Windows 8 "Blue"

[Remobz]

That's more due to compatibility issues with third party applications than anything. We had multiple software suites that we had wait to be updated to work with Windows 7 coming from XP. We still have some people on XP machines because of this. I don't blame MS for any of it.

Regardless of whether you're on Windows 7 or Windows 8, once a particular application is loaded the interface is the same for both.

I get your point though. Going from Windows XP to Windows 7 was a huge deal and offered big advances, but going from Windows 7 to 8 is a side step and doesn't enhance productivity in the least. I think whatever it's successor is will likely be the next big move from a business standpoint.

Windows 8 was designed solely as a bridge into the mobile consumer world and was never really supposed to replace Windows 7 in the corporate world.

Windows 8 is actually windows 7.1 with a crappier interface.

I am still using Windows Xp pro on my work computer for basic computer needs like spread sheets, emails, letters, dupont colornet paint program, internet surfing and so on.

I feel that Windows 8 would be overkill for my present needs. I rather upgrade to Windows 7 instead unless someone can tell me a good reason for a small business to upgrade to Windows 8 instead?

 

[koshling]

So, does the preview have a boot-to-desktop option? I haven't found concrete mention of one in anything I've read so far.

 

[Lonyo]

How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

 

[Mem]

How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

Hehe how many here could handle DOS 6.22 even without a Start menu button I know I could .

 

[blurredvision]

If the reason she's hating on MS is the Win8 interface, moving to a Mac would be just as challenging. If anything, she should be willing to be as patient with Win8 as she would be with OS X because both would require a learning curve.

This is what I never understood. People don't want to learn W8 so they're going to completely switch to an operating system they haven't used before? Granted, I haven't used OSX all that much, but I dislike it much more than Windows.

 

[kahvitronic]

So, does the preview have a boot-to-desktop option?

Yes it does. Right-click on taskbar and then "Navigation". You can also disable HotCorners and set your desktop wallpaper as metro screen background.

Booting to desktop was faster with StartIsBack though. Tray icons were loading significantly faster. Unfortunately this little tool doesn't work with Windows 8.1 atm.

Also the Start button is really ugly - turns black-ish when you move your mouse over I preferred the way it was before, like just a "hidden" button.

 

[WelshBloke]

Hehe how many here could handle DOS 6.22 even without a Start menu button I know I could .

These are not the days of DOS.

Everyone and their grandmother (literally) uses computers now. It's not limited to a small techy segment of the population.

 

[Mem]

These are not the days of DOS.

Everyone and their grandmother (literally) uses computers now. It's not limited to a small techy segment of the population.

My point was really nowadays it's a lot easier then the good old DOS days,I would go as far and say we all have it way too easy nowadays but people still find something they don't like or moan about,that's fine but some of us including myself can remember when it was really a lot harder .

 

[WelshBloke]

My point was really nowadays it's a lot easier then the good old DOS days,I would go as far and say we all have it way too easy nowadays but people still find something they don't like or moan about,that's fine but some of us including myself can remember when it was really a lot harder .

It's completely irrelevant how much harder it was back in "the good old days". Computers are used for many more things by many more people now.

They need to be easy to use.

 

[homebrew2ny]

How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

None that I can think of...

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

None that I can think of...

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

Almost everyone...

 

[jacktesterson]

How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

None that I can think of...

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

None that I can think of...

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

Almost everyone...

My answers for me personally

 

[WelshBloke]

My answers for me personally

+1

 

[nitromullet]

How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

None that I can think of...

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

None that I can think of...

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

Almost everyone...

This is a very good point. Win 8 is the first Windows OS that I made a change to a fundamental part of the way it works by installing an app (Start 8) to make it more like the previous version.

Some of the changes they made to blue look pretty promising for desktop/mouse users though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVlCyvDD7I

I tried using Win 8 out of the box for a few weeks before picking up Start8, and I almost got comfortable with it. I might actually be able to do it with 8.1.

 

[roshekhay]

lol, worst name ever for such a poorly received OS.

That said, is anyone who hasn't upgraded or tried Windows 8 planning to try/upgrade to this service pack?

I personally love Windows 8 and I can't wait to upgrade it to Windows 8.1
Whatever the name is, what's important is that I am satisfied with the functionality and all.

 

[Shawn]

Just installed the 8.1 preview update. It is a lot better than 8 , especially on the metro/modern ui side of things.

It no longer throws you to the desktop to change a simple setting or to open the calculator. If you open settings on the metro side you stay in metro, and if you open them on the desktop side via the control panel you stay on the desktop. Pretty much everything can be customized via the metro side now.

The apps are all much improved and the desktop versions still exist too for those of us who will mostly use the desktop. Lots of more customizations of the start screen and in general. The start button is back but it brings you to the start screen. However if you click it again it brings you back to the desktop.

