Windows 8

[Stevens]

Last week I bought a new computer, Toshiba laptop like I have had for years. this one came with Windows 8.1 I don't know if it's just me but this is completely different from all the previous Windows editions. I find it a huge step backwards as far as being user friendly, I guess I'll get the hang of it eventually but it hasn't been fun so far!
Any one else using it ? comments??
Steve W

 

[cmort666]

My best friend from college and the Army works for Micro$oft. You're more likely to see Tom Cruise take a leak on Elron Hubbard's grave than to hear my friend knock Micro$oft, but even he can't justify Windows 8.

The truth is that unless you have a touch screen device, like a tablet, the Windows 8 interface is utterly pointless.

I'm NEVER going to have a touch screen device bigger than a cell phone, so I have no intention of EVER having Windows 8, just as I've never installed Vista on any of MY machines (although I did install a copy I had on my cousin's laptop... which promptly died).

 

[Stephanie B]

Windows OSs have been a bit like Star trek movies: You're better off skipping every other one.

I don't know of anyone who has a Win8 machine who likes it, other than one person who went from a Vista machine to Win8.

 

[sipowicz]

I'm Mac but my neighbor has Windows 8...watching him use it is like watching a blind man trying to solve a rubik's cube.

 

[rolomac]

Same here! Hate it! From what I understand it's a move to make your computer look and perform just like your smart phone (which I don't have or want). I have windows 7 on our home desktop and it's great - and XP on one of my business computers and love it. This is progress huh?

rolomac

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Windows 8 and it's progeny 8.1 are the antithesis of user friendly soft ware. It was designed for touch screen devises but Microsoft decided to increase their sales by forcing desk top and laptop manufacturers to install on everything as the operating system. The resulting bad press would be devastating if there was any alternative to the general public.

 

[diamonback68]

I would uninstall it and install a copy of Window 7.

 

[deadin]

Before you give up on it go out and install Windows 8.1 (free).
It makes abig difference.

 

[stanws6]

I am not a computer wizard, but I've had several since 1996. Everytime I got a new one I had no trouble getting it up and running. Last year I helped my 88 year old aunt set up a new machine she got as a gift. It took me about 10 hours and several trips home to search for answers on my machine before I could even get on the internet and import her e-mail contacts and favorites. To me it is useless and when I need a new computer I'll do everything I can not to have Win 8.

 

[Comrad]

Once you go Mac you never go back.

I don't know how people put up with that bloated pig they call Windows.

 

[kwselke]

If you have Windows 8.1 Pro you can downgrade it to Windows 7. If you have the Home version of Win-8 you are stuck until Windows 9 comes out. I love Windows 7 and saw no reason to do the discounted upgrade when Windows 8 was introduced. I'm glad with that decision.

 

[the ringo kid]

I know nothing about Windows 8 except that I hear its the worst program ever for a computer. Im coming close to getting a new computer in a few months--and I havent much a clue what yall are talking about but--im listening carefully.........................

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

If you have Windows 8.1 Pro you can downgrade it to Windows 7. If you have the Home version of Win-8 you are stuck until Windows 9 comes out. I love Windows 7 and saw no reason to do the discounted upgrade when Windows 8 was introduced. I'm glad with that decision.

Now why would they include that capability if 8 is the latest and greatest they great minds can produce? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[deadin]

know nothing about Windows 8 except that I hear its the worst program ever for a computer

I think I would vote for Vista as the worst....

 

[kwselke]

Now why would they include that capability if 8 is the latest and greatest they great minds can produce? Inquiring minds want to know.

The reason is the Pro version of Windows OSs are meant for businesses which have large numbers of computers. When and if a computer needs to be replaced having one using Windows 8 would be a pain when the other umpteen are running Widows 7 and possibly custom software designed for Windows 7.

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

I think I would vote for Vista as the worst....

Have you ever tried Windows ME?

 

[cmort666]

Have you ever tried Windows ME?

You took the words right out of my mouth.

I had a customer who pirated his copy to a bunch of his friends. We made a lot of money off of him and them...

 

[DeadAye]

I miss DOS, BASICA, and MASM
I don't think that Windows will ever catch on....

 

[kwselke]

Have you ever tried Windows ME?

I've had experience with one Win-ME system and two Win-Vista systems. Windows ME was the ultimate dog operating system, it was less stable than Win 3.1. Vista was a resource hog and had issues with some legacy accounting software I used at work. After the accounting software was upgraded with a Vista version I had no more issues. The machine I'm on now was originally a Vista system and I never had issues with it at all. I upgraded this machine to Win-7 Release Candidate and CPU and RAM usage numbers dropped dramatically. Windows 7 is the best Windows OS I've ever used.

 

[RonJ]

I agree that Windows 7 is the best Windows ever. But I do miss the days of Basic and writing my own batch files etc. It was fun back then! But can you imagine trying to run MS Office on a basic machine?

