got our new computer

scottyboy76

Just bought a gateway floor model desktop with windows 8.

He offered me a 21.5 in 1920x1080 monitor for 89 bucks, wish I had bought that.

Might call back thurs. to get it

This is the first thing we have done on this.

Windows 8 will take some getting used to.

Couple questions, should I go for win 8.1 simply for ease of use for old farts, or are there advantages to using windows 8, even with the learning curve?.

Also, we have been given webroot internet security for either 3 or 6 months.

Is this good software, is it better than mcafee, which we have been using?

Merry Christmas everybody

scott and deb

txcoastal1

For $5 download "Start 8" and it will be almost like win7

Congrats on a new PC

Merry Xmas

cnh

Congrats! There is NO down side to going directly to 8.1. I've been using 8 of over a year did 8.1 a couple of weeks ago. Just a few fixes for those who have trouble with 8. No biggie!

Enjoy!

cnh

zingo

Congrats!

recoveryone

AVG has a good basic security program for free

Irrenhaus

Congrats..

You can try Classic Shell to get the start menu again. Its free and works great.

http://www.classicshell.net/

I have try MCafee but it uses to many resources. Try Avira is a free anti-virus and it works good. Also Windows Essentials is very good.

Cheers

JimKellyfan

Windows 8 will be more secure than windows 7, but it will take some getting used to, that is for sure.
Congrats.
Microsoft security essentials is good and free for now.
We get the Norton Mutli-device 5 user for 20-25 bucks on amazon and it covers phones and computers.
I also use malwarebytes program, which we got from newegg on sale, the three user license for 15 bucks.

scottyboy76

we have selected desktop from the menu on the computer.

It is, so far at least, plenty close enough for us to work with it.

Also, Norton is presently working, I will have to check to see how long that has been provided for free.

Will look up what webroot actually would add as far as security.

We try not to accidentally visit sites that we are not familiar with, the Norton program, as with our old mcafee, is useful as it gives you an ok or not ok for sites.

Thanks for all help here guys.

BTW, just got on best buys site and ordered the gateway 21.5 in hd monitor for the same 89 bucks the salesman was going to sell it to me for.

Now I have to dig thru my cables and find the dvi cable with a hdmi adapter.

Or will the computer cable we now have our monitor hooked up with work for hd?

Sorry I cant remember what they are called, its the computer monitor cable with the screw on fasteners.

j1mmy

+1 for 8.1 is the way to go. I like McAfee better than the others. MalwareBytes Pro for an added layer of protection.

nguyendot

I'm a big fan of ESET NOD32, but for home computers I use MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

scottyboy76

nguyendot wrote: »

I'm a big fan of ESET NOD32, but for home computers I use MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

Our hometown computer shop owner, blizzard computers, recommended esets free scan, they found 2 viruses or malware and removed them, ran better for awhile.

Will be looking at mse as many here have endorsed, and we aren't adventurous as far as where we go on our comp.

he is also a big fan of malware bytes.

nguyendot

I work for a decent IT consulting shop out of Oklahoma and we are pretty realistic about what to recommend. Thus far the recommendations in this thread are pretty sound for the average home user.

scottyboy76

Thanks all, one last question.

Sorry for the ignorance, just how it is for this old **** and computers.

For the most basic computer use, surfing ,pics, simple games, would there be any reason to use 8.1 and classic shell, im worried if there is some snafu or conflict, that I will be stuck trying to figure out what the hell its asking me to do to get back to where it needs to be.

So far, we have done okay getting used to this operating system since switching to desktop.

Many of our most frustrating computer geezer moments have been when, say, changing from this security software to that one, and the old one does not completely get removed, and still has something running and the new one conflicts with the old function.

Simple fixes for most things if you know what you are doing, we don't.

BTW, just found out our perfectly functioning hp photosmart 7550 printer is no longer supported with drivers for windows 8.

I know this is to sell you a new printer, but I will never spend another dime with hp, this is the second time for this.

Our canon canoscan scanner looks like its ok, so it wont be joining our other canon scanner on the shelf from a few years ago.

mytime

My Lexmark printer is not "supported" by Win 8 . Made it work with a Win 7 driver. My old desktop had (GAH!) Vista.

scottyboy76

Yeah, our old one is a vista desktop, still chugging along, barely, enough to still use something as simple as a printer, which is what we will do.

But now its serious, just tried to reply to a craigslist ad, was asked if it was okay to open an app, said ok, then it went to a tricolor blank page, where the only accessible things were the start menu by going to a corner with the cursor, or going to top left corner for accessing the cl page I was trying to respond to.

Was finally able to finagle a list of email apps, chose outlook, and tried to respond, only to be told when I hit send that misspellings blah blah blah would blah blah blah.

Again, im sure 99.95 percent of you would navigate this in your sleep.

selah

scottyboy76

Thank you in advance mouse, have yet to download drivers, but if they work it will save some hassle.

scottyboy76

Thank you in advance mouse, have yet to download drivers, but if they work it will save some hassle.

scottyboy76

Thank you in advance mouse, have yet to download drivers, but if they work it will save some hassle

Ok, we tried this site the other night.

Just ried again, but it would not see our printer.

Tried disconnecting and reconnecting printer usb cable, powering up and down, still does not see it.

Jimbo18

I just got a new laptop for my wife with Win 8 on it and I knew right away she wouldn't like the change. I downloaded Classic Shell and that pretty much solved the things she didn't like.

I also use MSE so I uninstalled the McAfee that came with it and tried to download Security Essentials, but was told that the Windows Defender that came with the Windows 8.1 download is the same thing and I didn't need to install MSE again.

scottyboy76

the 7550 is listed on that site as not being provided with drivers for windows 8.

TNHNDYMAN

Scott- Just bite the bullet and buy another printer. The cost is basically only $10-20 more than filling your old one up with new ink. Plus some of the new printers make it easy to print from cell phone pics compared to those printers from 5 yrs ago.....

scottyboy76

Just jump all over me travis.

where hell have you been?

scottyboy76

Just jump all over me travis.

where hell have you been?

scottyboy76

double post magic, right after I got our new gateway widescreen hd monitor up and running, good luck sign.

scottyboy76

scottyboy76 wrote: »

Just jump all over me travis.

where hell have you been?

I hope this came through as an attempt at humor.

That is how it was meant, but reading it here, maybe some question.

travis is a dear friend and a great guy, and I would never want anything I post to seem disrespectful.

TNHNDYMAN

Sorry dude no problems here. Just busy since the Holidays. I've not stopped since Thanksgiving with family stuff and this week am finally just going thru a good time to relax and chill. Will talk to you soon.

Happy New Year to you and Deb.