My view on Windows 8 and the history of Microsoft OS

[JAG87]

My opinion?

Win 8 is not bad, lots of good improvements (i.e. shutdown and boot speeds, file copy interface, task manager)

Unfortunately, too much crap that was perfectly fine in Win 7 has been broken (i.e. various driver issues, lsass.exe file sharing memory leak, inability to run two directx injected libraries, I could go on but it's a waste of time).

So overall I give it thumbs down for breaking more than it improves. One step forward, two steps backwards.

 

[C1]

Now isnt that real nice?

http://translate.google.de/translat...-08/trusted-computing-microsoft-windows-8-nsa

 

[AlexKidd5000]

I have abandoned Windows for good, not necessarily because of Win8, although that didn't help, but mostly because I'm just fed up with MS's monopoly on the OS market, and things like DirectX being used to get people to spend more money on an OS they don't need. Windows is just too damn expensive. Linux is my new home from now on.

 

[ViRGE]

Now isnt that real nice?

http://translate.google.de/translat...-08/trusted-computing-microsoft-windows-8-nsa

Oh brother. People have been postulating that the NSA has a secret backdoor to Windows for years. It has never been proven, and the backdoor certainly isn't "trusted computing." TC is just a chain of trust rooted in a secure key store (the TPM).

 

[lxskllr]

Oh brother. People have been postulating that the NSA has a secret backdoor to Windows for years. It has never been proven, and the backdoor certainly isn't "trusted computing." TC is just a chain of trust rooted in a secure key store (the TPM).

The NSA has a backdoor because they can get the keys from MS. MS has already been complicit in compromising the security of their products to please the government. It's foolish to think they'd draw the line at TPM keys. Assuming they did take an ethical stand(I guess there's a first time for everything), they can be compelled to hand the keys over, and not disclose it to anyone.

There's a nice fat section at Wikipedia outlining the problems with TC. We're beyond trust at this point. It's been proven that technology not controlled by the user will be used against them. Any other stance is just whistling past the graveyard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_computing#Criticism

 

[blankslate]

IMO, they should have spent more time refining the gui until it included all the interface tweaks that are in 8.1 before the launch of Win 8.

Under the hood there are improvements upon windows 7... that's a given.

GUI-wise... when people can make money on aftermarket programs that revert the UI to an earlier OS you have made a definite misstep... no matter who defends the new UI.

why not include an option to revert to an earlier UI in the first place as has been done before?

That being said I'm using my Win 8 key and getting the 8.1 update from MS after it's available officially. I may install 8.1 preview earlier than the release if that preview stays good until the end of this year.

 

[beginner99]

FI have learned the quirks and keyboard shortcuts

So to use an OS in 2013 you need to learn keyboard shortcuts? Whats the difference to learning cli commands? None. That's just one of the points why it sucks. Not to mention that a lot of people don't use or know about keyboard shortcuts...not even for copy&paste.
If it works for you great but it's not intuitive at all.

But man do I love being able to pull up the start screen to glance at headlines, reddit posts, calendars, etc. etc.

Win 8 sucks for people how actually need to do work. I can see that it's fine if you do facebook, watch youtube and play farmville and angry birds. But if I had to use it at work, I would be ready for the nut house by now.

I agree, I also like 8 over 7. The problem is it's not just AT, it pretty much everywhere. How do you change people's minds when they are already made up?

Pretty easy. MS should make the metro /modern ui crap optional. The problem is the UI and the UI only.

 

[kushy26]

Now I am using windows 8 its good only problem is to how to close an application I cannot close an application like photo gallery once opened.

 

[ViRGE]

now i am using windows 8 its good only problem is to how to close an application i cannot close an application like photo gallery once opened.

alt-f4?

 

[Mem]

So to use an OS in 2013 you need to learn keyboard shortcuts? Whats the difference to learning cli commands? None. That's just one of the points why it sucks. Not to mention that a lot of people don't use or know about keyboard shortcuts...not even for copy&paste.
If it works for you great but it's not intuitive at all.



Win 8 sucks for people how actually need to do work. I can see that it's fine if you do facebook, watch youtube and play farmville and angry birds. But if I had to use it at work, I would be ready for the nut house by now.



Pretty easy. MS should make the metro /modern ui crap optional. The problem is the UI and the UI only.

I don't use keyboard shortcuts on Win8 and have no productivity issues,as to office workers they get paid to use the tools the company gives them ,end of the day Win8 is not hard to adjust too unless the office workers are morans,sure it has some changes and small learning curve but what happened to office workers being adaptable etc within the office environment.

I don't know about you but that is an important asset/skill that most employers look for,guess Win8 is too much for them right?