 

[geddylee10002000]

I just bought a real nice desktop (gaming PC) for XMAS. Came with 8.0 and upgraded to 8.1. I kinda of like the apps of 8.1 but use them about about 20% of the time. I don't have a smart phone. Steep learning curve for sure. It's not really that bad. I also bought a refurbished Win 7 PC to upgrade my reloading area PC. Both old PCs were running on a hacked XP Pro OS. I like 7 as I can still use my chrony software on it and it serves as a backup PC.

Steve

 

[quneur]

Let's see...I have
1. 'portable' dual floppy drive Amstrand PC clone thats runs DOS 3.11 (I believe. I haven't fired it up lately),
2. Toshiba 520 laptop with 2g drive running DSL (linux)
3. Pentium x2 machine w/100 gigs HD 1gig ram running Debian linux
4. Pentium x2 w/ 350 gigs 2 gigs ram running WinXP
5. HP Pavilion laptop centrino duo, 500 gigs HD 2 gigs ram running Ubuntu (saucy) linux
6. HP Pentium x2 laptop 500 gigs HD 2 gigs running Windows 7.

The computer I use the most is the one running Ubuntu linux. Its much more stable, expandable and user friendly than any Windows system I've tried. There are different flavors of linux which are better than Ubuntu but it seems this laptop likes it the best.

 

[TucsonMTB]

I know nothing about Windows 8 except that I hear its the worst program ever for a computer. Im coming close to getting a new computer in a few months--and I havent much a clue what yall are talking about but--im listening carefully.........................

Microsoft has recently announced that they will no longer offer Windows 7 on new consumer computers after October of this year.

If you can find a new Windows 7 equipped machine with a reasonable warranty before then, it would be a good way to go while we wait for Microsoft to recover from Windows 8, which most of the IT industry expects them to do, probably within a couple of years from now.

I like laptops. The Lenovo ThinkPad T530 Model: 2392ASU is available from several on line sellers, like ProVantage dot com for around $1200. It has a three year warranty, top of line i7 processor and Windows 7 Professional installed. That's just one example I would feel comfortable recommending or buying myself.

Otherwise, look at the Macintosh offerings. They are more expensive and it helps to have a good local dealer, but may work for you. No, even though I have considerable, past experience with much older Macintosh computers, I am not going in that direction myself.

We have a couple of nice ThinkPad laptops that are nearing end of warranty, so I may spend the big bucks for a T530 myself.

 

[Hack]

The truth is that unless you have a touch screen device, like a tablet, the Windows 8 interface is utterly pointless.

That pretty much sums up the problem.

I bought a new HP laptop with Win 8 (subsequently updated to 8.1), and I have cursed it many a time. I've still got one licensed copy of Win 7 to use, and with very little persuasion, it may get installed on this machine.

The concept behind Win 8.x is good, one system over many devices, but I'm skeptical.

 

[TucsonMTB]

That pretty much sums up the problem.

I bought a new HP laptop with Win 8 (subsequently updated to 8.1), and I have cursed it many a time. I've still got one licensed copy of Win 7 to use, and with very little persuasion, it may get installed on this machine.

The concept behind Win 8.x is good, one system over many devices, but I'm skeptical.

Can you get the machine specific Windows 7 drivers for your new laptop? If not, you may be disappointed with the machine's performance if you make the change . . .

 

[cmort666]

I bought a new HP laptop with Win 8 (subsequently updated to 8.1), and I have cursed it many a time. I've still got one licensed copy of Win 7 to use, and with very little persuasion, it may get installed on this machine.

The concept behind Win 8.x is good, one system over many devices, but I'm skeptical.

Even my friend who works for Micro$oft doesn't think that users should be forced to use the tiles interface on a normal PC. From what I've seen it's created a LOT of negative reaction from users, myself included.

 

[RightArm]

I too bought a new non-touch screen computer with 8.
Don't fret. go straight to desktop and, walla, windows 7 magically appears. I log on and go to desktop without messing with 8.
You will still have to shut down with 8. Just bring the cursor to upper right of the screen and You'll see the drop down with the power icon on the bottom. PM me if you have a question on this move.

 

[jimmib]

once you install 8.1 you can download a shell program that is almost the same as windows 7 and things are fine...I am on a laptop right now setup like that, but it did take some learning and frustration to get to this point...my other laptop with 7 crashed on me and I had to get a new one...if I had it to do over I would have bought one with 7 on it

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I was a big fan of XP for many years. Finally my computer took a **** after 10 years and bought another computer with Windows 7. I like Windows 7 but not as easy to use as XP. I can manipulate XP far easier than I can Windows 7. I looked at 8 and laughed.

James

 

[MPSGT]

Windows OSs have been a bit like Star trek movies: You're better off skipping every other one.

I don't know of anyone who has a Win8 machine who likes it, other than one person who went from a Vista machine to Win8.

Now you do . . . At first win 8 was kind of strange but now I like it better than any previous version. And you really don't need the touch screen, most of the time I use my mouse anyway.