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Understanding Windows 8's lackluster launch and Microsoft's cryptic sales figures
- By Sebastian Anthony on January 21, 2013 at 2:42 pm
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Here's an interesting question: How many computers are actually running Windows 8 or Windows RT? How many laptops, desktops, transformers, and tablets, have made the jump to Microsoft's next-generation, touch-oriented operating system?
You see, beyond Microsoft's inner circle in Redmond, no one knows. Despite being pushed for comment by journalists, pundits, and analysts for three months, the only figure that Microsoft is publicly sharing is the number of Windows 8 licenses sold. This figure currently stands at 60 million, which according to Microsoft is similar to Windows 7's "sales trajectory."
60 million sounds very grand — which is Microsoft's intention — but now we have to add some caveats. How many of those 60 million copies have actually been installed? How many are sitting on store shelves, or in OEM inventories? Does that figure include Windows RT? We haven't heard a peep from Microsoft about either Windows RT or Surface RT, and the company has refused to comment when asked whether the 60 million includes both Windows 8 and RT.
What we do have, however, is a lot of data from retailers and OEMs — and when we factor in their sentiment as well, it perhaps illustrates why Microsoft is so reticent when it comes to exact installation figures. We've already heard from Newegg, Net Applications chimed in with some damning statistics, and now HP's PC boss Todd Bradley has said that Windows 8 has experienced "a slower start than many people expected." This is the same Bradley who trashed the Surface RT, calling it "kludgey."
At this point, while we can still only guess at how many PCs are running Windows 8 or RT, it's fairly safe to assume that neither OS is doing particularly well. Perhaps a better question to ask, then, is why?
There are three likely reasons for Windows 8's lackluster adoption. The first, and most obvious, is that users simply don't want — or aren't ready for — Windows 8. Whether it's the abominable Metro Start screen, or the relatively short list of upgrades for Windows 7 users, Windows 8 just isn't very desirable.
The second reason is that the PC industry itself is in decline, and in a big way. This wasn't unexpected — tablets and smartphones have been nibbling at the PC's heels for a while now — but it was hoped that Windows 8 would somehow kick-start sales, especially with the sales boost from Black Friday and Christmas. We can either assume that this is down to Windows 8's innate lack of desirability, or that iOS and Android are already too entrenched for Windows 8 to establish a beachhead.
A third possible reason is that Windows 8 just doesn't hit the mark. It is clearly a touch-oriented OS, and yet according to NPD touchscreen laptops account for only 4.5% of Windows 8 sales. We've heard similar rumblings from retailers, which report that cheap laptops still dominate the sales charts, with touchscreen laptops and tablets unable to get a foot in the door. It's worth noting that the same report from NPD also says that the consumer electronics market in general, despite the boom of smartphones and tablets, is slumping.
In all likelihood, it's probably a noxious concoction of all three circumstances.
Moving forward, it isn't entirely clear how Microsoft intends to rectify the situation. At the end of January, the price of a Windows 8 Pro upgrade shoots up from $40 to $200. After January 31, vanilla Windows 8 will cost you $120 (and $100, if you want to upgrade from 8 to 8 Pro). If that won't put a dent in Windows 8 sales, I don't know what will.
On the hardware front, Intel's upcoming fourth-gen ultrabook specification (and Haswell CPUs) could certainly spark some interest — but we still have no idea about whether consumers actually want a Windows 8 tablet, or a touchscreen laptop — or, in the case of transformers, both. As we know, hardware is nothing without software. Again, Microsoft doesn't give any exact figures, but the Windows 8 Store is now up to around 30,000 apps — less than a tenth of the iOS or Android markets, the quality of many apps is questionable, and a bunch of key apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Spotify are still missing.
If you've made the jump to Windows 8, be sure to check out our extensive collection of tips and tricks. If you're still on the fence, remember that you only have until January 31 to get Windows 8 Pro for $40 (See: Our guide on getting the cheapest copy of Windows 8 possible.)
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I think we all have "selective memory" at times…. Looking back at Windows in general, there have been several releases that started off slowly (badly) that then hung on for ages – XP being the most notable… Huge amounts of talk at the time, about how bad it was. Today, 10+ years later (?) many still swear by it.
Windows 1… eeeh. At that time, most couldn't have cared less. It was "DOS", or nothing. OK, maybe CPM.
Windows 2… Pretty much the same.
Windows 3 / 3.1… The start of what some might consider "acceptance". If I recall, it did pretty well. I hated it at first, but did switch over, eventually.
Windows 95… Not so much. Two "testing" computer still use it.
Windows 98… Ok… I know I converted most over at that time. Two still use it.
Windows ME… UGH!!! One…no others.
Windows XP…. Yea, after about a year I did convert my primary computer over, but most other's no. After two years, all (other than the the two 95's and 98's) were converted over.