Also with respect Win8 can behave like Win7 for the most part ,if you can't figure that out you are doing it all wrong.

 

[Mem]

IMO, they should have spent more time refining the gui until it included all the interface tweaks that are in 8.1 before the launch of Win 8.

Under the hood there are improvements upon windows 7... that's a given.

GUI-wise... when people can make money on aftermarket programs that revert the UI to an earlier OS you have made a definite misstep... no matter who defends the new UI.

why not include an option to revert to an earlier UI in the first place as has been done before?

That being said I'm using my Win 8 key and getting the 8.1 update from MS after it's available officially. I may install 8.1 preview earlier than the release if that preview stays good until the end of this year.

That's easier said then done, new OS with time deadlines etc...you can't expect them to get a near perfect OS out the gates,even Win7 started off from Win95 and that is almost two decades of refinements,Win9,10 will probably continue to improve on the weak aspects of 8/8.1 with regards to UI etc but like any OS with major changes takes time ,as to keeping the old UI well maybe Microsoft decided it was time for a change and to bring something more modern to the table that could handle all hardware.

They probably want you to use the OS like they designed it for ( I could say same thing about previous operating systems from DOS to Win7),adding more old features would add time,extra bloat and coding,as I stated they wanted a lean OS designed and use the way they want you to use it.

End of the day it will continue to happen and Microsoft will adapt the OS in question to fit the times etc...

 

[fb02521]

xxx

 

[biostud]

I really dislike the modern ui on my computers but like it on my windows phone. I think it's really boring, compared to the standard desktop, which has a photogallery of my holiday.

Otherwise i have win8+start8 on both my computers and like the rest of the OS.

 

[balloonshark]

Now I am using windows 8 its good only problem is to how to close an application I cannot close an application like photo gallery once opened.

Grab the top of the screen and pull it down. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app

 

[PowerYoga]

windows 8 is good for a touch interface, but I will not be using windows 8 on a desktop. It's barely acceptable on a laptop.

 

[blankslate]

That's easier said then done, new OS with time deadlines etc...you can't expect them to get a near perfect OS out the gates,even Win7 started off from Win95 and that is almost two decades of refinements,Win9,10 will probably continue to improve on the weak aspects of 8/8.1 with regards to UI etc but like any OS with major changes takes time ,as to keeping the old UI well maybe Microsoft decided it was time for a change and to bring something more modern to the table that could handle all hardware.

True, but they could have had a user option to just use a Win 7 like interface without compromising the under the hood improvements much (if at all).

Then not many people would have made a fairly numerous amount of start menu replacement programs for Win8. Hence my opinion that there was a definite misstep on Microsoft's part.

 

[jigglywiggly]

It's fine with start8. I didn't use start8 and used Windows 8 normally for a month and thought I got used to it but then I installed start8 and forgot how nice it is to be able to search for a program like normally and still see your desktop.

With Windows 8 by default when you use the windows key to search and look for an application it covers your whole desktop which is lame.

 

[lupi]

The touch screen UI forced onto mouse/kb users has done drastic harm to the product. I like many of the little changes I've noticed on it over 8, but actually using it is so bleh I can't install it on more than my media storage pc. just the other day I had to search for how to close a window since they no longer include the X in the corner anymore.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Grab the top of the screen and pull it down. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-close-app

Why not a simple red "X" like it exists now? lot easier than doing a mouse dance LOL

 

[Imaginer]

Windows 8 is fine for me on a desktop. I tried it out and kept it because the cost of entry was DIRT cheap. I do not think I have spent any time at all in the start screen, nor used any or much modern apps on the desktop except switching to Windows mail.

I can see problems with excessive mouse dragging as the spacing between tiles are much greater, if a desktop user is heavily using modern apps which are full screen that continues the excessive distance for mouse dragging. Getting used to a charms bar which functions like the menu bar - in that it is labeled the same but depending on the active modern app, will bring up different options - is another change that can be jarring.

I again, escaped this issue of the increased mouse travel and wrist movement by owning and for several years using trackballs. So, no problems here.

And after using the OS since January, my workflow has not changed. It is the same as it always had been. Task manager is even more improved and searching is a bit better.

If any, it is far useful as a hybrid consolidated computing platform as the Surface Pro, Leveno Helix, Samsung ATIV, etc, I appreciate in the various manipulation and input options.

Hell, I was lazy to break out the M570 and worked with and navigated CAD software with a combination of pen, touch, and keyboard commands; all while the hybrid was laid like a children's big foldout book as I sat Native American/Indian style.

