Windows 8

[Bishop2b5]

Anybody up to speed with this yet? Just got a new laptop with Windows 8 and everything's changed. It took me 20 minutes just to figure out how to shut it down the first time. This isn't a "new & improved" Windows 7. It's a completely new look and way of doing things. I miss the Start button (soon to be brought back with Windows 8.1) and minesweeper. Maybe I'll like it when I eventually become familiar with it, but right now I'm just floundering around lost.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I hate it. I ordered my mother a new computer (ASUS, i7, 1TB drive, 8GB RAM) for only like $600 and totally forgot about the existence of Windows 8 until she got it. Here I thought I had a nice snag (I love ASUS), but honestly you couldn't pay me to use Windows 8. Everyyyything is different. Now she's a just an old lady more confused with computers than before haha

 

[Buster Bluth]

The new Microsoft Office is just a mess too, FYI. They upgraded the software in my lab and it's just the worst thing ever.

 

[calvegas04]

Once you get used to it you will like it better. For the tech impaired people out there wait for windows 8.1 to come out and you will have ur lovely start bar back.

 

[eNDzone]

I hate it. We bought a laptop with it on it and all it does is try to get you to some internet site you don't want to go to. I don't even use the laptop if the desktop is open at home. I will use my phone to browse.

 

[edgesofsanity]

Anybody up to speed with this yet? Just got a new laptop with Windows 8 and everything's changed. It took me 20 minutes just to figure out how to shut it down the first time. This isn't a "new & improved" Windows 7. It's a completely new look and way of doing things. I miss the Start button (soon to be brought back with Windows 8.1) and minesweeper. Maybe I'll like it when I eventually become familiar with it, but right now I'm just floundering around lost.

If you don't want to wait for 8.1, just download Shell Extension - my computer boots to the desktop mode just like all previous versions with a start button and bar. Never even know I'm using Win8; it feels just like 7.

 

[phork]

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

Is also a good replacement/enhancement.

 

[aubeirish]

The new Microsoft Office is just a mess too, FYI. They upgraded the software in my lab and it's just the worst thing ever.

Microsoft Office is like a fat child that they kept feeding bad patches(equivalent of fast food 3 times a day). It has become very slow and buggy over the years. It's the software engineering classic example of what not to do when building and maintaining a software. It really is awful.

Unix systems ftw...

Anyways, I've tried windows 8 on my VM(virtual machine) for some work I had to do and you can always use the traditional desktop UI if your not comfortable with the new UI.

Edit: Like Phork pointed out...

 

[Irish#1]

No one ever likes change, but once they get used to it, they don't want to give it up. W8 was originally intended for notebooks and pads with touch screens. I loaded W8 and Office 2013 and I like it. It took me a couple of days to find most everything, but it wasn't that tough to figure out. W8 basically has a new UI, but it's the same desktop behind it. You can "unpin" (remove) the tiles if you want to. Office 2013 was designed for the cloud for all of you who are on the go and need your files anytime and anywhere. That's what Skydrive is for. It's the same thing as iCloud.

What you are seeing, is Microsoft and Apple making concessions and designing features that the other one has had and they are coming closer together.

BTW......W8.1 will be free to all who have W8, so you can get your start button back for free.

 

[Bishop2b5]

If you don't want to wait for 8.1, just download Shell Extension - my computer boots to the desktop mode just like all previous versions with a start button and bar. Never even know I'm using Win8; it feels just like 7.

Seriously considering this and thanks for the heads up on it, but I may just bite the bullet and learn Windows 8. At some point, the old Windows 7 view and way of doing things will be totally gone and outdated, so I might as well learn now.

 

[IrishLax]

It's the worst. Made the mistake of opting for it over 7 on a new PC. Once you get used to it... still sucks. Just not quite as absolutely terrible.

 

[IrishLax]

If you don't want to wait for 8.1, just download Shell Extension - my computer boots to the desktop mode just like all previous versions with a start button and bar. Never even know I'm using Win8; it feels just like 7.

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

Is also a good replacement/enhancement.

Wow... thanks guys.

 

[aubeirish]

I find Windows to be unsuitable for my needs. It's filled with bugs and unpleasant surprises. I much prefer Linux(unix) based OS. Ubuntu is quite good and user friendly if anyone is interested... It's free and very popular.

Windows is fine for the pedestrian user. Windows 8 works ok with the touch screen. You just have to RTFM lol...(Read the ****ing manual).