Vista… 1 converted to see what it was like. No others.
Win7… "I" use it on desktop and two laptops, but have little need for using it on other computers (at this time).
Win8… Other than the touchscreen (which we don't care about) and some potential old program issues, it actually has a BIG benefit to us… It works surprisingly well on older (5 years +) hardware, far better / faster than Win7. One click into the desktop and most of the people (here) can't tell the difference (they click on a desktop icon and go), other than commenting that their computer is faster.
Now… If I can only get "Supercalc" to load, I'd be set to drop XP and jump several to Win8.
Lee Weaver
can't tell the diference? what do they do when they try to click the nonexistant satrt button?
No one uses it, so there is not much for them to miss. On twenty five, or so, of our office computers, all programs mgrs and staff use, have shortcut icon's on the desktop (faster / easier access) and if it is not there, they either don't need it (and shouldn't be looking), or I need to add it for them, then they go back to work.
The "test" computers, come up to their respective programs, at start-up. Nothing else is touched.
UPS / FedX shipping computers… Same. One program is run on it, comes up at start-up.
Mine and maybe one other has occasional need for other items, but I probably go easilly a week, without touching the Start button.
In "my", "our" (company), the "real?" world, the start button is an over-hyped issue.
Saying "no one used the Start button" is absurd and patently false. That's just Microsoft's PR BS to try to justify getting rid of it. Maybe they got their metrics from DOS monkeys?
How is it faster than Windows 7? Personally i don't spend all day rebooting, so boot time doesn't bother me. My current system boots in a few seconds, so i don't see a problem.
Anyhow, i'm sick of reading how Windows 8 is faster – the benchmarks i saw showed no improvement when actually running programs. No framerate difference in games either!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You don't use it…Try using it. It boots fast as hell.
Hello stupid person, thanks for your irrelevant reply. Perhaps if you'd read my post you would have seen that i couldn't care less about boot time. But thanks for your contribution.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Very immature…
You asked a question, I responded. I didn't bother getting into the technical reason for why it boots faster; I didn't think that was necessary. It does boot faster and if you used it, you would see that. If this information is irrelevant to you, why bother asking?
I said in my first post that i don't care about boot times, as i don't spend all day rebooting. Yet you decided to tell me about faster boot times. Sigh.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You asked…
Boot times are important for many.
Your an a-hole troll.
They don't matter much for me.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1212705876 Steve Pan
Take it easy internet toughguy
Faster boot times mean diddly squat when the OS in question is real PIECE OF SHIT!!! 2 UI's and the fact its confusing and ugly as fuck means people are staying away from it. Most people don't like change and Windows 8 is a big change IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!!!!
I only boot my PC once every 3 – 4 weeks if even… so while fast boot times are appreciated, my daily experience is not all that much affected by it.
http://www.facebook.com/truman.phillips Truman Phillips
If all I wanted to do was reboot my computer all day as many times as I could this would be a relevant point, But I rarely reboot my computers as it is. There are other benefits to Win8 in the terms of system resources used, and a few other tidbits, but nothing that earth shatteringly important that it is a make or break upgrade. Particularly when you consider the trash that is the Modern UI. And just for reference, I have it installed on my main rig, because regardless of my personal opinions I do need to know it's foibles for support reasons. However, I have installed Start8, and never really use the Start Screen, and certainly don't use any Windows Store apps, I find them to be worse than their desktop counterparts, and in general the interface is hideous.
Cameron Greig
Maybe it's not much faster on yours for some reason? But for most comps, it is much faster
Shoddy device drivers or crapware bloat applications are probably responsible if its a pre-built computer… update drivers or remove all the crapware should fix it if folks are not seeing it running faster. Works like lightning on all my custom pc's and surface.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
1. Lackluster? The number is 60 million. This is lackluster? Or do you somehow have some secret information that these numbers are inaccurate? Are we just assuming the sales are bad and basing an entire article on that assumption as being fact? I believe, and I could be wrong but, from what i have read, this is always how they post their numbers and every new OS, we hear the same old "what are they hiding?" nonsense.
2. We all knew Windows 8 wouldn't sell better than Windows 7. So again, writing an article that somehow makes this out to be worrisome news is more "incite-ful" than insightful. If you catch my meaning.
Learn what "licenses" means in this context then come back here and make ridiculous comments. In that order.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Learn what not being an f-tard means and come back and be useful and not some arrogant little d-che-nozzle.
Fool thats how many copies of Windows 8 have sold to OEM's FANBOI!!! In reality M$ Windows 8 sucks like donkey turds.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Your the fool here, believing the hype machine. I use an OS and have a brain in my head and can adapt to change. You sound so dumb in every post you ever made. Not one of which has any information other than regurgitated brain dead hate.
