Windows 8/ Great or a Mistake?

[beth]

I'll be shopping for a new laptop soon and of course it will be loaded with the new operating system. Win8 seems like a major divergence from the previous OS's that we have been working with for nearly the past 2 decades.
Anybody using it and have opinions? Metro/Start looks like an app area for a smartphone.

Also, I think the touchscreen feature on a pc is just not all that useful. While it works great for pads and phones, who wants to stretch out their arm all day to touch a pc display?

 

[theclemsonkid]

Waiting for the Apple fan boy. 3...2...1...

 

[reefraff]

I haven't loaded it yet but I pre Bought it when I got this computer. I haven't heard the bitching yet so I assume it's good. Apple isn't worth the price IMHO. IPAD is cool but Kindle fire is pretty cool too for a lot less money.

 

[beth]

Wow, even the computer critics/geeks are complaining about Win8. Basically saying it is designed for pads and smartphones, not pc. Reef, you may want to take a close look at it before loading it on your new pc. I spent some time looking around at it last night and my first impression is that MS wants to get a jump on integrating all communication devises in to a single OS--Win8. Actually, I think that was MS's stated goal for Win8.
One thing I learned is that because it has the integration, it was designed to require less rather than more pc resources to operate.
As for Apple, I can't justify paying twice as much for an entry level Mac. With computer technology being what it is, you need to almost get a new one every few years, so why pay twice as much with that kind of turnover rate?

 

[reefraff]

I know a few people who are running 8 and I haven't heard any complaints yet. It just might not be living up to expectations. 7 has been good. Best since XP. I've heard the deal about 8 designed to work with the other platforms. Great idea if it doesn't suck as a PC system.

 

[beth]

Smartphone style app icons replace your standard desktop environment. So you decide which is better.
This is what replaces your desktop and your start button:

 

[snakeblitz33]

I personally don't see it really taking off. I've read a lot of reviews and I asked my Uncle who is a computer specialist what he thought about it and he gave me a long diatribe over how many long time microsoft users will get very frustrated with the new interface.
I might as well try it and see... but I really feel like MAC is the way to go in this day and age. Used to it was nearly impossible to get programs that were written for MACs, and now there are programs specifically for MACs that I can't get for windows. Plus, I like the way an iPhone, iPod, iPad and a MAC seamlessly integrate together - Since getting an iPhone, I have definitely become a MAC user - even at my college, I prefer using a MAC over a windows desktop. Most of the Bio labs here on campus have also switched to MACs because they don't seem to crash as often and a lot of the newer technology runs smoothly on it, compared to a windows interface.
My next desktop PC, Lord willing I can afford one, will be the new Mac computer that just came out.... Pretty soon I will be getting the new iPad as well.

 

[saxman]

We just bought Renee a Lenovo A70 series "semi-AIO" desktop that's running Win 8...it's pretty nice, actually (even has a 27" LED touch screen). It has the same size screen as her 27" MAC AIO, but it runs a whole lot better. Even tho we own two iPhones, and two iPads, she never got used to the MAC at all (hated it actually), and was running it on the "Windows half", which it never did well, despite of what they tell you at the MAC store. She also doesn't have to replace some of her $1000 S/W with MAC versions.
I've fooled with the Lenovo a bit, and it is nice. We also plan on upgrading our PC's to Win 8, altho the touch screen feature wont work with them. Renee likened it to some of the futuristic movies where you see the peeps "computing" using the "air-projected" interfaces. It has a 1T SSD, 6G RAM, and is running the A5 processor (the A7 isn't yet available).
SO...yes we like it so far, and nope...never could get used to a MAC desktop.

 

[beth]

I'm actually looking at a dell that includes a Solid State 2nd drive and the wireless display technology. I'm going off the cable TV grid. I just don't watch much TV to justify the price. Pay for 200 channels and actually only watch about 3 channels. All of the network programs can be watched online now anyway.