Search is much improved and it seems like it's actually faster than 8, making it the fastest OS yet. Honestly if Microsoft had just released 8 like this it would have been much better received. I don't know if it's like going from Vista to 7, but certainly more polished.

 

[Subyman]

Granted, I haven't used OSX all that much, but I dislike it much more than Windows.

?? How can you have an opinion on it if you haven't used it that much? I never thought much about OSX, nor had an opinion until a little over a year ago when I started using one for development. Slowly, as I've gotten comfortable with it, I've started to enjoy it more than Windows. I have a Windows 8 machine, but for day-to-day I enjoy using the Mac more now. I used to be Windows all the way before I had tried anything else.

 

[WelshBloke]

?? How can you have an opinion on it if you haven't used it that much? I never thought much about OSX, nor had an opinion until a little over a year ago when I started using one for development. Slowly, as I've gotten comfortable with it, I've started to enjoy it more than Windows. I have a Windows 8 machine, but for day-to-day I enjoy using the Mac more now. I used to be Windows all the way before I had tried anything else.

I hate the dock. It's horrible, it's hard to tell what programs are open. I hate the stupid menu bar at the top that's not attached to the window that you're using...

Actually I'll stop there. I could go on for ages but it's off topic. In short it's way worse than win8.

 

[Red Hawk]

I don't like the fish.

Other than that, it seems to be running smoothly! The option to boot to desktop is very welcome -- and should have been in the original release of Windows 8. Also appreciated is the option to make left clicking the Start button/hitting the Start key go straight to your list of apps. It was a little annoying to find where to get these options, though.

 

[nitromullet]

I don't like the fish.

It's a betta fish... MS did this with the 7 and 8 Preview as well.

 

[WelshBloke]

It's a betta fish...

Wish it was a betta OS.

 

[kahvitronic]

I know they changed the search function to group Files, Settings and stuff together. But now when I hit the win-key and start typing "firewall" (e.g. looking for the Windows Firewall Settings) nothing shows up.

Before it was shown under "Settings". Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Mem]

It's completely irrelevant how much harder it was back in "the good old days". Computers are used for many more things by many more people now.

They need to be easy to use.

They are easy to use IMHO (btw when I was at school we had no computers, electronic calculators were still new).



How many people here use XP, and when it first came out used the "Classic" theme to make it look like 95/98/2k?

None that I can think of ie I did use XP as XP.

How many people here when they got Vista/7 made it look like previous Windows?

None that I can think of ie I did use Vista/7 as Vista/7.

How many people here have Win 8/if they got Win 8 would want to make it look like Win 7/Vista?

I use WIn8 as it is for the most part (using OblyTile,Decor8),just like my Linux distros I accept UI,things do change and adapt to the OS in question,otherwise I don't use any OS regardless of Linux or Windows if I don't like it ,in a way glad they decided to change a 18 year old UI to something new/different even if it is not perfect,not saying the old UI was perfect because no OS or UI is perfect.Anyway changing UI,refinements can always come down the road and I don't expect any OS to stay the same forever,anybody that wants or expects a Win95 to Win7 UI for good is not being realistic.

My personal opinion above.

 

[flopper]

My wife just bought a laptop that has 8 on it. She's hating on Microsoft pretty heavy these days and is wishing she had spent the extra cash on a Mac just so she can get through the menus.

.

Not sure what people use the PC for, but the new Ui makes it both faster and easier and more smooth to use the computer.
There is a learning curve but mainly its due to confusion due to most assume it be the same as previous OS.

1. access metro with windows button.
2. all programs visual interface right there.
3. set the programs on the desktop one use most often.

 

[Fernando 1]

Yesterday I have updated from Windows 8 Pro (with WMC) to Windows 8.1 Preview (with WMC) on my Intel Z77 RAID0 system. The update went flawlessly and everything seems to run fine.
Interesting findings:
The Windows 8.1 "Optimizer" (former Defrag Tool) doesn't detect my SSDs (2xSamsung 840 Pro as RAID0) anymore and shows them as HDDs.
Look here:

Now I am a little bit afraid, that the "Optimizer" will defrag my SSDs instead of sending TRIM commands to them.
Usually the detection of SSDs can be forced by running the Windows Experience Index (WINSAT.EXE), but within the Properties of my System I cannot find the option to (re)run the WEI.
Here is the related screenshot of the System Properties:

Trying to run the WINSAT.EXE manually was without any effect.

 

[Ichinisan]

Windows 8.1 will offer much more than a traditional "Service Pack", making it comparable to Apple's annual OS X updates.

Read more: http://www.itpro.co.uk/desktop-soft...release-date-price-and-features#ixzz2WlM8vpD3

As you know Microsoft did state they were going to go on yearly upgrades for OS,Win8 users will get it free and I don't see no reason why Win8 users would not upgrade to 8.1 for free,yes I will as well .

The "Windows Desktop Update" included with IE4 for Win95 offered more than most service packs do.