With respect, please keep in mind that while we tech heads can adapt easily, Microsoft pretty much is telling non-techie (and not very adaptable) users to unlearn everything Microsoft has encouraged them to do. I can see where this would be a source of frustration for many people. I've told my parents not to upgrade, knowing full well they would either always call me for help, or throw their PC's out the window in frustration. I'm not sure for what purpose Microsoft decided to give some people heart attacks, but I know they could have done much better with regard to "unifying the experience" than they have.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
your comment means nothing – go back to kindergarten
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
Abominable Start Screen? Seriously? Is this supposed to be a news article or an op-ed piece? I could just as easily that that anyone who doesn't like and/or understand the new start screen is just mentally deficient. For an article demanding facts from Microsoft it sure is laced with a lot of ill-conceived opinions.
You're not too bright, are you?
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Clearly you are the one that isn't very bright.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND DIMWIT? Windows 8 ugly and its unaesthetic. Change in the wrong direction is worse than no change at all.
Stupid people are easily led by advertising – MS tells them it's better and they believe it.
So True lots of people here led by M$'s false advertising. And Lots of M$ fanboi's here as well.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
obnoxious child
Maybe but its far better than being a stupid child!!!
Cameron Greig
You are stupid though
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
No one at Microsoft has told me to like Win8. I chose to do so all on my own after I used it! These mouth breathers whining because they miss the start menu are utterly clueless.
So clueless in fact that i don't miss is, as i'm still using Windows 7. Idiots like you make me laugh! Why on earth would i want to change to W8, give me one good reason why i should change my working habits for Microsoft?
Curt Weese
If you are using a PC, then you shouldn't use the Touchscreen interface anyway. You just hit the Windows Key on your keyboard and it will revert to the Desktop look that you are wanting it sounds like. :)
If you aren't going to be using a touchscreen ever, then that does get rid of one of the big bonuses with Windows 8, but there are other strong reasons to consider switching.
What are the other strong reasons? A couple of extra buttons on explorer?
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Ignorant fool
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
http://www.facebook.com/truman.phillips Truman Phillips
Just like there are 3-4% of cell phone users who actually like WPhone 8. That must have been the driving decision to stick it on the desktop, I mean 3-4% of any market shows that it's a success! MS has been resting on those monopoly cushions for far too long and ignores what the reality of the markets are. They have been able to strong arm change not because it made computing better or easier, but because they own 90% of a market people are just used to accepting it as a defacto standard.
With Tablets and Mobile Phones now eating into the PC sphere MS has no clue on how to attract a new market that is not monopoly led. They've never had real competition, this is a first for them and it shows how poorly they are doing.
They expected to strong arm their supply chain of OEM builders by showing them how it's done with the Surface, but that is starting to backfire as the OEM's aren't all falling in line like in the past, and adoption of the Surface by the market is a total flop, just like HP's Playbook was. It offers nothing unique enough to make people sit up and take notice, in face with how poorly the UI is designed it tends to turn people off.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Ignorant child
http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony
You all need to calm down. As you've probably noticed, I'm very lenient when it comes to comments on ET — but this is getting a wee bit tiresome.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Yeah, i figured I'd keep up the slamming till you had to put a stop to it.
JML and VirtualMark need to go back on their meds.
You need to get back on your meds I don't take any. Your the biggest troll of them all Chris.
You need to get back on your meds I don't take any. Your the biggest troll of them all Chris.
Peter Wiggin
Your weak attempts at providing facts and actual news is tiresome. Perhaps write something that would not ignite a flame war.
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
HEY I CAN USE CAPS TOO!!! The start screen is way easier and faster to use than the start menu. I don't think it's ugly I think it's clean and easy to organize. Instant search built in, large tiles it's very nice. Take 2 minutes and learn how to use it. Hell even my mother in-law uses it and she loves how easy it is to find her programs now.
How is it easier and faster?
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
You don't have to hunt through menus and sub menus just to find your programs. Just click the big tile. Don't have a tile.. just start typing the name of a program right on the start screen and viola there it is. Faster and Easier 1-click applications. Even shortcuts on the desktop need a double-click unless you modify the mouse behavior.
Well i don't have to hunt at all on Windows 7! All of my most used programs are either pinned to the taskbar, on the desktop or on the start menu most used list. I can also pin to the start menu, and type the name of a program, so there's really no advantage there.
And as i have lots of programs installed, i'd rather have folders to keep things in order. I'd hate to have every single program laid out in a big tile in front of me – some programs install sub programs that i'll never use(such as an updater or registration program), i certainly don't want to have a tile for that!
So no advantage there i'm afraid! Got any more compelling reasons to switch?
