Head count: Windows 8...

[Juggernautz]

How many of youse are going to upgrade to Win 8(I say upgrade gingerly).

[G8RBrave]

I tried the consumer preview and noped right out of that a few days later. Just not for me.

I'll stick with 7 for now.

[gatorman_07732]

I plan on getting a new machine instead of upgrading

[Juggernautz]

If it weren't so tablet looking I would consider it.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

As a developer: god no.

[Juggernautz]

Tks, all.

[rtango54]

no thanks.

[Judoka]

I can't stand the interface. It reminds me too much of the Vista-era widgets in box form, expanded to cover the entire screen. It's going to be a nightmare for large businesses, too; I still have employees that can barely use Win7 that would have to unlearn/relearn a good bit of what they know about computers if my organization upgraded.

[helix139]

First Windows in several years I am not excited about. The Metro interface is crap and I don't like the whole locked down app store idea. Good on a phone, but not a PC. Sorry, but I like my start menu and apps the way they are. I will not be upgrading any of my PCs. I'd sooner switch to Linux or Mac.

[corpgator]

Windows 7 is super fast and rock solid. Why would I ever switch?

[Juggernautz]

I can't stand the interface. It reminds me too much of the Vista-era widgets in box form, expanded to cover the entire screen. It's going to be a nightmare for large businesses, too; I still have employees that can barely use Win7 that would have to unlearn/relearn a good bit of what they know about computers if my organization upgraded.


Where I work they are finally going to upgrade from XP (to Win 7).

[orangeblueorangeblue]

There's this unstoppable desire to merge systems and interfaces within dissonant spaces. Smashing a tablet operating system and a desktop/laptop operating system into one is no different than trying to have a microwave and a car operate with the same options and displays.

They are different devices, used very differently and have different requirements.

[Juggernautz]

MS's $40 Win 8 download offer might sound awfully tempting to some.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

It shouldn't.

There's nothing there that isn't in Windows 7 for desktop users.

[Potzer01]

I've considered getting one of the surfaces coming out in February.

I'm not upgrading my desktops/laptops though~

[Juggernautz]

It shouldn't.

There's nothing there that isn't in Windows 7 for desktop users.

The caveat in my post is "might".

[superman2318]

Not me, Im happy with 7. Have it on Both new LT's and updated my Vista LT to 7.

[DesertGator]

There's this unstoppable desire to merge systems and interfaces within dissonant spaces. Smashing a tablet operating system and a desktop/laptop operating system into one is no different than trying to have a microwave and a car operate with the same options and displays.

They are different devices, used very differently and have different requirements.

This .. It doesn't really offer anything new over 7 so not a chance from me.

[Juggernautz]

I think this will be considered a "fail" as far as MS is concerned hence the inexpensive(compared to the previous Windows)prices for Win 8 Pro.

[Judoka]

The Surface isn't necessarily a bad product, but it is a bit awkward. It's not really an iPad competitor, it's a laptop competitor. They keyboard Microsoft sells even has a trackpad like laptops do. The awkwardness is the difference between RT (more of an Android/iPad competitor OS) versions that look the same as regular Win8 but can't run anything but what you get from the MS App Store, and the full Win8 version of the Surface that's essentially an ultralight laptop with the components behind the screen instead of beneath the keyboard. In addition the the changes to the OS, the differences between the versions are bound to cause some confusion. I'm sure it won't be a complete failure, but I just can't see any new value here that Android or iOS don't already offer (in a more mature platform, to boot). If I want a full OS, I want a full laptop to run it on, not a touchscreen tablet.

[Juggernautz]

Excellent info, tks...

[Juggernautz]

How do you go about having a dual boot of Win 7 & Win 8?

[Juggernautz]

In lieu of getting another desktop to replace the ones that I have I decided to get a Toshiba Qosmio X870 laptop instead.

Now I will get my first hand experience w\ Win 8.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

ftr you can pretty easily dualboot with the beta but I don't think you an with a final version of win8

[Juggernautz]

I'll guess I'm stuck w\ Win 8 on my new Toshiba laptop then.

[panamacitygator]

Where I work they are finally going to upgrade from XP (to Win 7).Why change when you have something that works. IMHO the best Microsoft OS ever was in this order...

1. XP
2. Windows 7
3. Windows 98 2nd edition

I had good service out of these OS

The worst ever???

