windows 8 any good?
- Thread starter cjgardens
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If you can give it a chance and get used to Metro and not having a Start button, then it's great.
Having said that, it's not like it offers any massive benefits over Win 7 for regular desktop PC use. Don't just swap for the sake of it. Win 7 will be around and supported for years.
Hold off. You'll be downloading the consumer preview (beta). The Release Preview (rc) is due out today or tomorrow and is more representative of the final release,
As for the OS, I love metro especially on the tablet I have, give it a real go and don't react after a 10 minute play.
As for the OS, I love metro especially on the tablet I have, give it a real go and don't react after a 10 minute play.
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Any reason why the RC wouldn't work via Bootcamp on my MBP?
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Ah, thanks for the link, I didn't realise it was available yet!
As a diehard Windows fan I have had every edition of Windows since DOS. Windows 8 will probably make me move to a Mac or Linux full time though. I didn't like those OS but Windows 8 makes them look spectacular!
It's a hashed together mess which is going to be a failure. The average user finds creating a shortcut to a folder too hard and has no interest in learning computer stuff. I'm not sure how MS expect them to migrate their train of thought to how Windows 8 works!
2012 is the start of the end for MS as the main desktop provider I reckon. IE dropped over the years and Windows 8 will cause people to move to alternatives as I envisage a lot of people buying new machines to not want them preinstalled with Windows 8 after it gets blasted by reviews and buy a mac instead.
It's a hashed together mess which is going to be a failure. The average user finds creating a shortcut to a folder too hard and has no interest in learning computer stuff. I'm not sure how MS expect them to migrate their train of thought to how Windows 8 works!
2012 is the start of the end for MS as the main desktop provider I reckon. IE dropped over the years and Windows 8 will cause people to move to alternatives as I envisage a lot of people buying new machines to not want them preinstalled with Windows 8 after it gets blasted by reviews and buy a mac instead.
@Totality - If you have been a diehard Windows fan for that long then surely you realise that you do not need to do anything at all..? Just carry on using, I assume, Windows 7 and it will continue to function as you like it and be supported for many years.
I am a little more on the fence about Windows 8. My first reaction was more of a reflection of its desktop than any other benefit it might have over Windows 7. For a desktop PC user with a mouse I'm still not sure that it is has most appropriate type of interface. With it being locked down even more, or so I have read, to use that interface then I guess there will be little to change that. However as the desktop is something I interact with each time I use the PC I'm not sure if I could get along with W8 and its Metro interface no matter how long I persevered.
I remember when Office changed to the ribbon toolbar and because there are alternatives out to return it back to the old style I have continued to use those where I can and thus always remained indifferent or even reluctant to using Office with the new ribbon style of toolbar. If I had not choice and needed to use Office then it would have to grow on me or, if possible, install something like Libre Office. On my home PC I still use Office 2003, I really do like the old style toobar.!
Whilst I plan to keep with Windows 7 when 8 has launched I might be tempted to at least try out the Release Preview and try and work pass my first impressions of the hideous desktop - when I first tried the consumer preview it took me ages to figure out how to shut it down, in fact it was on my PC for longer just for that reason.!
For me Linux is not an option. I have just tried out Mint 13 with the Cinnamon type desktop and whilst it was nice (ish) I have too many apps and games which require a Windows platform. Also I get stuck very very quickly when anything goes slightly wrong with a Linux install.
I am a little more on the fence about Windows 8. My first reaction was more of a reflection of its desktop than any other benefit it might have over Windows 7. For a desktop PC user with a mouse I'm still not sure that it is has most appropriate type of interface. With it being locked down even more, or so I have read, to use that interface then I guess there will be little to change that. However as the desktop is something I interact with each time I use the PC I'm not sure if I could get along with W8 and its Metro interface no matter how long I persevered.
I remember when Office changed to the ribbon toolbar and because there are alternatives out to return it back to the old style I have continued to use those where I can and thus always remained indifferent or even reluctant to using Office with the new ribbon style of toolbar. If I had not choice and needed to use Office then it would have to grow on me or, if possible, install something like Libre Office. On my home PC I still use Office 2003, I really do like the old style toobar.!
Whilst I plan to keep with Windows 7 when 8 has launched I might be tempted to at least try out the Release Preview and try and work pass my first impressions of the hideous desktop - when I first tried the consumer preview it took me ages to figure out how to shut it down, in fact it was on my PC for longer just for that reason.!