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
You just admitted you have program icons in 4 separate places on your computer. Desktop, Start Menu, Taskbar and Folders. Yes I can see how that's much more organized than having them in one place that you can reorder, re-arrage and group anyway you like. Not everything has to be pinned to the start screen a simple right-click lets u unpin. Anyone but you would have to hunt all over your screen to find a program. Yes I see your point.. your arcane, unorganized, erratic desktop would be a much simpler means for accessing programs.
Are you really this stupid? Firstly, it's not exactly 4 different places, it's all on the same screen. Windows 8 requires a change of screen to bring the start menu up. Secondly, are you seriously suggesting that having all of your icons in one big mess is better than having a folder system? Is that how you store your files too – all in one big folder? Are you short sighted – do you need the big tiles to see what's going on?
I have the desktop to just chuck stuff on quickly, the taskbar quicklaunch for my most popular apps, the start menu with search function for everything else – it takes no more than a couple of clicks to get ANYTHING on my computer. So how on earth can Windows 8 improve on this?
It doesn't – just shutting down now takes a load more clicks!
And as i said – you're just focusing on this one point – you still haven't provided any other reasons to switch. I'm still waiting!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You aren't very smart are you.
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
CTRL+ALT+DELETE will let you show down with ONE click. For your petty little mind I can see how that would be more complicated than clicking Start, clicking a tiny little arrow and choosing Shut Down from a sub menu. That's 3 clicks to one keystroke. Your desktop sounds like a hot mess of garbage but stick with it, it obviously works for you. I have everything I want to use on One screen that I can access in One click. One click. You can't get any more efficient than that. Again you've made no attempt to make an actual point except that you don't have the mental fortitude to understand something as "advanced" as ONE click. I would suggest you spend a little time actually learning something before you comment on how bad you 'think" (and I use that term loosely with you) it is.
Hello stupid person, thanks for your reply. I'm still waiting to hear reasons to upgrade – you're not exactly selling it. Worst salesman ever.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You wouldnt' no, because you haven't used it. Your opinion doesn't count. You are just a useless troll.
IT NOT FASTER OR EASIER. What took 2 clicks now TAKES 5 thanks to metro. Easier my butt.
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
name one task that takes 5 clicks instead of two? It's easy to exaggerate, much more challenging to use specific examples.
Running steam games also finding games on the C: drive is harder as well. Face it M$ Windows 8 has no compelling features to it.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
a lot more compelling features than your ignorant posts
I am struggling to understand under what circumstances you would ever need to "find games on the c: drive". You launch steam games from the steam client, at least you do on Windows. However, if for some reason you want to install steam games with shortcuts and use shortcuts to launch those games (a method for launching games that that pre-dates steam), they can be pinned to your start screen just the same way you can have them on your classic desktop. Same applies to non-steam games or you could even add shortcuts for non-steam games to the steam client. You could also install the "Pin Steam" app:
Why do you ever need to "find games"?? I have steam installed on my F: drive, i have no need for "Finding games" on my F: drive but if i wanted to be inefficient, i could find the the executables or shortcuts just as quickly as i could on Windows 7.. You seem to be fabricating issues that don't exist. I suspect or you are actually an OSX or Linux user that doesn't use windows or if you do, its bootcamp and i am convinced that you haven't tried Windows 8 on a windows pc and simply hate "M$" as you and a lot of anti-ms trolls refer to them. You really aren't a very bright kid.
Wrong your the dumb one. I have a lot of programs that I run that are not installed so I have look them up and doing that in Windows 8 is a chore at best. Besides why would anyone want to use an ugly OS it like dating that ugly duckling girl your just dating her because you can't get anything else.
Instead of avoiding my question and changing the subject from games to programs because no such issue exists with games on Windows 8, Please explain which games you need to find on your C: drive? and why finding games on your C: drive is more difficult with windows 8? Also for one that seems so brainwashed with the shortcuts methodology, why would you need to look for programs instead of using the shortcuts you claim to need in other posts? your rants are without any substance or you have serious learning difficulties. Of course you could come clean and tell the truth.. you are not really a windows user are you?
Shutting down – there was an article on here about it.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
yeah by your Troll leader Sebastion….
http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony
At least get my name right, man!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
LOL – sorry.
Hired on some new recruits I see. Why do they all have to sound like angry little kids with nothing worth hearing?
http://www.facebook.com/richard.cunningham.330 Richard Cunningham
Getting to the shutdown options takes a maximum of 2 clicks in Windows 8 (click on "Settings", click on "Power").
You can also get them through 'ctrl-alt-del' and 'alt F4′ on the desktop.
Well that's great news, i'll have to rush out and buy a copy right now!
They keep saying "faster and easier" but providing no reasons as to how it's faster or easier.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
and you don't prove anything ever in anything you say, you just insult and repeat the same old comments that make you sound dumb as f8ck.
