[waldojim]

brainout, on 14 December 2012 - 10:02 AM, said:

kscruzen, on 20 November 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

After 2 weeks using Windows 8 I need to find a path back to Windows 7, and fast. First, it knocked out my passwords and history. Next, it made me upgrade to Office 2013. On Outlook 2013 my link to salesforce doesn't work, so now my CRM system is offline from my emails. It also removed and or hid my other apps such as Dropbox. I had to reinstall virtually my entire PC other than my files, and then reset my home screen. Fundamental areas like listing app are now hidden. It also defaulted everything to Windows apps. So, for example, when I open a .pdf It defaults to a stripped viewer supplied by Microsoft with no print or email capabilities. Plus I can't find an elegant way to exit the viewer. I am in the process of downloading all my old viewers and relinking them to the file types. Should be done in another week or so.
And what benefits did I get for all my efforts?
No idea, just more work, no payoff. What a tremendous waste of effort.

You said this well. All the Win8 fanboys' comments are inchoate, poorly articulated, and even the pundits don't offer even ONE REASON why upgrading is worth the effort. Ed Bott in ZDnet is a fan of Win8, but even he's been writing article after article about what you need to know and do in updating to it, to avoid pitfalls.

Like the old lady in the old Wendy's commercial, I wanna know Where's the BEEF? Show me ONE beefy, compelling reason to 'upgrade' from XP through Win7...

So far, I'm only holding hope that Surface Pro will turn out to have good handwriting and voice recognition, good connectivity to one's home/office computer. If it or some other tablet does offer that, then I will have a justification for using Win8 at all. Else, no. It's cost me HUNDREDS OF HOURS just to LEARN what's going on.

Too complicated!

As little as you are capable of comprehending, it is a wonder you understand anything at all posted by tech writers.

[bergman]

I think that another explanation of Windows 8 as it relates to desktop users is in order. By simple installation of a free "Classic Shell" from SourceForge, the Start Menu can be restored. I see no major compromise of the Windows 8 tiles Start functions. I am very pleased with "Classic Shell". Classic Shell adds some missing features to Windows 8 like a classic start menu, toolbar for Explorer and others. 96.0% of users of Classic Shell recommended it. It seems to take nothing away from Windows 8 and is very configurable in the Settings/All Settings for Classic Start Menu.

Microsoft should be ashamed for not shipping Windows 8 with this configuration option for their longtime desktop users. I am very pleased to have regained easy access to settings and files. On the left hand side of the Classic Menu, I put my most used programs, File Explorer and my most used data file folders.

Satisfaction falls when users try to use Windows 8 on non-touch devices, and/or to do things they used to do on Windows PCs The last thing we need is more dumbing down for serious work.

Windows 8 has many improved features which include Speedy Boot Time, Improved Search Function where all you need to do is to type anything, and a search box will appear; File History offers a new, easier way to back up and restore files; Windows Live Syncing and Integrated social networking are additional features. Explore, learn and enjoy these and other features but do not penalize the longtime desktop user.

Also, please take a moment to peruse SmartLinks.org especially the QuickLinks portion. The QuickLinks portion of SmartLinks.org organizes selected favorite links most regularly used in one section. SmartLinks.org is organized to present the best resources on the web for the busy person and is meant to be family friendly. http://www.smartlinks.org/ and http://www.smartlinks.org/index2.html

[ntbgolf]

Just what I need an interface that is just like the phone interface which I hate. No thanks I will stay with 7 until it is no longer supported

[ntbgolf]

Just what I need an interface that is a phone/tablet interface that I hate. I don't and never will have a windows phone because of this interface. Thanks but I will stay with 7 until it isn't supported anymore.

[scotty351]

Windows 8 is a total disater as far as desktop computing goes. I remember pc world was highly critical of windows vista back in the day but seems much less so of this system despite its obvious short commings. I would take vista any day over windows 8.

Running games and multi media applications is a nightmare, settings are in at least 3 different places as uposed to the traditional control panel. Microsoft has traded funtionality for eye candy

I use computers every day and i find windows 8 confusing and frustrating so how is the average person expected to to adapt to this sytle of computing. Yet another epic fail from microsoft.

[cam12]

Hate it. I loved windows 7 because it seemed for the first time Microsoft took the Google approach and just kept it simple, stripping back all of the useless [censored]. now they've put all the useless [censored] back, but in a way that makes what you need harder to find

and if i wanted a tablet i would have bought a tablet. don't try to make my friggen laptop work like a tablet without the convenience of a touch screen!

[techrev]

It is safe to say that Windows 8 is a giant piece of excrement. I received my computer before Thanksgiving and I have had a new problem every week since then.

