Windows 8.1

[x4rl]

Are you using it on a touch screen, laptop, desktop? I had it on a [non touch screen] laptop.

A lot actually changed. They're trying to run all the settings through that panel on the right, which is very slimmed down. While you can still use the old way, you have to manually go hunt those setting windows down as the defaults go to this new one. The other gripe I have about it is how nothing was consistent. Sometimes it goes to the dashboard/tile thingy other times to the desktop etc. Oh and that dashboard/tile thingy is confusing as hell.

Yes from what I've seen the under-the-hood stuff is an improvement over Win7. It's the UI that's the issue [for me].

I use a desktop pc with nono touch screen monitors I also use start8 which imo was the only thing wrong with the new windows.

As for the panel on the right I don't think ive ever used it. With start8 Ive turned off the "hot corners"

Windows run just perfect for me .

The dashboard is never used as you can see here

 

[DBA]

I use a desktop pc with nono touch screen monitors I also use start8 which imo was the only thing wrong with the new windows.

As for the panel on the right I don't think ive ever used it. With start8 Ive turned off the "hot corners"

Windows run just perfect for me .

The dashboard is never used as you can see here

So you say that there's nothing wrong with Win8 and we're all using it wrong if we hate it. However you go and pretty much disable the Win8 UI and add back the start button....which pretty much makes it [stock] Win7. Tell me again how we're using Win8 wrong? Go use Win8 how Microsoft built it and you'll hate it just like us (which is obvious as you disabled most of it).


BTW props on disabling all that. I'd tried using a different program that does this but it didn't work that great. I should've tried Start8.

 

[x4rl]

So you say that there's nothing wrong with Win8 and we're all using it wrong if we hate it. However you go and pretty much disable the Win8 UI and add back the start button....which pretty much makes it [stock] Win7. Tell me again how we're using Win8 wrong? Go use Win8 how Microsoft built it and you'll hate it just like us (which is obvious as you disabled most of it).

On the desktop computer I do yea

On the Tab I use the metro system just fine. And I was joking about using it wrong lol. We use what we want and how we want

BTW props on disabling all that. I'd tried using a different program that does this but it didn't work that great. I should've tried Start8.

Yea its only about 3 quid or $5 iirc. bought it for all 3 comptuers in the house would recommend it 100%.

 

[DBA]

On the desktop computer I do yea

On the Tab I use the metro system just fine. And I was joking about using it wrong lol. We use what we want and how we want

Yeah I could see it working on a touch tablet, however there's no way in hell that I'm upgrading the 20 PC's at work to Win8. I'd get fired. I see this being the same as XP for businesses. I'm not upgrading for the foreseeable future. We'll wait to see what Win9 has to offer....

Yea its only about 3 quid or $5 iirc. bought it for all 3 comptuers in the house would recommend it 100%.

It's a little late for that...

 

[rainmotorsports]

I was one of the haters that was going to hang onto 7 as if it were XP. But the changes to 8.1 were nice and combined with the better performance in Battlefield 4 I gave it a shot and no regrets.

Start menu replacements are for some people. But the truth is if your used to your smart phone you may be more willing to use the start screen as an app launcher then you think. I rarely use shortcuts that are on my desktop and i do have a few apps pinned to the task bar. I mostly tap the windows key or button click and app and am straight back to desktop. I arrange them by usage so of course all the games are in one block.

 

[x4rl]

Yeah I could see it working on a touch tablet, however there's no way in hell that I'm upgrading the 20 PC's at work to Win8. I'd get fired. I see this being the same as XP for businesses. I'm not upgrading for the foreseeable future. We'll wait to see what Win9 has to offer....

It's a little late for that...

View attachment 62958

I have no problem with other OS's we use what we will
We are all to are own

I was one of the haters that was going to hang onto 7 as if it were XP. But the changes to 8.1 were nice and combined with the better performance in Battlefield 4 I gave it a shot and no regrets.

Start menu replacements are for some people. But the truth is if your used to your smart phone you may be more willing to use the start screen as an app launcher then you think. I rarely use shortcuts that are on my desktop and i do have a few apps pinned to the task bar. I mostly tap the windows key or button click and app and am straight back to desktop. I arrange them by usage so of course all the games are in one block.

The only problem with that for me is this
I don't use any apps and have no need to on a desktop. That's why start8 works for me.

 

[DBA]

I was one of the haters that was going to hang onto 7 as if it were XP. But the changes to 8.1 were nice and combined with the better performance in Battlefield 4 I gave it a shot and no regrets.

Start menu replacements are for some people. But the truth is if your used to your smart phone you may be more willing to use the start screen as an app launcher then you think. I rarely use shortcuts that are on my desktop and i do have a few apps pinned to the task bar. I mostly tap the windows key or button click and app and am straight back to desktop. I arrange them by usage so of course all the games are in one block.

From what I've read 8.2 is bringing back even more of the old "features".