I'm simply asking for a compelling reason to use Windows 8, nobody seems to be able to provide one!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You aren't very smart.
Wrong I'm far smarter than you'll ever be M$ FANBOI!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/andrew.s.hodge Andrew Steven Hodge
All of the tiles are there in front of you at once instead of having to dig through an archaic list tree. Icons are also easier to identify than lists of words. The interface is also much easier to look at than text. Animations aren't half bad, either.
That's THE WHOLE PROBLEM. It gets in the way and is clunky and ugly. Metro makes want to reach over and puke all over you in disgust.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
sounds like your posts…get in the way and makes you want to puke all over them in disgust.
http://www.facebook.com/andrew.s.hodge Andrew Steven Hodge
I haven't used it on a single monitor setup, yet, but on a dual screen setup, it augments the other screen great for the eight or nine seconds that it's up. Only drawback ks that I wish that I could split my main screen in two so that it opened up across the bottom.
Cameron Greig
I am no computer wiz but it is a lot faster. Internet explorer 10 ( only available in full version on Windows 8) is extremely fast and handy
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You are the idiot, you VirtualMark and any other trolls that post here that can't handle a little change. You and the rest of the angry little trolls here sound like punk ass kids and your posts have no information that matters. You call people stupid if they disagree with you…. Just loud and obnoxious a-holes.
Wow you're stupider with each post M$ fanboi. Thanks for the entertainment Chris this is quite funny.
In fairness to Jerry, I can say that I don't find any inherent problems using W8. There are a few things that make me feel like it's a viable upgrade to W7. I just have to ignore the "Modern UI" Start Screen to get to them.
Even Windows pretty much ignores the Start Screen when I run my apps. Everything jumps through "Desktop" before it starts regardless of where I put my shortcuts.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I get that some people might not like the way it looks but, who cares. The thing is, like you say, it works just like Windows 7 only upgraded and updated on many levels. If you don't like the start screen, you can disable it. I tend to find that tampering with the OS's native look and feel just makes it more difficult to use other systems. As an IT professional I like to try to insist that my users leave even things like the taskbar at the bottom because it just keeps things uniform for my support staff to work on.
With that said, this is the point of why MS kept the OS the same across all platforms, it just easier to get used to it working one way. Look how hard it is for people to just make the small leap to Windows 8 because it is a little different. Could you imagine if they made the tablet different experience from the desktop or laptop just because there is no touch interface.
Btw, get touch…Once you bring touch into your world of the keyboard and mouse, you will see. It works very very well. THIS IS NOT Replacing the mouse and keyboard for any of you out there that seem to thing so for some insane reason. It's an additional and useful input mechanism. One you will gradually learn to appreciate as you use it.
How Foolish the metro UI is still there and just as ugly as ever. Every time I press the start key I have to look at the eyesore that is metro.
http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony
It's meant to be a news article AND an opinion piece! JUXTAPOSITION!
Peter Wiggin
Very RARELY are your articles news worthy – merely entertainment fodder for the legion of trolls you command. These trolls having exceptional talent at making pointless observations about an OS they clearly have no actual experience using.
For weeks your opinion pieces have been slanted and frankly lacking in concrete
detail. Your opinion piece regarding the Surface Pro is a great example of you
NOT being at CES nor actually getting your hands on the device to provide
anything news worthy. The only facts you gleamed were from sources elsewhere – that's news?
Please revoke your cereal box provided press pass.
Peter Wiggin
Very RARELY are your articles news worthy – merely entertainment fodder for the legion of trolls you command. These trolls having exceptional talent at making pointless observations about an OS they clearly have no actual experience using.
For weeks your opinion pieces have been slanted and frankly lacking in concrete
detail. Your opinion piece regarding the Surface Pro is a great example of you
NOT being at CES nor actually getting your hands on the device to provide
anything news worthy. The only facts you gleamed were from sources elsewhere – that's news?
Please revoke your cereal box provided press pass
http://www.facebook.com/brad4d2 Jerry Bradford
News and opinion in the same article are NOT a juxtaposition. It's lazy writing. I certainly wouldn't call it journalism. Obviously you don't like Windows 8, that's clear. But if you're going to write a story about it don't fill it with your opinions. Especially when they are inaccurate and demonstrate your lack of understanding on the subject.
I'm also interested to see how many (of those that have moved to Windows 8), uses a start screen replacement like Start8, StartIsBack or Classic Shell.
Shortly after the launch of Win8 Stardock reported they had sold "tens of thousands" of their start screen replacement Start8.
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/19/start8-utility-update-sales/
It defeats the purposse for all of Microsoft's "improvements" in the user experience, but I think that's equally telling. We"l see if Microsoft caves to their customers, or they double-down on "ick".
