Windows 8 who's buying/upgrading

Minstadave said:
Dear god, maybe Win 8 is designed for those of a simple disposition.

I don't like it because it is clunky, it is a mess, it tries to be a mobile and a desktop OS, it fails at the latter, it may be brilliant as the former but I have not tried it.

Night all.
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Just use something like Classic Shell - I have that on all four of the machines that I "upgraded". My brother and sister in law asked me to install it for them after a week or so of sheer frustration with their new laptop.

If you do decided to go back to Windows 7 just get your money back from MS - my father in law decided to do this after finding issues with the UI and tasks seeming to take him much longer with no perceivable advantage. His refund was back in his bank account after a day or two.
 
I use Windows 8. Personally I find the new Start Screen annoying. I think the issue is though most of your older apps open on the old desktop. In this instance it becomes a pain to use. Native modern UI apps though work well. I guess the screen will get better in time but for now it will continue to be annoying. I guess think of Windows 8 as a new OS with legacy support (desktop). They had to remove the Start Menu to force companies to start writing their application as an App rather than a normal program.

People are forgetting there are other new features in Windows 8 that make it a worth while upgrade. The speed of it alone is much quicker, Windows 7 was hardly slow.
 
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Swarfega said:
I use Windows 8. Personally I find the new Start Screen annoying. I think the issue is though most of your older apps open on the old desktop. In this instance it becomes a pain to use. Native modern UI apps though work well. I guess the screen will get better in time but for now it will continue to be annoying. I guess think of Windows 8 as a new OS with legacy support (desktop). They had to remove the Start Menu to force companies to start writing their application as an App rather than a normal program.

People are forgetting there are other new features in Windows 8 that make it a worth while upgrade. The speed of it alone is much quicker, Windows 7 was hardly slow.
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Much quicker than Windows 7...?

I have seen some published benchmarks but apart from the lack of continuity of the Metro UI and Desktop for applications etc my father in law felt that it was actually slower than W7x64, for him.
For me I do not power off the PC (I use the S3 sleep function) so I'm not bothered by any faster start up and shutdown claims. Running day to day stuff I do not notice much difference, albeit it can be a pain sometimes if the Metro thing kicks in when opening a photo or viewing a video, assuming that the defaults somehow got reset.

I am happy(ish) with my purchase of Windows 8 for the four machines that I bought it for, but I'm glad that it only cost me £14.99 a copy. I would not have paid the full price for this as it brings so little it brings to my PC after using W7x64.
 
Guys,
Just a quick Q.

Do you guys install the chipset drivers from your motherboard manufacturers or do you just use the Windows 8 ones?
 
gareth170 said:
MS won't change it to suit you and some others that don't like win8.
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They would be stupid not to listen to an overwhelming amount of customer feedback that Win 8 on a desktop sucks.

They should give an option of either enabling or disabling Metro, or at least making it as good as the old start menu.

Here's one of the biggest flaws with it: In the old menu you typed something it would search files, settings, programs - all of your computer. Now you type something and it searches just one part of your system. It may appear to be a small thing, but for a task which you carry out several times a day it is a big deal for those who are 'power' users.

I don't understand why people are defending Win 8 when the faults are so plain to see. I've seen people saying "the new start screen is no less functional than the old" or "metro is just as useable as Windows 7, its just you got to get used to it" - well lets see shall we:

  • You have to click into metro before being able to search. You then have to click again if you want to search things other than programs. Extra clicks = bad
  • If you click top left of your screen to hit a chrome tab, sometimes the menu is brought up accidentally
  • For new users, flicking between Metro and Classic desktop is confusing. Its confusing to have metro designed apps and desktop designed apps. I get it, but I am a developer. My mother? Wouldn't stand a chance explaining why there are different types of apps/systems.
  • When actually trying to use metro and snapping programs right / left you cannot resize the screen area. This is retarded at best and means watching a move over to the left/right while browsing is nearly impossible as it gives you naff all screen space.
  • Some desktop apps have metro apps as well, causing further confusion. Skype has metro app as well as desktop app. Doesn't make sense.