1) It offers fingerprint recognition, but never seems to recognize my finger print when I try to sign in and then locks me out. The remote tech support says they "don't support this issue" and I need to take it to the store. This has happened 5 times. People at Best Buy know me by name now.
2) It goes to sleep and refuses to wake up.
3) It freezes multiple times a day. I call remote tech support just to have some guy with a thick accent that I can't understand tell me there are corrupt files in my operating system and I need to re-install. I re-install Windows 8 and the same thing happens all over again.
5) At certain times, it fails to recognize that there are any wireless networks around me.

These issues have been confirmed by my techy brother-in-law (who is tech support for a large bank and used to repair computers for a living), so it's not me. It's Windows 8.

I think I'm going to say it....Windows 8 is worse than Vista (which crashed and deleted 36 pages of my thesis during my senior year of college.) Yikes

[MarketingGuy]

Quote

KLanD said

HanokOdbrook said
I'm not really big on Windows 8. Been playing around with it since the Dev preview and while good under the hood, the UI changes just don't make sense without a built in "windows classic" selection mode like the good old days. I am reminded about the phrase "putting lipstick on a pig," except in this case, it's putting mud on a supermodel and sending her down the runway. It doesn't matter how good she is underneath, you just can't get past the mud. Anyway, I booted up my old IBM running Windows 3.0 and was struck by the familiar screen that popped up after boot. Seems to me Microsoft took 5 steps back on the default UI: So much for innovation! Yes! Cause those two look sooo much alike... Oh yeah, sorry about that - 3.0 is in black and white while Win8 has color. That makes all the difference! I can take a pic of 3.1 and add a clutter of icons if that helps you out any.

First- why on earth would you still have a Windows 3 machine??? Second- that was "the" machine of its day (innovative, super-fast , and amazing to behold! It was also stable, albeit used for entirely different reasons.

I have a Win8 machine; I wanted a hybrid that could replace a laptop, and a tablet for fun and travel. The first night I installed my copy of Office 2010, Adobe CS6 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, etc...) and a few other favorite software items.

I find the UI to be fun, and in some ways very useful. When I need the desktop, I tap that Icon and I am there. In my mind the Windows 8 environment reminds me of when I was running 2 OS- XP and Win7 on a gaming system. I needed both for certain games. Win8 allows me the same luxury w/o having to log out. I can run apps ("angry birds", fb touch, amazon, etc) and I can run full-blown RAM-sucking Graphics-hogging productivity software at the same time.

Does Windows 8 have issues? Of course. Every OS has issues, things you wish it kept from "last time", growing pains, etc. That doesnt make it a deal-breaker. Windows 7 had issues too.

In short (too late), I like Windows 8. It has its purpose and its place. It's not for everyone- nothing ever is. If that was true, we wouldn't have Linux trolls that spout garbage about every OS out there. It brings touch-tech to Windows in a well thought out way. Like it or not, its the OS of now, and not going anywhere anytime soon. People hated XP when it first came out (if you can remember).

[BemusedofLondon]

I use Vista on my PC and have no plans to switch to a touch device or to move to W7 at this stage. Mostly use the PC for e-mail (not via MS Outlook), catching up on TV programmes and surfing the web, but occasionally also for creating docs and worksheets. I don't use social media. Vista seems to work pretty well for me, but can be slow. A simple question: can anyone tell me please if it'd be worthwhile my moving to W8, given the cheap introductory offer now available, or should I wait until MS issue a new system with separate versions for keyboard and touch users?

[ozerke]

Quote

I use Vista on my PC and have no plans to switch to a touch device or to move to W7 at this stage. Mostly use the PC for e-mail (not via MS Outlook), catching up on TV programmes and surfing the web, but occasionally also for creating docs and worksheets. I don't use social media. Vista seems to work pretty well for me, but can be slow. A simple question: can anyone tell me please if it'd be worthwhile my moving to W8, given the cheap introductory offer now available, or should I wait until MS issue a new system with separate versions for keyboard and touch users?

Hello, after spending a month with Windows 8, I'd definitely recommend to go on with Windows 7 (not 8). My old PC had Vista installed and upgraded to Windows 7 afterwards which the same hardware was really performing fast. An operating system must be transparent to your daily work and be as fast as possible. With Windows 8, I'm having the same nightmare I had with Vista. Currently I'm using an Intel i7 computer which is performing worse than my old dual core machine and the reason is definitely Windows 8. For example, I was unable to access the internet becuase Win 8 suddently decided to have some TCP/IP errors which took 5 reboots and 3 hours with many searches with my tablet to come to an end. Now, I'm trying to find a way to downgrade to W7 (if possible free of charge) or bite the bullet and pay for a new W7 license.

[sweetpeainboulder]

Thanks for all the reviews from everyone. I am an average gal whose computer failed and I bought a laptop from Best Buy. Windows 8 came with it.
I am extremely exhausted! I will be purchasing a desk top PC this week. Is possible to buy a new computer off the shelf with W7 or Vista?