Tim Jenson
Your right, but the way I have mine set up I can use both ways of doing things equally. I'll probably re-install Windows 7, but for the 45.00 I had to have it as a choice consider it's shooting up to $200. I can't help wondering if MS did that because they know that it sucks, and it get's suckers like me actually put it on my machine.
I installed Start8 a few days ago out of curiosity, its actually quite decent, it allows you to boot straight to desktop or to start screen. You can have transparency effects if you like aero… Curiosity satisfied, i uninstalled it after a couple of days as i thought it was probably going to hinder me, plus i didnt need a start button. Good choice for people the less savvy or for those who simply cant live without one, You get exactly the same effect as the windows 7 start menu, only it had a new windows logo instead of the orb. I think you have to pay a few dollars for it, but there are a lot more free alternatives that are on par/almost on par with it from what i read.
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
It's like buying a new transmission for your new car because the transmission on the older one was better. Amazing!
Biggest reasons for Windows 8 failing in the market:
1. Pushing a touch-based OS interface down desktop user's throats.
It was absolutely asinine that Microsoft both got rid of the familiar (Start button, deskop view) and pushed massive innovations (tile system, corner access) at the same time. At the very least, they should have made the ability to go straight to the desktop with a start button an optional feature. Better yet, make it adaptive. If Windows 8 detects a touchscreen, start with the tiles. If Windows 8 just detects a mouse and keyboard, start with the traditional desktop view. If they would have done this minor step they would have avoided 95% of the criticism (the other 5% largely focused on the App Store — see #3) and made the new Start option a desirable feature rather than a reason not to buy/upgrade.
2. The tiles/Metro is ugly and poorly designed.
It's pretty much a rip off of the Xbox tile system, which is largely panned by users because it ends up hiding the content they want behind advertisements and side features Microsoft is pushing. What people tend to want is symmetric columns and rows that can be easily customized — a la MS's own deskop, Android, and Apple.
3. Poor relationship management with key partners.
It's telling that HP, Acer, Steam, and Blizzard have all publicly went out and panned Microsoft's Windows strategy before launch. Each company was directly threatened by Microsoft making moves to become a direct competitor instead of a trusted partner. And as the carcasses of Netscape and WordPerfect testify, when Microsoft goes after your revenue they do not play fair. Plus, these are key partners trashing Microsoft's strategy. HP sells the most PCs, Acer used to be dominant in laptops/netbooks, Steam sells the most PC games, and Blizzard sells the most beloved PC exclusive franchises. Now all of them are looking seriously at Linux and pushing the GPU companies to start developing drivers.
4. Continued failure to understand the touch market.
People like touch as secondary devices. But it is yet to be seen whether they really want to ditch the keyboard and mouse system for a less efficient touch system. There are big drawbacks with touch. fingerprints, oil, scratches, and dirt build up on the monitor. Touch is less accurate than the mouse and keyboard. Touch creates more input errors than the mouse and keyboard. All of these have the potential to decrease productivity.
In addition, you should not have the same touch OS for both a tablet and a desktop/laptop. With the tablet you are interfacing downwards and with the PC you are interfacing perpendicular. Motions that feel comfortable with the tablet can feel strange with the PC.
No matter how many corporate touts try to clog up the comments they cannot escape the reality. Windows 8 is looking more like Vista (or worse) and less like Windows 7/XP. And if the gaming pubs open up a Linux front Microsoft may be in serious trouble.
Yeah i pretty much agree with this.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
who cares
I do and some other people care as well.
Wales P. Nematollahi
You do, Chris, or you wouldn't have written so much previously in these threads.
Wales P. Nematollahi
You do, Chris, or you wouldn't have written so much previously in these threads.
Curt Weese
I just got my Windows 8 phone and I LOVE it. Been using Droid and IPhone too forever, but after a day or two of getting used to where everything is, I really like it on my phone.
For those of you that don't know that you can just hit the windows button and revert back to Desktop mode on your PC, then you are missing the strength of this OS. It is crossplatform or cross"device" is a better way to say it. You all need to look at the integration of the new ecosystems across devices (phone, PC, tablet, Xbox, etc..) and that is where the strength is.
It is a NEW OS! Relax and wait for updates. It is crazy that you think it is going to be perfect out of the gate. No video games work that way, IoS wasn't perfect, Droid has issues…
When you all get super defensive for anyway saying anything not in line with your post, it makes you seem Apple Fanboy'ish in my opinion. :P
Smartglass brings it all together and you should wait a bit before spouting out it's a failure. Maybe let them actually have a few quarters and then proclaim the failure if it's there.
