Microsoft Windows 8.2 Scheduled For January 2014

[Elevon]

Windows 7 was widely considered to be perfect and that's one of the primary reasons there is so much anger towards 8, Microsoft have gone backwards as far as the majority of desktop users are concerned.

Windows 8 has a small market share and start menu hacks seem to be flourishing so it makes you wonder how many people actually like Metro, it has to be only a minority. If Microsoft had given users a choice of UI we'd all be happily running it now, it was their decision to dictate that people only use Metro that's made people angry.

P.s. I've tried Windows 8.1 and I actually think it's worse with that daft start button leading to the Metro interface, it makes the OS feel like an even bigger mish mash than it already was.

Win7 was far from perfect, I will even go as far and say there are better Linux distros out there for desktop PCs,fact is Win7 is a stoneage desktop OS,its not designed for modern hardware like tablets,phones, or any modern hardware you can name,UI is based on something nearly two decades ago and has remained virtually the same.

What was needed and long overdue was a new modern hybrid OS that can handle anything and also something that can be worked on down the road in Win9,10 etc ,Win7 has been worked on since Win95 and could go as far as it could for just a desktop OS,unfortunately rest of modern hardware has overtaken a desktop only OS which does not cut it in modern times.

Show me another OS that can handle anything.

I keep saying this , but the fact is desktop only OS is no longer as important as it used to be,too much competition nowadays so a change or new hybrid OS was needed.


What amazes me is how some Win7 users expect things to stay the same,I wish they would wake up and get real,you may not like Win8/8.1 or even Linux but to expect things you see in Win7 to stay the same in future operating systems is a bit arrogant and unrealistic.

 

[regulus]

Bought a new laptop, first thing I did was to get rid of this abomination and get Windows 7 running on it. I gave it a go, I know how to use it. I hate using it and won't use it again unless the start button comes back.

It feels like MS done something different for the sake of ... doing something different.

 

[unwashed potato!]

Then that's because you lack the ability to see the way operating systems are going and problems that will be faced in the future. don't beat yourself up about it though, many others are struggling too. enjoy win7, it's a very good os.

 

[mmj_uk]

I keep saying this , but the fact is desktop only OS is no longer as important as it used to be,too much competition nowadays so a change or new hybrid OS was needed.

MS have a near monopoly on desktop and they're throwing it away to compete in a sector that Google, Apple etc already have sewn up. I have no plans to go portable but with Microsoft ruining their desktop OS what choice do I have? Apple & Google look all the more appealing as a result of Microsoft's actions.

What amazes me is how some Win7 users expect things to stay the same,I wish they would wake up and get real,you may not like Win8/8.1 or even Linux but to expect things you see in Win7 to stay the same in future operating systems is a bit arrogant and unrealistic.

By some you mean most, YOU ARE in the minority.

We don't expect things to stay the same but when things are changed we expect them to get better. The Windows 8 GUI most certainly is not and everyone apart from a minority of highly vocal zealots can see that.

 

[Elevon]

MS have a near monopoly on desktop and they're throwing it away to compete in a sector that Google, Apple etc already have sewn up. I have no plans to go portable but with Microsoft ruining their desktop OS what choice do I have? Apple & Google look all the more appealing as a result of Microsoft's actions.



By some you mean most, YOU ARE in the minority.

We don't expect things to stay the same but when things are changed we expect them to get better. The Windows 8 GUI most certainly is not and everyone apart from a minority of highly vocal zealots can see that.

What you think is better is relative,my point is I've seen changes since Pre Dos days and always adapted to the changes for better or worst(that again is always subjective),a change and new UI was long overdue,lets face it Win95 to Win7 is almost two decades how long was you expecting it to last?..Maybe you thought you have the same UI when you are still collecting your pension,sorry it's not realistic,regardless a new hybrid UI is something Microsoft can fine tune with Win9,10 etc but you know there will always be some users moaning about something.