There's just a few of my bugbears. I would go on, but probably won't make a difference to those who don't think they are issues.
 
My mother gets it fine, so that's a silly argument. She understands some are metro and some are desktop, it's really a simple idea to get ones head around. She can now however search and install her own software, something they never did under old windows.

More clicks?
Not really you have to click on start in w7, you have to click on metro in w8. Same clicks.

Yes the search needs changining marginally, but it's no big issue and certainly no reason for Ms to get rid of metro.


Metro is a pre defined split ratio, to ensure it works, if you want ultimate resizing ability use desktop, again not an issue and something I'm sure they will tweak as metro matures.

So yes get used to it, it is not going anywhere, to get rid of it or give you the option would mean Ms losing even more marketshare in the long term. That is why they have gone down this route as their marketshare was starting to fall of a cliff.

They are and will listen to customer criticism on how to improve metro, they will not get rid off it though.
 
Izi said:
They would be stupid not to listen to an overwhelming amount of customer feedback that Win 8 on a desktop sucks.

They should give an option of either enabling or disabling Metro, or at least making it as good as the old start menu.

Here's one of the biggest flaws with it: In the old menu you typed something it would search files, settings, programs - all of your computer. Now you type something and it searches just one part of your system. It may appear to be a small thing, but for a task which you carry out several times a day it is a big deal for those who are 'power' users.

I don't understand why people are defending Win 8 when the faults are so plain to see. I've seen people saying "the new start screen is no less functional than the old" or "metro is just as useable as Windows 7, its just you got to get used to it" - well lets see shall we:

  • You have to click into metro before being able to search. You then have to click again if you want to search things other than programs. Extra clicks = bad
  • If you click top left of your screen to hit a chrome tab, sometimes the menu is brought up accidentally
  • For new users, flicking between Metro and Classic desktop is confusing. Its confusing to have metro designed apps and desktop designed apps. I get it, but I am a developer. My mother? Wouldn't stand a chance explaining why there are different types of apps/systems.
  • When actually trying to use metro and snapping programs right / left you cannot resize the screen area. This is retarded at best and means watching a move over to the left/right while browsing is nearly impossible as it gives you naff all screen space.
  • Some desktop apps have metro apps as well, causing further confusion. Skype has metro app as well as desktop app. Doesn't make sense.
There's just a few of my bugbears. I would go on, but probably won't make a difference to those who don't think they are issues.
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:confused:

you just press windows key, type whatever you want (so far no clicks) then either use the tab and arrow key and enter or use the mouse which would be 2 clicks max

I don't understand why people over think things. it's like ohh change, more difficult. when if u really think about it, it's not really any difference

I let my mum use my laptop which as win8 on it, she's in her late 50's and she's no techy and has no idea how to use computers but once she turned on the laptop and metro start screen came up she was navigating it so easily without any help.

on win7 she'd always ask me how to open xxxxx or where this, whats that

as for chrome tab I don't get any menu when clicking on a tab.

Some desktop apps have metro apps for a few reasons 1. win8 is hybrid os , not only for desktops/laptops, 2. some people may find the metro apps version easier to use.
 
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gareth170 said:
:confused:

you just press windows key, type whatever you want (so far no clicks) then either use the tab and arrow key and enter or use the mouse which would be 2 clicks max
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Or, as power users will know ...

Win and type for aps
Win+w for settings
Win+f for files.
 
Izi said:
They would be stupid not to listen to an overwhelming amount of customer feedback that Win 8 on a desktop sucks.
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Really? I've had no issue with it on the three desktop machines I've installed it on for myself. It works just as well as Windows 7. If I want to use the modern UI, I hit the Start button, if I don't, I go to the desktop (which is where is spend 99% of my time).