It got harsh words for people not willing to fully play with the interface as intended. Some things I wish was done better was better touch keyboard activation on the desktop mode, instead of manually invoking it; options to scale modern apps to a four or more split screen workings that can have the modern option on more than one screen; and more useful options in the modern PC Settings screen.

TL.DR Windows 8 worked and works for me.

 

[XiandreX]

I have been using Windows since 3.1. My favourites along the way have been Windows 98 se, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 7 and now honestly... Windows 8.
I use classic shell to counter the start button removal and honestly have had little to no issues using it as a replacement for 7. Its quick, has a fantastic indexing system and in general is very snappy.
I understand people dislike the Metro UI.. and thats fine.. putting that aside it is an improvement over 7 and deserves the time to figure it out.

 

[sweenish]

Just hit the windows key to get out of modern apps.

I find workflow complaints to be completely unfounded. If Word wasn't pinned to your start bar in 7, you're the worst thing hurting your productivity.

On my home computer, I have explorer, chrome, itunes, vlc, word, excel, steam, etc. all pinned to my start bar. i see the modern start screen when i start my computer. that's it.

For things that I use that aren't pinned to start, I either have folders i access often pinned within explorer, or pinned to [an arranged] start screen so that i don't have to scroll around to get to them.

My workflow is no different.

 

[jhansman]

windows 8 is good for a touch interface, but I will not be using windows 8 on a desktop. It's barely acceptable on a laptop.

This. I had it on my PC for a week or so before going back to 7. Didn't hate or love it. The other day I was in BB and watched a guy playing with and explaining a Surface Pro (NOT a BB employee). Very impressive, and a win for MS. Too bad it is overshadowed by all the other choices and is seriously overpriced. I would never drop $800 on a glorified tablet, no matter how slick it was.

 

[ElFenix]

Just hit the windows key to get out of modern apps.

I find workflow complaints to be completely unfounded. If Word wasn't pinned to your start bar in 7, you're the worst thing hurting your productivity.

mine is in quick launch

 

[aigomorla]

windows 8 is FAIL
Windows Server 2012 is FAIL.
(metro dashboard is FAIL.)

Do you know how long it takes a new user to figure out where the shutdown button is?
I can tell you, its take about 10-15 min for someone new to figure out how to shut down on windows 8 on average.
Its also kinda funny to watch as they struggle looking for the shutdown button.

Some of my IT friends on the first time got annoyed that they couldn't find it so they just held down the power button instead.

Its a no brainer everyone is forcing the CEO of microsoft to retire.
http://news.yahoo.com/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-pushed-retire-early-231538569.html
And it wasnt a nice ask either... it was a "GTFO"...
Meaning they were gonna fire him, if he didnt accept retirement.
^ that should tell u the success to windows 8 and server 2012, and all the other monkey stuff Microsoft has been doing lately.

He has completely destoryed what microsoft was in the past 3 yrs with windows 8.
He split up the community big time telling the hobbiest / professionals either we suck up to change or leave.
So most professionals said OK, we'll LEAVE....

They have also destroyed a gateway for developers to expand by getting rid of technet.

The company is an entire mess... I and many others have started putting up life rafts to get away from microsoft....
If possible i expect to move off microsoft on all my systems minus my gaming system by next april.

Windows 8... u figure of 75% of the audience beg'd microsoft for a start button, they would say SORRY, OK we'll put it back.
No instead they said go suck it up... or leave... but u cant cuz all the laptops u can buy outside mac's are forced with windows 8.
Hence your forced to use a third party ap, for a primary function which was built on windows that we were literally grown up on.
(well now u can download a microsoft ap to fix this... )

Sigh microsoft... I hope the new CEO FIXES a lot of stuff... especially things like TECHNET... and also puts windows8 under the rug quickly like they did with windows ME.
Which i felt was another sorry excuse for an OS...

<my rant with microsoft.... but im glad they themselves realize something is wrong and is forcing the CEO to take the walk... now they can try to recover...>

I understand people dislike the Metro UI.. and thats fine.. putting that aside it is an improvement over 7 and deserves the time to figure it out.

this is what they hopped for instead its not what happening.
IT dont even bother with the dashboard... they all HATE windows server 2012 mostly.
They just BMC into the machine and go around the metro dashboard madness.
what is so good about windows 8 over 7?
The majority of us speed users have SSD's. Even the medium tier desktop setups now use SSD's.
Whats the difference in bootup from windows 8 and windows 7 with SSD?

What is so special about windows 8, that windows 7 cant do with today's hardware?

I feel if it takes a new user more then 10 seconds to figure out how to shutdown the machine... the OS FAILED to begin with.