For the record I've never been in the minority,you know why because I expect changes sooner or later and have adapted to virtually every Windows OS since DOS days,probably before half the guys here were born,I could also say same for the plenty of different Linux distros I use too.

Fact is Windows operating systems come and go,get over it.
I'll book my front seat now for Win9,10 and see the same moaners queuing up .

 

[gareth170]

We don't expect things to stay the same but when things are changed we expect them to get better. The Windows 8 GUI most certainly is not and everyone apart from a minority of highly vocal zealots can see that.

but you do what the UI to stay the same I.E having a menu list has a start menu. so basically if that's the case it'll never move forward or change. there's nothing much that MS can change or improve to the old start menu, has it was very limited on what they can do to it. surely you understand that.

 

[UKFX]

I don't believe a word of it either, and who in the **** are "NextPowerUp"?

Secondly, what is that awful mockup image of a bog standard Windows 8 start menu doing there? Never heard of print-screen, but yet know about a major OS update? Nope!

I agree. Took them almost a year to come up with Windows 8.1, I highly doubt they'd be ready to set out 8.2, especially since they've already spent a bunch of cash on Windows 8.1, sending out new OS discs to manufacturers and retail to help elevate and maintain the license costs.

 

[unwashed potato!]

MS have a near monopoly on desktop and they're throwing it away to compete in a sector that Google, Apple etc already have sewn up. I have no plans to go portable but with Microsoft ruining their desktop OS what choice do I have? Apple & Google look all the more appealing as a result of Microsoft's actions.

Do you realize how ridiculous that above sounds. you want a desktop os, not a touch style os like android, so if windows adds touch features to it's desktop os, you'll then be tempted to go completely the other way and ditch the desktop os for a complete touch based os because you want a desktop os

 

[cheesyboy]

Just upgraded to 8.1 from running XP on an ancient machine.

Only had a couple of hours with it, but first impression is that I rather like the idea of the new metro UI, but only wish the functionality found on the desktop was available there. For example, adjusting screen properties is found through control panel, and the control panel only opens on the desktop view. Options within the Metro UI gives a very low-level set of controls.

It's really just a bit uncomfortable switching between the two interfaces - I'd probably have preferred they ditch the desktop altogether.

 

[Elevon]

Just upgraded to 8.1 from running XP on an ancient machine.

Only had a couple of hours with it, but first impression is that I rather like the idea of the new metro UI, but only wish the functionality found on the desktop was available there. For example, adjusting screen properties is found through control panel, and the control panel only opens on the desktop view. Options within the Metro UI gives a very low-level set of controls.

It's really just a bit uncomfortable switching between the two interfaces - I'd probably have preferred they ditch the desktop altogether.

As to screen properties,you can just right click on the old desktop UI,that gives you options for screen resolution,Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Control Panel etc....


My favourite is right clicking on the start button for Win+X menu.

 

[cheesyboy]

As to screen properties,you can just right click on the old desktop UI,that gives you options for screen resolution,Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Control Panel etc....

Well indeed - my point, though, is that it should be available in the Metro UI rather than the Windows 95 style desktop.

 

[Gambisk]

Do people really use the start menu that much? I haven't been near it since I moved from XP. Just press the windows key on keyboard > type in name of the program I want to use > press enter to launch it. The whole process takes less than a second usually and I don't need to take my hands of the keyboard.

From my point of view win 8 has made this even quicker than 7 due to better indexing or something, also the OS as a whole is a lot more efficient and programs seem to run better than they did on 8.

There is more to an operating system then the UI people!

 

[linktoinsanity]

People tend to say things like "it's unintuitive" when they just mean they don't like it for what ever reason.

It's not unintuitive just because you don't like it, I'd say it's quite intuitive in that it's basic, visually apparent in what you do and what your options are, and if you want to be as quick as you can you just press the start button on your keyboard and type.

I don't think you can really get any more intuitive than that, or quick.