Izi said:
They should give an option of either enabling or disabling Metro, or at least making it as good as the old start menu.
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I'd probably have agreed with you after I first installed the consumer preview, but having gotten used to it, I (like many others) no longer 'need' it.

As for the older generation; I upgraded my mother's PC from Windows 7 to Windows 8 (at her request I might add). After spending about 5 minutes showing her the new ways of doing things, I've not heard a single complaint from her, and she uses both the modern UI and the desktop. Oh, she's 70 this year btw, and a technophobe to boot!
 
I love how everyone is jumping on Minstadave for expecting ease of use and intuitive functionality. I particularly love how people are having a go at him for having to google how to shut down windows 8. I had to do this also. Why? Because it was quicker to do that than to hunt around for an unbelievably obscure shut down button.

As it happens, I quite like Windows 8 now, as I bought Retro UI and that has the ability to completely remove the Metro UI from it. Now I only get the good things; Faster search (Bar the 3 categories which is insanely stupid) Faster boot, better desktop interface in it's file moving and whatnot, better task manager etc.

Essentially Minstadave, I think you will love Windows 8 if you get Retro UI, as will many people whose chief complaint is the Metro UI.

The funny thing is though, I would love Metro UI if it didn't force you into a really ****** fullscreen mode. I want my Mail app to be fullscreen on my right monitor while I can do something else on the left. I want to be able to watch a movie on the right monitor while I browse on the left. As far as I could tell Metro does not allow you to do this. It's either 1 screen at a time or nothing, a holdover I believe from it's tablet roots.

In this regard Minstadave is completely correct. The fact that you have found ways around things does not mean you should have had to. This OS should have been designed with PC's in mind first. Essentially I get the feeling Microsoft just wanted to justify the costs of developing Metro by forcing their PC users to use it also. The traditional start button really is faster, although it wouldn't be if Metro's search function wasn't split in three.
 
Munimentum said:
The fact that you have found ways around things does not mean you should have had to. This OS should have been designed with PC's in mind first.
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I could say that about many things. such as I shouldn't have to install a on screen keyboard so I can type. I shouldn't have to download/installs drivers, ect. but we all do it (not the install a on screen keyboard part, lol)
 
Yeah but in this case, drivers enhance and improve performance. Finding a convoluted way to do something you could already do in 3 simple clicks is a performance decrease.

For example, (Ignoring the keyboard shortcuts you love to mention so much, as the average user will not know them) to shutdown windows 8 you have to move your mouse all the way to the top right of your screen. Then, you have to hold it there for the charm bar to show. Then you have to move your mouse down keeping it withing charms parameters to click settings. If you move off the charms bar it disappears and you have to start the whole process over again. This becomes harder if you have a second monitor as you can miss the top right and accidently go to your second screen (the chances of this would decrease as you got used to it obviously). Oh and this isn't to mention that if you want to move your mouse to the right monitor and accidently move it to the top right of your screen, it prevents you from doing that which is incredibly annoying in and of itself.

Previously, you just had to move your mouse to the bottom right, click, move the mouse a tiny bit up and right, click, click shutdown.

Now I'm not saying you wouldn't get used to it. I'm saying that this is a slower and more convoluted way of doing it. I won't say it's 100% slower as I haven't timed it, but I would bet money that it is, and it is certainly 100% less intuitive, which I think is basically the entire point Minstadave is making.
 
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Munimentum said:
For example, (Ignoring the keyboard shortcuts you love to mention so much, as the average user will not know them) to shutdown windows 8 you have to move your mouse all the way to the top right of your screen. Then, you have to hold it there for the charm bar to show. Then you have to move your mouse down keeping it withing charms parameters to click settings. If you move off the charms bar it disappears and you have to start the whole process over again. This becomes harder if you have a second monitor as you can miss the top right and accidently go to your second screen (the chances of this would decrease as you got used to it obviously). Oh and this isn't to mention that if you want to move your mouse to the right monitor and accidently move it to the top right of your screen, it prevents you from doing that which is incredibly annoying in and of itself.

