements in W8 vastly outweigh the issues I have with the UI, which doesn't actually impact my workflow negatively anyway since I'm on the desktop 99,95% of the time anyway.
So great for me, and W7 isn't going anywhere either, so great for everyone else as well. Good thing we can all choose freely which OS we put up with huh...

 

[Zaap]

Well you were going on about how it's such a huge bother to use the UI, now you're saying you just run everything from pinned apps (obviously), meaning you never even have to see it in the first place. Still wondering what you used that start button for then.

You really need to learn how to use Windows.

You sound like you've barely even used it, which wouldn't be a big deal except you're arrogant in your ignorance, which is always a bad combo. I find it impossible to have a conversation with someone that doesn't even know how to use basics features of the OS, yet arrogantly thinks they're able to dictate how everyone else should use their computer. Like I said, it's silly.

 

[chadashcroft22]

Windows key+x is all you need for power using windows 8. I guess I am one of the few that like the changes they implemented.

I have had top notch stability on both my laptop and desktop that I upgraded when they where running the promo.