Intuitive means that it is easy to work out how to do things for the majority of people. For example a steering wheel is intuitive. The Office interface introduced in 2007 is intuitive. I have had numerous every day people (Ie not techies) asking how to do really simple stuff in Windows 8. Therefore it is UNINTUITIVE!

I generally do find when people describe something as "unintuitive" that is exactly what they mean. If they say it's rubbish, then you can take it as "them not liking it."

 

[Elevon]

Well indeed - my point, though, is that it should be available in the Metro UI rather than the Windows 95 style desktop.

You have option on Metro Start screen as well ie right click on start button to bring up Win+X and select Control Panel,Charms bar has Personlisation on there via Settings ,once there you have your screen display options,you could probably make your own shortcut too.

 

[cheesyboy]

You have option on Metro Start screen as well ie right click on start button to bring up Win+X and select Control Panel,Charms bar has Personlisation on there via Settings ,once there you have your screen display options,you could probably make your own shortcut too.

Does the control panel still open on the desktop, though? Would prefer everything to stay within the Metro screen. It just seems a bit messy flicking between them, you see.

I need to play around a bit more, of course. I'm talking off the back of <2 hours stumbling around.

 

[Eddie]

I've been using 8.1 with StartisBack and actually quite like it.

I detested 8.0 when it first came out but 8.1 with the Start Menu back is very good, imo.

I very rarely have any need to go to the metro interface.

I doubt I'd go back to Win7 now, tbh, which I never thought I'd see myself typing.

 

[Elevon]

Does the control panel still open on the desktop, though? Would prefer everything to stay within the Metro screen. It just seems a bit messy flicking between them, you see.

I need to play around a bit more, of course. I'm talking off the back of <2 hours stumbling around.

Yes via desktop,guess that's why it's called a hybrid OS, but I know what you mean,best bet is probably try and see if you can have a shortcut on Metro ie Tile.

 

[TwsT]

What you think is better is relative,my point is I've seen changes since Pre Dos days and always adapted to the changes for better or worst(that again is always subjective),a change and new UI was long overdue,lets face it Win95 to Win7 is almost two decades how long was you expecting it to last?..Maybe you thought you have the same UI when you are still collecting your pension,sorry it's not realistic,regardless a new hybrid UI is something Microsoft can fine tune with Win9,10 etc but you know there will always be some users moaning about something.


For the record I've never been in the minority,you know why because I expect changes sooner or later and have adapted to virtually every Windows OS since DOS days,probably before half the guys here were born,I could also say same for the plenty of different Linux distros I use too.

Fact is Windows operating systems come and go,get over it.
I'll book my front seat now for Win9,10 and see the same moaners queuing up .

I look forward to those threads too. Couldn't agree more on the changes that were needed. Although your response was a tad more rational than mine to these people.

 

[linktoinsanity]

What you think is better is relative,my point is I've seen changes since Pre Dos days and always adapted to the changes for better or worst(that again is always subjective),a change and new UI was long overdue,lets face it Win95 to Win7 is almost two decades how long was you expecting it to last?

Yep, also round wheels have been around long enough, let's change them to square ones. People will loves driving cars like that...

I'm sorry but it's the same logic.

I actually would love for Microsoft to bring back the old Start Menu, just to see the reaction on here by the vocal minority who actually like Windows 8's Start Screen.

 

[Elevon]

Yep, also round wheels have been around long enough, let's change them to square ones. People will loves driving cars like that...

I'm sorry but it's the same logic.

I actually would love for Microsoft to bring back the old Start Menu, just to see the reaction on here by the vocal minority who actually like Windows 8's Start Screen.

I actually would like to see a whole new OS with complete new UI for Win9,something new for me to play with and a long queue of moaners making pointless posts because they can't handle this or that .

Regardless I'm ready for Win9,10,11 etc...

As to round wheels,well you can't compare a car to an OS,not the same logic so a better analogy would be like somebody saying why do we need electric cars when we have always used fossil fuel for cars.
The reaction to start button coming back ,probably be a few third party mods to get rid of it if they do .