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[Num2]

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

[compnovo]

Num2, on 11 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

???
"As The Verge reports, Microsoft will eliminate Gadget and Sidebar support in Windows 8."

[DavidMacKay]

Num2, on 11 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

How does that make sense? It says that this does not apply to Windows 8. Also, if you're referring to the lack of gadgets in Win 8, these will be replaced with the much more robust live tiles.

[BrianThorn]

DavidMacKay, on 11 July 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

Num2, on 11 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

How does that make sense? It says that this does not apply to Windows 8. Also, if you're referring to the lack of gadgets in Win 8, these will be replaced with the much more robust live tiles.

Live Tiles are only on the Metro interface. If want to be able to see the clock, calendar, calculator or your WMP gadget while you're working with Word or Excel, you're out of luck with Win8. Another reason to stick with Win7 and avoid this half-baked, lame-brained 'improvement' to Windows.

[MichelleNoahMcCollam]

Microsoft, you deserve a big: C'mon man!!!!

[NAP51DMustang]

BrianThorn, on 11 July 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:

DavidMacKay, on 11 July 2012 - 08:41 AM, said:

Num2, on 11 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

How does that make sense? It says that this does not apply to Windows 8. Also, if you're referring to the lack of gadgets in Win 8, these will be replaced with the much more robust live tiles.

Live Tiles are only on the Metro interface. If want to be able to see the clock, calendar, calculator or your WMP gadget while you're working with Word or Excel, you're out of luck with Win8. Another reason to stick with Win7 and avoid this half-baked, lame-brained 'improvement' to Windows.

When you are working with word and excel you are on the desktop, that is the calculator, clock and calendar are all easily available. if you want to see your appointment calendar (the app version) then you can easily have it hang out in a small window on the left side of the screen.

[unoking]

So with Vista it was "Hey, check out these cool Gadgets." With Win7 it was "Hey, we still support Gadgets". Now, FIVE years after they released gadget capability in Vista, they're coming out with Windows 8, no gadgets, and we're supposed to believe that, all of the sudden, Microsoft realizes that Gadgets can be bad?

Downloading ANY application can be bad, gadget or not. Unless Microsoft was stupid enough to let gadgets run with administrator privileges, gadgets are no less secure then downloading "1000 Free Celebrity Wallpapers!"

True, gadgets may be insecure, but I find it hard to believe that Microsoft JUST realized that fact, and that it has nothing to do with trying to force the populace into the Windows 8 Metro interface, which I will NOT use. Not sure how Metro is really any different than Gadgets, except that Gadgets on your desktop meant you had BOTH applications and Gadgets in the same space, and now with Metro, you have tiles OR applications. Fantastic!

[RNR19952]

DOH!

[MichaelPfeiffer]

unoking, on 11 July 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

So with Vista it was "Hey, check out these cool Gadgets." With Win7 it was "Hey, we still support Gadgets". Now, FIVE years after they released gadget capability in Vista, they're coming out with Windows 8, no gadgets, and we're supposed to believe that, all of the sudden, Microsoft realizes that Gadgets can be bad?

Downloading ANY application can be bad, gadget or not. Unless Microsoft was stupid enough to let gadgets run with administrator privileges, gadgets are no less secure then downloading "1000 Free Celebrity Wallpapers!"

True, gadgets may be insecure, but I find it hard to believe that Microsoft JUST realized that fact, and that it has nothing to do with trying to force the populace into the Windows 8 Metro interface, which I will NOT use. Not sure how Metro is really any different than Gadgets, except that Gadgets on your desktop meant you had BOTH applications and Gadgets in the same space, and now with Metro, you have tiles OR applications. Fantastic!

I agree, application can be insecure and people have just got to be smart when downloading applications, that would be the same for Gadgets too. Don't look at Windows 8 from a desktop point of view. Look at it as if you were using it from a tablet. Things such as Aero and Gadgets can take up resources and on a tablet, disabling those features are going to benefit user experience.

[opiniator]

There is an alternative, open source, desktop gadget system, called rainmeter, which offers much more variety than windows gadgets. However, I would have to wonder about its security implications too. But, really, if software is going to be banned just for security "implications", we have all better just shutdown our computers and twiddle our thumbs.

rainmeter.com
rainmeterskins.com

for more information.

