Computer guys, should I be switching to Windows 8?

jephdood · October 2012

On the right hardware, Metro is cool. On the PC as most of us know it, Win8 is awkward and more cumbersome to use. I will be sticking with 7 for sure.

sucks2beme · October 2012

A quick download of startmenu8 fixes all the nonsense.
I got an operating system for $40. That is the only good reason
to ever own windows 8. How to go legit for less.

Cigar Man · October 2012

DMara wrote: »

ASUS didn't do a good job with the new ASUS Taichi: it got dual screens but only one is touch-enabled; also, ASUS uses below average SSD's. I went with the Dell XPS 12 because of the screen resolution, Samsung SSD, and 8GB RAM.

I totally agree that my first choice laptop is a Dell. I own three of them, just the ease of BIOS updates makes Dell a developers platform. Also own an older IBM Thinkpad that still kicks ****, and am currenlty draging around an ASUS G73JH-A1 17" gaming laptop. It works

We have been using a batch of the Taichi's at work, they seem to be holding up. Just nice to see something a bit different in the market. And it kills as a desktop movie player. But all of your points have merit.

mdaudioguy · October 2012

Lasareath wrote: »

I'll wait for 9 or their next real OS. Not some tablet pc OS.

Right... when the traditional XP-ish desktop makes a comeback!! :razz:

Seriously, I think many of you would be surprised with what a FREE OS can do. As I'm becoming less and less dependent on Windows-based programs, I've been thinking of going Ubuntu, or the like, eventually. Right now, all of my desktops are running 7, and I see no need to change, for the time being, since performance is great. I recently installed Ubuntu on my daughter's laptop (along with a SSD) and it's been great for her.

SolidSqual · October 2012

Lasareath wrote: »

All of my PCs an my Client PCs use 64bit Windows 7 with SSDs and they are fast as hell. No need to go to 8, I'll wait for 9 or their next real OS. Not some tablet pc OS.

Yeah, I hope they come to their senses.

bigaudiofanatic · October 2012

Even being an IT guy, I am not even interested in win 8 especially after beta testing it. I am going to stick with win 7 which is the new XP.

inspiredsports · October 2012

I've been involved in this rat race since 1984 and have never found it to be beneficial to be an early adopter.

Most (26) of the 32 PC's under my watch are still quite happily running XP Pro, the rest are Win 7 Pro. If I move to 8, it will be when they start introducing 9.

cfrizz · October 2012

mantis wrote: »

I'd wait and let others be the bata testers. Windows has a long history of issues with new versions. I'll say this , Windows 8 looks pretty damn cool and I hope there are little to no issues with it. Compatibility is always a concern , hopefully moving forward the most important things that people use today are all supported. I understand moving forward but man Windows really needs to think here.

^This. Wait a few months so that most of the glitches get worked out.

Glowrdr · October 2012

I really hope Windows 8 ends up being another "vista experience" in which they backpedal and come up with something new in a year. I think that MS needs to look into seperating Windows for the desktop and tablet space. I just don't see the functionality working dual purposes.

I have an iPad. Will it replace my desktop? Heck no. Do I use it alot? You bet!. They need to have 2 different products for the 2 markets they are trying to serve. I'm not an apple fan (maybe i should say a Mac fan?). Does my iPad/iPhone run OSX? No. Take cue Microsoft.....

jephdood · October 2012

Glowrdr wrote: »

I really hope Windows 8 ends up being another "vista experience" in which they backpedal and come up with something new in a year. I think that MS needs to look into seperating Windows for the desktop and tablet space. I just don't see the functionality working dual purposes.

Bingo. Two different/separate environments within the same OS trying to cater to two different hardware platforms. It just doesn't work on today's PC's. If they brought back the start menu and the regular desktop was the default.. and made Metro an app or an option as an active desktop, I think I'd probably go with 8. Definitely NOT as it is right now. It seems like two MS teams slapped their two projects together at the last minute and called it good.

IRLRaceFan · October 2012

Just some thoughts I have on this...

I admit that I have no experience with Windows 8, but from what I hear and little I've read I feel like Microsoft is following Apple's lead to the extent of making the user's experience similar between handheld devices & their home (or personal) computers. This is why everything (in my opinion) is "app driven".