[LiveBrianD]

sweetpeainboulder, on 30 January 2013 - 08:18 PM, said:

Thanks for all the reviews from everyone. I am an average gal whose computer failed and I bought a laptop from Best Buy. Windows 8 came with it.
I am extremely exhausted! I will be purchasing a desk top PC this week. Is possible to buy a new computer off the shelf with W7 or Vista?

Most business machines I've seen are available with Windows 7. (and have driver support going back to XP, if you want) The only problem is that you generally have to order them online. Otherwise, you might be able to find older machines in stores that still have 7.

[Erinliffey]

You old-fashioned non-touch-screen-PC-users out there! In one year's time you are dinosaurs holding desperately on to your mouse and keypad. Of course Windows8 has its problems, but my guess is that Microsoft was so afraid of Apple suing them for making their OS too iOS-like that they simply did not spend enough time on solving all the problems before publishing it. So most of them will be dealt with soon and you get free updates, while touch screens are replacing the Stone Age non-touch PCs. Try Lenovo Yoga, it is one of a kind and a PC of the Future (I have not been paid for writing this) :-)

[Yeastboy]

Quote

You old-fashioned non-touch-screen-PC-users out there! In one year's time you are dinosaurs holding desperately on to your mouse and keypad. Of course Windows8 has its problems, but my guess is that Microsoft was so afraid of Apple suing them for making their OS too iOS-like that they simply did not spend enough time on solving all the problems before publishing it. So most of them will be dealt with soon and you get free updates, while touch screens are replacing the Stone Age non-touch PCs. Try Lenovo Yoga, it is one of a kind and a PC of the Future (I have not been paid for writing this) :-)

Nice attempt at a wind up. I hope. Only a fool could suggest that replacing 10 digit control with stabbing at a vertical screen with a couple of fingers, whilst forever resisting the urge to wipe the damn thing, was progress, and that's ignoring reviews like this. Windows 8, what a misguided act of desperation.

[yehudablonder]

Okay! Here I go off about Windows 8!
I bought my laptop in June and they said when I bought it that I would be able to Upgrade my laptop to Windows 8 for $14.99. so I did it. When Windows 8 came out everyone said that it's a great Operating System, so i decided to upgrade my laptop. When i first upgraded it was so annoying, because there is no start button, so i got so frustrated, but i was able to find a way to get a start button and then everything was getting much easier. One day my laptop started getting very very slow, so I had to call up my laptop company for them to try to help me fix it which they weren't able to fix it over the phone. And then all of the sudden all of my information was getting lost and not working, so i called the company back and had to get all the way up to a case manager which i was hoping for them to get me a new laptop, because it was the second time my laptop was broken in the summer. But the case manager was telling me that i have to downgrade to Windows 7, so i had to get my recovery discs and start doing it, but it stopped in the middle of doing it, so i called my case manager tells me that i have to send my laptop in for repair. Oh and then he tells me that my computer wasn't made for Windows 8 which i told him that it was, because that was part of the package when i bought my laptop in June.

Basically what i'm trying to say is that Windows 8 SUCKS AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!!! Windows 8 is really meant for a tablet and a touchscreen computer/laptop. NO ONE SHOULD BUY WINDOWS 8!!!!!!!!

[waldojim]

yehudablonder, on 07 April 2013 - 05:47 AM, said:

Okay! Here I go off about Windows 8!
I bought my laptop in June and they said when I bought it that I would be able to Upgrade my laptop to Windows 8 for $14.99. so I did it. When Windows 8 came out everyone said that it's a great Operating System, so i decided to upgrade my laptop. When i first upgraded it was so annoying, because there is no start button, so i got so frustrated, but i was able to find a way to get a start button and then everything was getting much easier. One day my laptop started getting very very slow, so I had to call up my laptop company for them to try to help me fix it which they weren't able to fix it over the phone. And then all of the sudden all of my information was getting lost and not working, so i called the company back and had to get all the way up to a case manager which i was hoping for them to get me a new laptop, because it was the second time my laptop was broken in the summer. But the case manager was telling me that i have to downgrade to Windows 7, so i had to get my recovery discs and start doing it, but it stopped in the middle of doing it, so i called my case manager tells me that i have to send my laptop in for repair. Oh and then he tells me that my computer wasn't made for Windows 8 which i told him that it was, because that was part of the package when i bought my laptop in June.

Basically what i'm trying to say is that Windows 8 SUCKS AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE!!!!! Windows 8 is really meant for a tablet and a touchscreen computer/laptop. NO ONE SHOULD BUY WINDOWS 8!!!!!!!!

So the people that made your laptop screwed you. They decided not to support the product they sold.

And that is Microsoft's fault HOW exactly?