1. Windows ME
2. Vista
3. Windows 2000

[Juggernautz]

Well, I'm in the minority but I like Win 7 better than XP but that's beside the point. I work for the US DOT/FAA & the IT folks decided to upgrade(or downgrade in your case, lol) to Win 7 from XP probably because MS is no longer going to support XP.

Even if I had the choice to do so I would've picked Win 7.

Thank you for your input though.

[panamacitygator]

Major plus for Windows 7... no blue screen of death that XP used to have. Probably a little biased to XP since I used it for 8 years versus only being on Windows 7 for 2 years.

[Juggernautz]

I'm getting my new laptop tomorrow so I will give a review of what I think of Win 8 sometime this week.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Definitely give yourself a full week with it before making a judgment. It takes a while to get used to.

[Tipmoose]

Not just 'no' to Win8...but 'hell no'. This festering piece o' crap is Windows ME/Vista level crappy.

[anstro76]

borrowed a friends laptop for a week that had windows 8. couldn't stand it.

Sent from my mind using esp

[Juggernautz]

My first day w\ Win 8 was a debacle in trying to figure out wth was going on so I installed a program that installed a Win 7'ish start button which made my experience much better.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Well that really isn't a very good approach.

[gatorman_07732]

I'll be checking in next week, new machine on the way with win 8. I'm not an advocate of upgrading and needed a new machine.

[Juggernautz]

Well that really isn't a very good approach.:huh:

Why isn't it?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

:huh:

Why isn't it?

Because it takes more than a day to get used to and once you do it can be nice.

[Juggernautz]

I use both.

[gatormoe1]

If you're struggling with finding stuff on Windows 8, all you have to do is go to the Metro screen and just start typing what you want (as if you were in "Search programs and files" in the Win7 start menu).

Also, you should familiarize yourself with Explorer, if you can navigate your way through there, you'll be ok when you add in the search function.

I actually have portable apps where I set up hotkeys through ControlPad portable (http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/controlpad-portable). Just setup your code and pipe it to the exe file of what you want to open.

For example, I have 000 set to a file in Notepad where I have all the codes listed. Some others I have listed are msconfig, regedit, msinfo32, cmd, run, powershell, remote desktop... etc etc. I realize these aren't typical for normal people to use but as an IT guy, those things are every day programs for me. You can also pipe it to games, web browsers and just about any other file on your PC you want.

The cool thing is, for the most part Windows kept their files in the same file structure so moving from XP to Vista/7 and to Win8 will all work without having to change the file path. If anyone is interested just send me a PM and I'll help you get it started.

Here is a good guide to help you through Windows 8:
http://gizmodo.com/5955139/windows-8-survival-guide-all-the-tips-tricks-and-workarounds

Also a quick ref guide:
http://www.gegeek.com/documents/cheat_sheets/Windows%208%20Quick%20Reference%20Card.pdf

For the record, I hate Win8, but in my position, I have to learn everything.

[gatormoe1]

I'll guess I'm stuck w\ Win 8 on my new Toshiba laptop then.

Are you still trying to dual boot with windows 7?

[Juggernautz]

No, I found a work around(Stardock). It's a shell pgm to make Win 8 look like Win 7 but it's easy to convert back. My Toshiba laptop has Win 8 as stated but I'm not going to try a dual boot system since I found this work around.

My other laptop & desktop PC's all have Win 7 and I'm leaving them be as well.

[corpgator]

Love Win 8 on my HTPC soooo fast.

[el_lagarto]

POS windows 8 turned me into an apple fanboy.

huge fail.

7 was just fine, now they want you to converse with your machine in a different language.

[gatormoe1]

POS windows 8 turned me into an apple fanboy.

huge fail.

7 was just fine, now they want you to converse with your machine in a different language.

From one fail to another?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

POS windows 8 turned me into an apple fanboy.

huge fail.

7 was just fine, now they want you to converse with your machine in a different language.

what?

it's the exact same OS as 7 but with a different start bar

[gatormoe1]

what?

it's the exact same OS as 7 but with a different start bar

But it includes Hyper-V :love:

[GatorSean]

Been using Windows 8 for about two weeks now.... seems fine, I'd even say great. I mean, it's new so you have to relearn some things, but it doesn't crash, is super responsive, intuitive to learn, looks nice.