 

[reefraff]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/393502/windows-8-great-or-a-mistake#post_3501237
We just bought Renee a Lenovo A70 series "semi-AIO" desktop that's running Win 8...it's pretty nice, actually (even has a 27" LED touch screen). It has the same size screen as her 27" MAC AIO, but it runs a whole lot better. Even tho we own two iPhones, and two iPads, she never got used to the MAC at all (hated it actually), and was running it on the "Windows half", which it never did well, despite of what they tell you at the MAC store. She also doesn't have to replace some of her $1000 S/W with MAC versions.
I've fooled with the Lenovo a bit, and it is nice. We also plan on upgrading our PC's to Win 8, altho the touch screen feature wont work with them. Renee likened it to some of the futuristic movies where you see the peeps "computing" using the "air-projected" interfaces. It has a 1T SSD, 6G RAM, and is running the A5 processor (the A7 isn't yet available).
SO...yes we like it so far, and nope...never could get used to a MAC desktop.
I hope your Lenovo experience is far better than mine. I had a B520 that was the single biggest pile of steaming, well you get the idea LOL!

 

[reefraff]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beth http:///t/393502/windows-8-great-or-a-mistake#post_3501241
I'm actually looking at a dell that includes a Solid State 2nd drive and the wireless display technology. I'm going off the cable TV grid. I just don't watch much TV to justify the price. Pay for 200 channels and actually only watch about 3 channels. All of the network programs can be watched online now anyway.
I have a Dell now, no complaints so far. I also have one of their all in one's thats about 5 years old and still works good.
Cable is getting priced out of existence. Between Amazon Prime and some of the other services you can get most of what they show on cable free now.

 

[beth]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///t/393502/windows-8-great-or-a-mistake#post_3501244
Cable is getting priced out of existence. Between Amazon Prime and some of the other services you can get most of what they show on cable free now.
Exactly right. Conventional TV providers really haven't changed their format of selling tiered, layered packages that progressively go up in price in decades. The Internet is filling in what used to be a monopoly on video entertainment that I predict will be the demise of TV as we know it---unless those companies do some major customer oriented innovation.
Yeah, I'm going to miss watching the TV news in the am and HGTV but, I'll sure figure out something interesting to do with the extra triple digit monthly savings.

 

[jstdv8]

Microsoft seems pretty bent on making this new interface the wave of the future. They've made it very cheap compared to past platforms so that they can design everything in the future around it. They are really hoping everyone will upgrade on this one.

 

[siptang]

I have been using Win8 for a while and I really HATE the fact that it doesn't have a start button. It takes a lot of learning curve to get used to something and let me tell you, I'm a tech geek.
It's really just alright OS and I think they should have went little bit different route. Side widgets are now gone after so many years because they are now a "security threat". I'm bit upset with this..

 

[beth]

Doesn't the Desktop icon on the Start/Metro take you to some sort of Desktop area that resembles W7?

 

[siptang]

Nope. Completely different. I also hate the fact that you can't really get out of certain modes (i.e. built in pdf reader) you have to click alt + f4 in order to close that.
Too many changes and not very user friendly. I have been using Windows since it's inception (Came from old school MS DOS pcs) and honestly I hate this as much as I hated Windows ME. We will see as I learn more and more and explore around but so far, it has been a huge turn off.

 

[jstdv8]

I didn't like google chrome at first becasue of how differnet it was to IE, but now I wouldnt use anything else. Maybe it will just take some getting used to.

 

[siptang]

Maybe so. We will see. I'm still using it right now so we will see how it goes.

 

[beth]

Ok, I was doing some looking in to this since I'll be getting a laptop soon, and from what I read, and saw on some vids, the Desktop icon on the Start area would actually take you to a desktop area that was similar to Win7. Are you saying that is not the case? What does the Desktop icon do then?

 

[siptang]

no, desktop button will take you to the desktop place same as win 7. But this thing is very aggravating. Go to best buy or other retails to see them hands on. They do have some good side to them however non inclusion of windows media player was a big pain in the butt for me as I had to find them all over online for them as well as my usual vlc player.
I hate the fact that apps are all hidden from you and it just showing whatever you just installed or used. It's more hands on hard keys to get to some menus and frankly it's not simple enough for me. Luckily I'm a power user so I'm well aware of all the keys however it's not convenient for me.