[LiveBrianD]

MichaelPfeiffer, on 11 July 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

unoking, on 11 July 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

So with Vista it was "Hey, check out these cool Gadgets." With Win7 it was "Hey, we still support Gadgets". Now, FIVE years after they released gadget capability in Vista, they're coming out with Windows 8, no gadgets, and we're supposed to believe that, all of the sudden, Microsoft realizes that Gadgets can be bad?

Downloading ANY application can be bad, gadget or not. Unless Microsoft was stupid enough to let gadgets run with administrator privileges, gadgets are no less secure then downloading "1000 Free Celebrity Wallpapers!"

True, gadgets may be insecure, but I find it hard to believe that Microsoft JUST realized that fact, and that it has nothing to do with trying to force the populace into the Windows 8 Metro interface, which I will NOT use. Not sure how Metro is really any different than Gadgets, except that Gadgets on your desktop meant you had BOTH applications and Gadgets in the same space, and now with Metro, you have tiles OR applications. Fantastic!

I agree, application can be insecure and people have just got to be smart when downloading applications, that would be the same for Gadgets too. Don't look at Windows 8 from a desktop point of view. Look at it as if you were using it from a tablet. Things such as Aero and Gadgets can take up resources and on a tablet, disabling those features are going to benefit user experience.

Most people won't be using Windows 8 on a tablet though. Besides, even on one, how is it an issue? What about the fancy animations in, say, Android? (stock 4.0 at least) For instance, when opening programs, or swiping tabs off the screen in Chrome? Battery life seems to be just fine there. Anyway, they should at least keep aero for those that want it, rather than imposing their will on everyone.

[Vyto2b]

Enjoy gadgets and have gotten used to themn. Sounds like the security programmers at MS are'nt up to the challenge of securing a nice feature in their product. Would think it would be a matter of pride for them.

[rgeiken]

Android here I come!!! Unfortunately I like having a full powered computer available too. If you have a good firewall and anti virus running, it would be interesting to see if that is still a threat. I think that more and more people will look to the i Pad and Android tablets to enhance their security. More than likely people with good computer skills won't have a problem which those who are unskilled at computers will be the most vulnerable.

[TheTess]

Now I dont get it, this was a HUGE feature for Win 7 and I enjoy the hell out of my gadgets! Especially the networking info ones, omg, I can monitor everything in one little corner of my screen!

Wht cant they get off there lazy booty and issuse patches or fixes for the security holes like they do everything else?

OR is this there way or pushing people to Win 8? To heck with that, I am really enjoying my problem-free 64 bit Win 7 Acer Aspire laptop.

[TheTess]

GREAT article and thank you for the info! But I call BS on Microsoft! Something smells fishy in there press releases.

[LinuxRocks]

Num2, on 11 July 2012 - 08:15 AM, said:

Just a nother reason not to buy Windows 8

I'll go even one further... Just another reason to stay way from Microsoft products completely!

Been using Linux for over 10 years and never had to worry about anything...

[SallySmith]

I saw your article on Iyogi.They are a nightmare. I let them work on my computer and it has been a nightmare. They tell you one thing and then another. I have been fighting with them for at least a month now. They promised to reimburse me initially everything then they said only 80% and they did not comply. I am still dealing with them and trying to make them miserable enough to reimburse my full account. After all that good karma they promote so well will surely bite them in the backside eventually. by s1

[Gibson295]

People needa stop flapping their gums. Jesus they will fix this, you can't expect a snap fix withint a day of finding this out, but you certainly can quicker then the millions of issues apple has to deal with, and probly never will. Either may microsoft will fix this, at least they can openly acknowledge a problem and advise users and even give them a temporary solutions immediatly.

How many people use the sidebar anyways, In windows 7 You never see it unless you go in and find it and use it. and how many people use vista still? this shows that microsoft DOES CARE, AND THAT CONSUMERS ARE WHINEY BRATS!!

[Watcher426]

Microsoft is really pushing the envelope of how close to Apple it's getting with closing down their system even tighter.