Windows 8 and 8.1

mantis

Hello all,
has anyone had any issues with 8 or 8.1? I ask this as Apple doesn't support Windows 7 anymore using Bootcamp. I have no desire to run VM ware or parallels software and do it that way as I have seen some issues with some programs. I much prefer Bootcamp.
So I really have no choice but to go pick up a copy of Windows 8 which I believe you get 8.1 for free after you install 8.
I'm just looking for some feedback

mantis

I need to Install a Windows operation system on my new mac now. Then when 10 comes out at the end of the month, I don't plan on upgrading right away. I have learned not to jump to the new OS. Now Mac is another story, upgrading to the new OS X is flawless and seamless. Windows not so much.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Curious what issues you have with Parallels, I've literally never had a single problem with program compatibility. That being said, I no longer need Windows running on the Mac so I'm not using either option.

IMO Windows 8 is an abomination and a travesty. I still run Windows 7 on my gaming rig and am waiting for 10 to upgrade.

gce

I've had 8 and now 8.1 with no problems. I'm now waiting for Windows 10 coming out this month.

tophatjohnny

I am an admitted dumb **** with computers with no shame. 8 works and will keep it till my lap top takes a dump all together. If it works, why fix it??

westmassguy

Unless you're a m a s o c h i s t, do not buy Windows 8 or 8.1. It was and is a complete debacle. Every higher up at Microsoft who was involved with this t u r d, was either asked to leave or re-assigned. That should give you a clue. If you buy Windows 7 retail, you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 10 at the end of the month. You'll have a year to decide if you want to use the upgrade. Every other version of Windows have alternated between good and awful.

mantis

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

Curious what issues you have with Parallels, I've literally never had a single problem with program compatibility. That being said, I no longer need Windows running on the Mac so I'm not using either option.

IMO Windows 8 is an abomination and a travesty. I still run Windows 7 on my gaming rig and am waiting for 10 to upgrade.

If you didn't know I'm a programmer meaning I program Home automation systems.
One I saw that had issues with Total Control from universal Remote Control or URC.
One of our guys had Parallels and had issues talking to the system over the Wifi. He could not see the processor.
I had my old laptop on site, loaded up Windows on Bootcamp and saw the processor with no issues, he had to use my laptop to program the system.

sucks2beme

8 is horrid. I'm hoping 10 behaves less like a touch tablet.

mhardy6647

8.1 has a reasonable facsimile of the Win7 desktop so it is palatable. The "metro" (Modern) interface was something of a debacle.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027945/how-to-banish-metro-from-your-windows-8-pc-forever.html

Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't quite get it.

I'll demur vis-a-vis any comments re: Apple.

txcoastal1

As always Microsoft is "every other OS" 8- metro is bad but easily over come loading Stardock Start8 or the free Classic Shell.

My IT guy is a MS/partner, and has been running Win10 for almost a year now. This go around MS is listening. He had sent in several suggestions and a few have actually been implemented. MS actually reply to the partners with the changes and evaluations. This new CEO Satya Nadella is really a step in the right direction.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Well to be fair, the very existence of this thread is the perfect argument for Windows being a superior operating system...it can run every piece of software out there and Mac can't.

I personally prefer OSX, but I'm not gonna argue it's a better OS when it can't even do the basic function of running all the software that's out there.

tonyb

I would stay away from Windows 8 like a **** on a 100 degree day.

mhardy6647

Every other OS indeed :- )

I remember some of the great ones.

MS-DOS 5 (or was it one of the v.4 subversions... one of 'em was a disaster)
Winders ME
Microsoft BOB

ahem

westmassguy

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Every other OS indeed :- )

I remember some of the great ones.

MS-DOS 5 (or was it one of the v.4 subversions... one of 'em was a disaster)
Winders ME
Microsoft BOB

ahem

95 eventually great
98 not so good
98 SE great
ME horrible
XP eventually great
Vista Not so good
7 Best
8-8.1 horrible
10?? looking good so far
Just my opinion

westmassguy

kevintomb wrote: »

I love Windows 7, can tolerate 8.1, but get the feeling they had it nearly perfect with 7, but for reasons of their own, are trying to steer everyone to something new that many did not really ask for.