 

[rainmotorsports]

From what I've read 8.2 is bringing back even more of the old "features".

Yes but what you also read is its pegged for 2015. Which tells me 2 things, Full release and not a free upgrade

No seriously when I built my gaming PC i ran out of money so I did the whole trial rearm thing and I was worried about 7 disappearing from retail so it was on my list the moment I can afford to get a retail copy. Retail not system builder as I wanted to keep it forever and ever with no trouble despite peoples luck with upgrading their motherboard.

So right before BF4's launch I installed the 8.1 Enterprise trial which is 90 days. Plenty of time to come up with 100 bucks for a copy but this whole "Threshold" news was like do I buy or do I wait. The answer is buy now if you ask me.

 

[smartpixels]

Article about Windows 8 Eco system

Its so cool

http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/12/08/xbox-one-presents-ultimate-culmination-microsofts-vision/

No other company is even remotely close. More people use the windows 8 UI now with xbox one

 

[BirdOPrey5]

I was also someone figuring I'd stay on Windows 7 but I bought a new laptop with Win 8 (then 8.1 came out a couple days later) and I like it. I agree it's not as good for a non-touch interface, but it's not bad once you get used to it, even a little fun. Figured I might as well get used to it, it is the future for Microsoft.

 

[Harpers Tate]

When I started using MS Windows, we were at version 3.0. It booted into a screen full of large icons - big enough to touch in fact - representing the various programs installed. It was called Program Manager. You could group things together according to you whim. There was no start button. There was no menu. To launch something else, you went to Program Manager to do it.

Look into the past, and you may see the future.....

 

[Rho Delta]

Wait, you can have a start menu in windows 8? How do I get that? I hate the tablet menu thing, my laptop is not a touch screen so its damn pointless to use that! I need a start menu!

 

[AdamD]

Windows 8's interface reminds me of the old days of AOL.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Wait, you can have a start menu in windows 8? How do I get that? I hate the tablet menu thing, my laptop is not a touch screen so its damn pointless to use that! I need a start menu!

You can get pretty close to Win7 behaviour (but not appearance) without adding anything.

I just got a new (cheap, low spec) laptop for travelling with, and it came pre-installed with Win8.
I have updated it to Win 8.1

There are settings in vanilla Win 8.1 whereby you can alter the default behaviour and:
- skip the "Metro" start screen and boot directly to the desktop - which you can have strewn with icons just like Win 7; has taskbar, status area, the whole 9 yards.
- when you press the "windows" key on the keyboard (or click the newly-restored "start" aka Windows button on the taskbar), skip the large tiles "Metro" interface and go directly to the full list of installed apps. It's new-style, small icons, and not the pop-up menu we had in Win7, but it works pretty much the same - type a few characters and a list of matching apps appears. Click one and go.

FWIW

 

[AdamD]

Decided to give it another try (third times a charm!)

Installed windows 8, ran a single update so I could get 8.1, installed that, then Start8 button and put back the quick launch bar.
So far, so good!
Can't be a squeaky clean PC!

 

[x4rl]

Decided to give it another try (third times a charm!)

Installed windows 8, ran a single update so I could get 8.1, installed that, then Start8 button and put back the quick launch bar.
So far, so good!
Can't be a squeaky clean PC!

It's all good

 

[Raitsa]

Wait, you can have a start menu in windows 8? How do I get that? I hate the tablet menu thing, my laptop is not a touch screen so its damn pointless to use that! I need a start menu!

www.classicshell.net is just awesome and free.

 

[x4rl]

www.classicshell.net is just awesome and free.

It's good but not as good as the start8 one imo. Less options.

 

[ExpertPixels.com]

I am on Win7 is there any reason to update ?

I must say sorry i am usually on top of the hardware / software game but in past months (maybe a year and a bit) ive been soley consumed by the webmaster game, web design and development have taken over as priorities for my nerd life and almost consumed my social life as well... But yeah software ive hardly got to know any Win 7 tricks yet alone been worried about Win 8.. I saw the BIG BRIGHT BOXES / STYLING and saw that only to be useful to touch screen users.. and with most OS's the initial releases are best let to mature a little before using on for a personal or working environment based setup in which is my case.

Should I update ?

Do I need update ?

Darren

 

[x4rl]

I am on Win7 is there any reason to update ?

I must say sorry i am usually on top of the hardware / software game but in past months (maybe a year and a bit) ive been soley consumed by the webmaster game, web design and development have taken over as priorities for my nerd life and almost consumed my social life as well... But yeah software ive hardly got to know any Win 7 tricks yet alone been worried about Win 8.. I saw the BIG BRIGHT BOXES / STYLING and saw that only to be useful to touch screen users.. and with most OS's the initial releases are best let to mature a little before using on for a personal or working environment based setup in which is my case.

Should I update ?

Do I need update ?

Darren

If your happy with win 7 than there is really no need. If you want a faster system with some new changes than go for it