[trinu]

No downgrade rights period (courtesy of MS, not just HP) for Home edition. Just like with Vista, they design a crappy product, then try to shove it down people's throats when they don't want it.

[max999]

Quote

Windows 8 is a platform or publicity to sell Windows Phones and tablets. They are forcing you to use that awful tiles on a PC.

That's what I think too. They are throwing their core customers (Desktop PC users) under the bus to sell WP8 and Tablets.

I think it will backfire!

[NickRusso]

Windows 7 was quite a relief after Vista and the impossible-to-use 2007 version of Office. I almost thought they had scaled down their efforts to re-invent the wheel.

I see no upside to Windows 8. None of my (many) screens which range from 13" to 37" are touch-capable.

And I really need to be cleaning my screen every two hours because I get fingerprints on it.

These dumbed-down OSes for handheld electronics are bad enough (and I have no choice), but now you think I'm going to put one on a REAL PC? I'd sooner go back to Win 3.11...

The reason hardware vendors are making such a big push on 8 are (1) habit of subservience to M$, (2) opportunity to sell high-margin touchscreens to users stuck with it, (3) people will buy anything new if it's hyped enough (look at Apple).

Sorry, M$, you don't have the design OR marketing chops of Apple. We still don't have a file manager that can get in the ring with the Mac Finder. Norton Commander for DOS was better! Excel's clipboard is STILL broken. Word still can't get it's numbering straight. FIX WHAT'S BROKEN! before you expect me to get excited about this Windows 9 Beta. Should we call it "Son of Vista," or "The Return of BOB?"

Great for software vendors, too--now ALL your apps are "legacy." Anyone out there that's not in the Linux camp have less than 4 figures' worth of commercial software?

"progress for the sake of marketing is not progress"

[redbaron616]

Oh, of course not. Microsoft and the OEMs are in on this together. Please continue to use our new crappy operating system so we can brag how many are using it and, of course, loving it. The info in this article is no surprise at all. It is rather predictable.

[jumbydog]

Better yet, but a good computer from a local company that builds them right there at their location. No shipping, you can probably request specific parts, fast repairs if you have a problem. Forget the HP's, Dell's, Compaq's, etc. Keep your money in your neighborhood. The OS? Yeah, 8 seems a little strange, childish, something.... Downloaded the RTM a while ago and played with it. Thought it was interesting, but I'm not sure how easy it is to use. But, that could be because it's some new and different. We loved Windows 3.1, so we'll probably get used to Windows 8 one day. Or, stick with 7!

[jumbydog]

Oooops, I meant BUY a good computer....

[JLR1]

Microsoft is clearly pandering to the tablet crowd in producing WIN 8. I see this as tantamount to writing off the desktop crowd, and predict it will be a disaster for Microsoft.

[JohnUSA]

Then it definitely means that I will NEVER buy an HP computer.
I do not need the headaches that Microsoft and HP are throwing at me.
I never liked Windows 8, it belongs in the garbage.

[pshane45]

Anyone remember "Windows VISTA"? - Not backward compatible with any of our older drivers for printers, scanners, & Expensive, previously purchased software! - Seems to me that if we love Win 7, then we should have a "CHOICE" of OS's, with the PC we are about to spend (another) fortune on!

THIS is exactly why I chose Windows OS's over MAC's OS's
- - - Built-in 'Propriortary Systems', where the consumer has NO SAY as to upgrades (or Downgrades, like Win 7), Making expensive software - The "older systems" become 'bricks' before their time!

[baggage1]

I have to take exception with you HP/Compaq haters. All of my experience with folks is based on issues with attitudes. one way or another. with their basic understanding of how things should work. vs how they do work. All machines use parts made, for the most part in China/Formosa or better known as Taiwan, which are outsourced to Mainland China. However they are designed and tested here in the Us, why? Because Americans are the hardest customers to please due to the fact that they are wanting things to work their way or it's the highway. The vendors, who make the computers we use, do so for. all makes and models with very. few very expensive exceptions. The better custom made machines are still affordable by utilizing good design techniques. HP happens to be one who allows the most bang for the buck in this arena. Because some folks break it, shouldn't deter your choices. I have had issues with my HP/Compaq laptops and those have been resolved every time. Just my experience or 2 Cents....

[vasunrise]

Quote

I have to take exception with you HP/Compaq haters. All of my experience with folks is based on issues with attitudes. one way or another. with their basic understanding of how things should work. vs how they do work. All machines use parts made, for the most part in China/Formosa or better known as Taiwan, which are outsourced to Mainland China. However they are designed and tested here in the Us, why? Because Americans are the hardest customers to please due to the fact that they are wanting things to work their way or it's the highway. The vendors, who make the computers we use, do so for. all makes and models with very. few very expensive exceptions. The better custom made machines are still affordable by utilizing good design techniques. HP happens to be one who allows the most bang for the buck in this arena. Because some folks break it, shouldn't deter your choices. I have had issues with my HP/Compaq laptops and those have been resolved every time. Just my experience or 2 Cents....

[vasunrise]

It's not HP I hate, it's Win 8. Got a new HP laptop with Win 8. It's not so much that I want it to work my way or the highway...I'd just like it to work, period. I'm so tired of the infernal error messages. Especially the ...failure to configure Windows updates.... Love that one. I mean really...how many times does it have to update? It goes through that one three times before it finally starts. EVERY TIME. I did the Windows Update Troubleshooter fix like they suggested... it worked right the next time and then went back to the error every time after that. None of the software works with it unless you fiddle with it. I'm just sick of it. It would be nice to have been given a choice as to which OS to get and then been able to upgrade after Microsoft was POSITIVE they had all the bugs worked out. Also, if I wanted my laptop to look like my tablet, I wouldn't have bought a laptop. Two different animals Microsoft...two different purposes. I'm just sayin'.

[vasunrise]

In HP's defense, I love their products. Never had a HP computer I didn't like. Just hate that I got stuck with Win 8.