Agree. Windows 7 is rock stable, even on a 7 yo laptop. We'll see what 10 brings to the table.

WilliamM2

westmassguy wrote: »

Agree. Windows 7 is rock stable, even on a 7 yo laptop. We'll see what 10 brings to the table.

More like we'll see what windows 10 takes away. Like Media Center being removed. To me Win 10 is not much different than windows 8.1, but now it has a start menu again. Sadly the start menu is not as good as Classic Shell.

I also hate the flat look of the last three operating systems. I know eliminating Aero saves power, but why would anyone with a desktop care? It should have been left as an option.

westmassguy

WilliamM2 wrote: »

westmassguy wrote: »

Agree. Windows 7 is rock stable, even on a 7 yo laptop. We'll see what 10 brings to the table.

More like we'll see what windows 10 takes away. Like Media Center being removed. To me Win 10 is not much different than windows 8.1, but now it has a start menu again. Sadly the start menu is not as good as Classic Shell.

I also hate the flat look of the last three operating systems. I know eliminating Aero saves power, but why would anyone with a desktop care? It should have been left as an option.

Media Center is what I use on my HTPC, so 7 isn't going anywhere on that PC

WilliamM2

westmassguy wrote: »

Media Center is what I use on my HTPC, so 7 isn't going anywhere on that PC

I use it on my main system at home too, and prefer 7. But at least with Win 8 and 8.1 WMC is an option, although the only supported extender is the X-box. With 10, it's gone entirely.

mhardy6647

Win10 is supposed to be (if memory serves, no pun intended) leaner and less-resource hungry than other recent Windows versions.

WilliamM2

I don't have any resource issues with any version of windows. We are long past the day of not having enough processing power for the OS. 8 was supposed to be faster/leaner than 7, but I never noticed any difference. I think they have claimed that for every new OS, including Vista, where it was an outright lie.

afterburnt

I think that if you buy a copy of winblows 8 you will get a free upgrade to winblows 10. I am signed up to get the upgrade.

VR3

I enjoyed Windows 8.1 and I love WP 8.1 Mobile

I have been using Windows 10 Tech Preview for almost 6-8 months now and I love it and it is extremely stable. I look forward to when they bring live tiles as desk top icons and them being interactive as well.

tophatjohnny

I said i

tophatjohnny wrote: »

I am an admitted dumb **** with computers with no shame. 8 works and will keep it till my lap top takes a dump all together. If it works, why fix it??

I admitted I was no good with computers, I don't have 8 I have 7! works great for me!

cnh

Haven't had any "real" problems running 8, and 8.1 for the last two plus years. But I've customized and disregarded a number of new features in order to get it to operate more like 7. The platform, as I understand it, is built upon 7 and therefore quite stable. The early reports on 10 were that it was very buggy still. So I haven't done the upgrade and may wait until NEXT YEAR on that.

But. I'm not trying to run windows on a MAC, I have a Lenovo. And, I'm not one for whom running all software available is an issue, that's one for Developers.

WilliamM2

cnh wrote: »

The early reports on 10 were that it was very buggy still. So I haven't done the upgrade and may wait until NEXT YEAR on that.

10 has not been released yet, most beta software has bugs to be worked out. That's the whole idea of the technical preview. The last few biulds of 10 have been quite stable, I expect the official release at the end of the month will be as well.

You can always try it out, just make an image of your current system first, which you should always have anyways. Takes me about 5 minutes to go between 7 and 8.1, or 10. I have images of all.

cnh

WilliamM2 wrote: »

cnh wrote: »

The early reports on 10 were that it was very buggy still. So I haven't done the upgrade and may wait until NEXT YEAR on that.

10 has not been released yet, most beta software has bugs to be worked out. That's the whole idea of the technical preview. The last few biulds of 10 have been quite stable, I expect the official release at the end of the month will be as well.

You can always try it out, just make an image of your current system first, which you should always have anyways. Takes me about 5 minutes to go between 7 and 8.1, or 10. I have images of all.

Thanks, good idea!

mantis

Thanks guys

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'll probably do the Windows 10 upgrade a month or two after it drops to make sure there are no major issues, the last thing I wanna do is troubleshoot PC issues when I want to sit down and play some GTA V