I do lean more towards Microsoft, but mainly b/c I use it at work more than any other OS and that isn't changing either, so having Windows 8 on everything and using SkyDrive lately is just awesome. My girlfriend and I are actually really digging the Windows 8 phones and how they link up with each other and our home stuff and our work stuff (I WILL be buying the Surface Pro and I know an F'load of people who have been waiting for it. RT = IPad …well less apps….Like the IPad it is for kids and old people who like or you want to stay in the "walled garden" hehe!)
my two cents….bash away :)
Windows Phone 8 is not Windows 8, nor should it be!
Tim Jenson
You better hope more people adopt it, or you going to have an phone that doesn't support the latest and best apps, and are going to miss out. That is why I not bothering.
http://www.facebook.com/BookSorcerer Jeffrey Gary Clinard
Numbers 1 and 2 are ones I absolutely agree with and have been saying for a long time. The OS should embrace the hardware it detects, not the hardware MS wants you to have. I don't mind the tiles as much as the fact they are ugly and you can't change them. Whoever thought puke green and burnt orange were "in" needs to be fired without references.
Cameron Greig
Wow you don't have windows 8 do you? YOU CAN CHANGE THE COLOURS!
yeah but windows 8 sucks
Only if you are afraid to learn how to use it effectively.
Windows 8 maybe good on a phone or tablet… but the UI is pretty bad for a desktop PC (without a touch screen). As for desktop mode, where is the start menu? There is none…
Cameron Greig
I have windows 8 on my PC, I still love it and you apple-fanatics should embrace change
In two locations:
1) The entire non-tile portion of the screen (in Windows 8 Metro/tile mode only); just click and start typing. You should be able to access the application, file, or setting you want without any problems (provided you can spell). In all seriousness, the search functionality in Windows 8 Metro mode may be the single-best feature of Windows 8.
2) In the Charms bar hidden on the right side of the screen (in both Windows Metro/tile mode and Windows 8 desktop mode). You can access the Charms bar by swiping in from the right bezel (on a touchscreen device) or by putting your cursor in the upper-right corner of the screen.
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
"the search functionality in Windows 8 Metro mode may be the single-best feature of Windows 8."
Wait, what? It's a step down from Windows 7 (which itself, was a step down from Windows 2000's search logic, iirc), imo. Whoever decided to split the searches was insane.
Kirk Frederick
You can actually download a add-on for the start button. I'm using one from Pokki which works Okay, but is missing some liked features from Windows 7. All in all, it can be overcome, but why the hell should it. You are right though, without a touchscreen Windows 8 is overkill.
Cameron Greig
Too true
If I wanted to design a UI for the purpose of turning people off of Microsoft software, this is it. I could not do better than this.
Ballmer has stated that the W8 OS will push users to tablets and other hand-held devices. It's a bad idea. Period. He wants everybody in the cloud. Everybody. Well, only air-heads live in the clouds and those who don't understand or care that they are trusting their personal data to unknown persons in a unknown location. They assure us that it's safe with them, but you ban bet your life (indeed you are) that all that information is being collected and shared with government agencies, hospitals, insurance companies and others we know nothing about. Call it paranoia if you want, but don't blindly accept technology about which you know so little.
Bruce Hanify
Windows 8 is a piece of garbage. It's not geared toward practical use. It boots up to a picture of an iPhone, and from there turns into cute. It's actually kind of funny. What's funnier are the people who think it's "innovative." It will crash. And crash bad.
This is not a bookmark.
Tim Jenson
Your right on I couldn't have said it better myself
So you're saying they got Windows 7 right? And now 8 is a disaster?
Have you even used Windows 8 on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop?
With a few tweaks to tailor the software to a specific device, W8 could be the same platform across all devices. Ultimately, if it maintains an optimal productivity for each device, W8 has enough nice features to justify an upgrade over W7. And don't think that Microsoft won't be modifying W8 to make it better. IMHO it just needs time to mature.
Yes M$ got Windows 7 right in fact some people think its the new XP. Yes Windows 8 is a disaster saying anything else would be lying. That's what M$ wants Windows 8 on everything. M$ should be destroyed for creating the atrocity that is Windows 8 and Windows Phone(all versions).
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You JML, Virtual Douche and your new pot head friend ocean grown douche's opinions are useless trolling. Go away, why comment anymore. you don't have anything worth hearing.
Why would we do that Chris when Posting so much more fun. BY THE WAY YOU'RE THE DOUCHE!!!
You're really upset that we don't like the new Windows!
What do you expect, he's a total moron in life!
I understand W8 isn't refined and has some serious flaws, but some things have very easy fixes, such as using Stardock to refine the start menu-> metro interfaces, in a very good, clean way. I'll admit my initial reaction to the new "Windows" or "tiles" on metro was 'WTF', but it has grown on me because the productivity of W8 pro on a tablet hybrid, which still has the easy functionality and playfulness of an iPad. W8 makes it the obvious choice to gets things done and enjoy myself on my PC. iOS is great, but not nearly as productive, and W8 is only gonna get better, so give it a chance. That's all I'm saying.