What specifically is wrong with it?

[Juggernautz]

8 is faster, granted but most don't care for the i/f.

[HALLGATOR]

Major plus for Windows 7... no blue screen of death that XP used to have. Probably a little biased to XP since I used it for 8 years versus only being on Windows 7 for 2 years.

My machine with Windows 7 started blue screening and I still haven't got it worked out yet. Time has been limited due to my work load and so I went out and bought another machine with Windows 8 on it. After cussing it for the first couple of hours and everyone, including their ancestry, who designed the thing I finally settled down and did a bit of studying rather than just blindly blundering my way along. It's not so bad once you start getting the hang of it. I still sort of miss XP which, like you, was with me for several years.

[gatormoe1]

My machine with Windows 7 started blue screening and I still haven't got it worked out yet. Time has been limited due to my work load and so I went out and bought another machine with Windows 8 on it. After cussing it for the first couple of hours and everyone, including their ancestry, who designed the thing I finally settled down and did a bit of studying rather than just blindly blundering my way along. It's not so bad once you start getting the hang of it. I still sort of miss XP which, like you, was with me for several years.

Did you try running your PC in safe mode and doing a system restore?

Press F8 as your PC boots and select the safe mode option. Then go into system restore and see if you have any restore points. If none are listed right away go back further and try to see if you have any.

Your problem could be as simple as a bad update, or as bad as a bad mobo. If nothing works you can try to reinstall windows then use your product key. If you get hang ups on install and/or blue screens while trying to do a clean install, you're most likely looking at a hardware issue.

[HALLGATOR]

Thanks, I worked on it for quite awhile off and on. Seems to be a driver of some kind. While there is plenty I don't know I do have a degree in the computer field. Unfortunately this machine did not come with an installation disc or I would have not spent much time with it. I plan on getting a new Windows 7 OS this week and doing a clean install.

[pcolagator]

Microsoft has failed miserably in its marketing of the product...all of this hulabaloo about the "Start" button missing is not explaining that the WHOLE SCREEN is the "Start" area of the OS. I'm using a Samsung 13" touchscreen as the laptop monitor and a 24" HD Samsung monitor as my "working" desktop and am pleased with the results so far. Besides, tablets and touchscreen aren't going anywhere, so get used to those features on computers in increasing numbers...

[Juggernautz]

As most others on here, I have a Tablet, a smart phone, a desktop & a laptop. Only my desktop is more than a year old so Win 8 is growing on me but I still like having a start
button on my desktop & laptop.

[AnthroMatt]

Never cared for 8. I think it would be great on a touchscreen laptop, but all the tiles were worthless for me on my non-touchscreen laptop. I used my tax refund to buy a macbook lol.

[Juggernautz]

Windows Blue may be for you.

[LakeGator]

Speaking of Blue, this article (http://windowsitpro.com/windows-8/microsoft-fixing-windows-8) paints a moderately positive view of the Blue version and a very negative view of the process Microsoft used to make Windows 8.

The marketplace is making it very clear that Windows 8 is not a winner.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Speaking of Blue, this article (http://windowsitpro.com/windows-8/microsoft-fixing-windows-8) paints a moderately positive view of the Blue version and a very negative view of the process Microsoft used to make Windows 8.

The marketplace is making it very clear that Windows 8 is not a winner.

A little unfair. Windows 7 - which has pretty overwhelmingly positive reviews - was also a slow starter.

In fact, here's some data that shows 8 is outpacing 7 at this point:

http://www.dailytech.com/Windows+8+Beats+Windows+7+Sets+New+Sales+Record/article29288.htm

[LakeGator]

It’s hard to know what might be cause and what might be effect. Much has been made of the severe drop in PC sales. Many of the press and analysts are blaming Windows 8 for this but it could be that the rush to tablets is more of a factor.

You can see from this thread that a large portion of the PC population do not like the drastic user interface changes made in Windows 8. I have been using it for just about a year and find it easy to use. I do find that I hit keyboard shortcuts in W8 more than I did in the past as I don’t have touchscreens.

I probably overstated the situation when I said Windows 8 is not a winner. I believe it starts the road toward convergence between the old desktop/laptop world and new tablet/phone world. Multi-touch and multi-gesture are the next wave for user interface. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Itssaul]

Like anything else that changes, give it time and it'll go unnoticed