Previously, you just had to move your mouse to the bottom right, click, move the mouse a tiny bit up and right, click, click shutdown.

Now I'm not saying you wouldn't get used to it. I'm saying that this is a slower and more convoluted way of doing it. I won't say it's 100% slower as I haven't timed it, but I would bet money that it is, and it is certainly 100% less intuitive, which I think is basically the entire point Minstadave is making.
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I can't say about multi screen setup. but on single screen theres no real issue tbh
 
when i want to shutdown on windows 8 i go to the bottom right of the screen, if you make sure you hit the bottom of the screen first, then your mouse will stop when you get to the corner, rather than going off on to the next screen ( i think this is the same if you hit the top first before the side), i have 3 monitors and its fine if you do it right, the charms menu appears, and i move the mouse up a little, then click the cog, then power, then shutdown. All in a whopping one extra click over win 7 to shutdown, and no extra clicks to restart, just takes a little getting used to.
 
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To shut down windows 8 I do the same as w7, one click on the case power button.
W8 makes popular multiple used tasks a day, easier, more advanced and generally better.

It takes seldom used tasks away from the front UI, so you have a cleaner less information overload UI.
These tasks are however not hidden or hard to find/used.

Sme tasks like shut down, you really should relearn to use case power button. Just like on a phone or tablet. Just because old way used to be the norm, doesn't mean it will always be the norm. Some tasks you just need to come into the modern world with.
 
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Glaucus said:
To shut down windows 8 I do the same as w7, one click on the case power button.
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I hear this all the time about hard to find Shut Down,Restart etc...,fact is its so damn easy to make your own Shut Down,Restart button etc either on Desktop or Metro tile,you can even use Win+X Editor(free btw) which does it for you(thats what I use).
One click to Shut Down etc...



http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.30



winxeditor.png



Come on guys its not rocket science or are you just being lazy and moaning for nothing as usual.
 
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Munimentum said:
I love how everyone is jumping on Minstadave for expecting ease of use and intuitive functionality. I particularly love how people are having a go at him for having to google how to shut down windows 8. I had to do this also. Why? Because it was quicker to do that than to hunt around for an unbelievably obscure shut down button.

As it happens, I quite like Windows 8 now, as I bought Retro UI and that has the ability to completely remove the Metro UI from it. Now I only get the good things; Faster search (Bar the 3 categories which is insanely stupid) Faster boot, better desktop interface in it's file moving and whatnot, better task manager etc.

Essentially Minstadave, I think you will love Windows 8 if you get Retro UI, as will many people whose chief complaint is the Metro UI.

The funny thing is though, I would love Metro UI if it didn't force you into a really ****** fullscreen mode. I want my Mail app to be fullscreen on my right monitor while I can do something else on the left. I want to be able to watch a movie on the right monitor while I browse on the left. As far as I could tell Metro does not allow you to do this. It's either 1 screen at a time or nothing, a holdover I believe from it's tablet roots.

In this regard Minstadave is completely correct. The fact that you have found ways around things does not mean you should have had to. This OS should have been designed with PC's in mind first. Essentially I get the feeling Microsoft just wanted to justify the costs of developing Metro by forcing their PC users to use it also. The traditional start button really is faster, although it wouldn't be if Metro's search function wasn't split in three.
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On multiple monitors you can do what say..... Open the app, grab it by clicking and holding the top of the screen with the left mouse button and drag it to the screen you want, this will also move the Start menu to the other monitor also.
 
Just installed Windows 8 today, after a little bit of friction I feel I'm liking it, one deal breaker that didn't occur for me is that I am thankful you can remove everything from Start that you don't want, so at the moment all I have is computer and desktop.

I was worried that you'd have to have certain tiles always there.
 
I had a small play with it the other day while at the purples, not keen on it.. but I m not going to waste money on it till its proven itself..Which means when my laptop dies :P

than we will see :)


I like the look of it, its just the functional side of it
 
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