As far as the touch screen factor, this can be solved (mostly) with a mouse like Apple's "Magic Mouse". There are no buttons (top is a glass like surface) and it lets the user swipe back & forth like an iPhone or similar device. Apple also has a touch pad that can be used instead of a mouse.

I have an XP desktop that I will eventually replace with a Win8 machine, but like most here I agree with waiting until the bugs are worked out. This also holds true for Apple products, as I upgraded to Mountain Lion the 1st week it came out and had to reinstall it 3 times (twice by the local Apple store and the last time myself).

obieone · October 2012

MS has a bipolar history, based on all the rumblings I've heard over the years: '98= good, ME/ 2000= bad, XP= good, Vista= bad, 7= good.
Wait for 9

Sherardp · October 2012

Its a pretty fast OS. I spent some time with it, but I will also hold out until they fix the issues within. No need to rush, Windows 7 is very solid.

Syndil · October 2012

obieone wrote: »

MS has a bipolar history, based on all the rumblings I've heard over the years: '98= good, ME/ 2000= bad, XP= good, Vista= bad, 7= good.
Wait for 9

Actually this is all a result of product evolution coupled with rebranding. Windows 98 was Windows 95 with all the bugs worked out, so it had already been around for years. It was not an entirely new product. Same with the rest. XP was 2000 with the bugs worked out, 7 is Vista with the bugs worked out. 8 is not an entirely new product and is a direct evolution of Vista/7. If there are any bugs with it, they will likely be related to the new portions of 8, which would be the Metro UI and the MS Store, which you don't have to use.

That said, there's no reason to jump to 8, but there's no reason to avoid it either. If you need an OS and it gets you the best deal as it did for sucks2beme, then no need to pay more to stick with 7.

kuntasensei · October 2012

After a friend I trust insisted that I just needed more time with it, I threw caution to the wind last night and did the in-place upgrade to Win8 Pro.

I hate to say it... but after about an hour, I started getting used to the new way things are handled... and yeah, it really isn't as bad as my initial impressions. There are some minor things about it that I don't like (like no POP3 e-mail in the mail client), but for the vast majority of what I do, it seems faster so far.

PerfectCreature · November 2012

Well, Staples has an instant upgrade for $70 if you wanted to try it cheap.
I personally tried it and hated it. Very much.
But, to each their own.

kuntasensei · November 2012

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Well, Staples has an instant upgrade for $70 if you wanted to try it cheap.
I personally tried it and hated it. Very much.
But, to each their own.

If you do the in-place upgrade from Microsoft's website, it's $39.99 for Win8 Pro. And (not that I'm implying anything) it totally works on top of "not quite legal" installations of Windows 7.

You just run their app to check for compatibility of all your installed programs, it downloads the data (with the option to write an ISO file for you to burn an installation disc) and gives you a product key. Pretty seamless process.

And PrazVT, thanks for mentioning Classic Shell. Installed it last night and it works great.

DMara · November 2012

Dell is offering this: http://marketing.dell.com/windows-8-ebook?dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10550055-1225267-cb3hJiRrEeKLpc5lAEKLqQaeU7_0_06K_0_0
:biggrin:

sucks2beme · November 2012

kuntasensei wrote: »

If you do the in-place upgrade from Microsoft's website, it's $39.99 for Win8 Pro. And (not that I'm implying anything) it totally works on top of "not quite legal" installations of Windows 7.

And if you read through the thread, You'll see I did just that. I believe they are trying to push everyone
into having a legit copy. And at 40 clams, just might succeed.

20hz · November 2012

I friend got it for $40 says it a waste of money , runs faster but no improvements .

Mr. Sharpe · November 2012

You could always try Zorin, it's like Windows and mac, No viruses, and it won't slow down but resembles windows. it's free. Just a thought.

sucks2beme · November 2012

20hz wrote: »

I friend got it for $40 says it a waste of money , runs faster but no improvements .

If you have W7 or Vista running legit, then it's a waste. XP or you need to get legit, then it's a $40 bargain.
W7 should be good enough for the next 5 years. XP support is dead very soon. If it wasn't for all the big
companies sticking with XP, MS would of forced everyone off it years ago.

20hz · November 2012

I did read the the thread I just wanted to tell you the $40 windows 8 was used by my friend also ..

sucks2beme wrote: »

And if you read through the thread, You'll see I did just that. I believe they are trying to push everyone
into having a legit copy. And at 40 clams, just might succeed.

Computer guys, should I be switching to Windows 8?

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