For me Linux is not an option. I have just tried out Mint 13 with the Cinnamon type desktop and whilst it was nice (ish) I have too many apps and games which require a Windows platform. Also I get stuck very very quickly when anything goes slightly wrong with a Linux install.
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I am just dissapointed in the general direction Windows is going. I have always come back to it after trying out Linux and Mac OSX as it does everything that is required and makes sense. Linux decided to start moving towards a tablet centric OS and it put me off the latest linux builds and now my one and only safe haven is being taken away too.
I'm just used to looking forward to new Windows releases
I understand and agree with your thoughts.
I remember from DOS 3 and up always eagerly anticipating what Microsoft will release next. In these troubled times, when it might be even more important to think that MS must get it right, it is difficult for me to think that the UI on Windows 8, by default, is the best choice for anything other than a touch device.
I remember from DOS 3 and up always eagerly anticipating what Microsoft will release next. In these troubled times, when it might be even more important to think that MS must get it right, it is difficult for me to think that the UI on Windows 8, by default, is the best choice for anything other than a touch device.
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I'm not going near win8, looks horrible for a desktop PC to me. Looks designed for touchscreen tablets to me. I'll stick with win7 thanks m$.
It's not much faster than Windows 7.
This is misconception. It's not built just for touch. It's built for both, combination and things like kinect.
Desktop is there, it's still the same, task bar shortcut launch is still there.
As a desktop, all which has happened is the list text start menu has been replaced by a full screen, icon based live tile experience, which works well with keyboard+mouse. It's easy to use and you hardly have to see the metro start menu when using desktop. You'll only see metro as much aounce many times you oopen start menu in windows7.
On top of that you have a whole host of great features. Backup/refresh, snap screen, fast boot, general speed increase, live tiles(I like them, that's when we get some decent apps, I've always felt pc was behind compared to phones. Why do I need to open up/login to a program/website just to see if I have new emails and other information) and many others, refer to the features thread.
It's a great OS and many people seem to get stuck on metro, that if you really hate it, will be able to disable it through third party software, or just look at it as a full screen start menu. Which is how I currently use it. Once we start getting decent apps I can see me using it more and more. Again why go to a web address when I can just look at say a bbc news live tile and see a couple of news stories.
Now it's not a massive upgrade, but few window releases are, but if they do a £50 pre-order like last time. People would be silly to miss it, just because of metro. I've been gaming and web-browsing most of the morning and haven't seen metro once.
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I second that, give Windows 8 a proper chance, it really does grow on you. I'm sure many on here will be using it a year down the line.
Top tips:
RIGHT click in the bottom left (where Start appears) to pull up a very useful menu with access to all the tools you need such as control panel and computer admin (no need to enter metro for that).
When in the Metro Start screen right click somewhere (not on a tile) and you get an option to show all apps, or just start typing the name of the app you want. you can still create desktop or taskbar shortcuts as always....no worries.
I also think that the Live tiles are nice and I’ve found the Metro mail app quite useful for reading and sending the odd quick message. The news app is also quite cool.
Microsoft need to take this step and Metro really does not cause any issues whatsoever to the desktop user. Give it a REAL go, once you get used to it you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
*I would like to see some keyboard control over Metro apps though.
<ready to get flamed>
Top tips:
RIGHT click in the bottom left (where Start appears) to pull up a very useful menu with access to all the tools you need such as control panel and computer admin (no need to enter metro for that).
When in the Metro Start screen right click somewhere (not on a tile) and you get an option to show all apps, or just start typing the name of the app you want. you can still create desktop or taskbar shortcuts as always....no worries.
I also think that the Live tiles are nice and I’ve found the Metro mail app quite useful for reading and sending the odd quick message. The news app is also quite cool.
Microsoft need to take this step and Metro really does not cause any issues whatsoever to the desktop user. Give it a REAL go, once you get used to it you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
*I would like to see some keyboard control over Metro apps though.
<ready to get flamed>
Probably will move to Windows 8 considering I'm a student. Will probably only use Metro when I'm using Splashtop to stream to a tablet if I ever get one.
However, the lack of a start button still bugs me. I like having that Windows logo sitting there on the bottom left... Apart from that, can't really dislike 8.
However, the lack of a start button still bugs me
. I like having that Windows logo sitting there on the bottom left... Apart from that, can't really dislike 8.