I shouldn't have to get a program just to fix a broken OS. I did give it a chance and I hated it. I used the both previews I could disable metro on the consumer preview and Windows 8 was passable at best. The preview after that was pure shit. My network would disconnect on me at random the Metro UI was ugly as ever and most of my games won't play on M$ Windows 8.
Just because something works differently doesn't equate to being broken. Also i suspect your comment about most of your games not working is pure fiction. Every game i have that works on windows 7×64 works on Windows 8×64. Your use of the dollar symbol every time you refer to MS indicates an ingrained hatred of Microsoft, not just windows 8. Reading through your posts, all you do is fabricate issues that don't exist and go on and on about the start button not being there and how everything takes longer without giving any specifics. You are most likely a linux or OSX user and I am certain you do not use Windows 7 and have not tried windows 8. You are simply here to spew hate and troll Windows 8.
M$ Windows 8 is broken yes trolling is fun I need to reinstall Linux I am using Windows 7 right now which only OK. I would do Linux full time if most of my steam games would work on Linux.
I simply disagree. The fact that you can easily modify the OS with a small and simple program is awesome. Many PC users like the fact that you can tweak things to your liking, at least more simply and extensively than OSX. You can even highly modify the metro interface to your preferences so I don't see the big deal in it being 'ugly' at first. And just because your network disconnected on the metro UI doesn't mean other users experience the same (driver issues?). Sure, state your complaints and problems but don't just troll about how terrible the OS is when there are easy solutions.
No amount of modification can make metro not ugly as fuck. OS X is a better OS by fat then Windows 8. In Windows there are no easy solutions to problems.
Ok, nevermind then. Why are you even discussing this with me if you're so closed-minded? The more you write, the more you sound like another mindless fanboy. Please go back to the dark recesses of the internet and rethink your last response.
Why do you hate the truth? You sound like someone who likes mediocrity and has no sense for aesthetics.
Why do you hate the truth? You sound like someone who likes mediocrity and has no sense for aesthetics.
Why do you hate the truth? You sound like someone who likes mediocrity and has no sense for aesthetics.
I understand W8 isn't refined and has some serious flaws, but some things have very easy fixes, such as using Stardock to refine the start menu-> metro interfaces, in a very good, clean way. I'll admit my initial reaction to the new "Windows" or "tiles" on metro was 'WTF', but it has grown on me because the productivity of W8 pro on a tablet hybrid, which still has the easy functionality and playfulness of an iPad. W8 makes it the obvious choice to gets things done and enjoy myself on my PC. iOS is great, but not nearly as productive, and W8 is only gonna get better, so give it a chance. That's all I'm saying.
Cameron Greig
I take it you haven't ever tried it?
Yes I have tried M$ Windows 8 and hated it the whole way though.
For me it's pretty simple! I do not want to use a PC in this Windows 8 way! And I REFUSE to adapt or modify it to work around it! Nor do I feel I have to justify why that is!!! Enough said!!!
Yes I've used all the previews (DP, CP & RP). I'll stick with W7! Time to wish up M$!!!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Who cares if you are unable to adapt to a new OS. Plus you haven't used the final build so, your opinion is less than useless. You are entitled to it but, this is a tech blog and your obviously not tech capable and your attitude and inability to adapt to change makes your opinion less than important.
Hey IDIOT the final build is THE EXACT SAME THING as all of the other builds its NO DIFFERENT!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001652502450 Joel Beisiegel
Yeah because the final build is SO different. Those 2 new backgrounds in metro make the whole os worth it. They make any points made invalid
Nothing has really changed in terms of the UI between the final build and the RTM build. Metro UI is inefficient for a non-touchscreen user.
No one's opinion is "useless". You sir are indeed entitled to your own opinion, but don't tell people they (or their opinions) are useless.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You sir, can't tell me what I can and can't do either. See how that works. Chill out, he's a troll.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920
Well, you are right, believe what you like. BUT if he is a "troll" he is well informed "troll". windows 8 is likely going to be a meltdown like vista. Too broad a canvas that Microsoft is trying to paint. they have always suffered from trying to do EVERYTHING to EVERYONE at the same time. not a great strategy. Better do a few things well, than lots of things poorly.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I disagree completely. It does most everything well and is just getting better as more apps come out and they continue fine tuning it with updates. You are dreaming if you think it's melting down. Btw, Vista actually did very well even with all the bad press in the beginning. Vista was the small step people needed to hate on before we got Windows 7. Windows 8 is the small step to some pretty interesting things to come. So, I'd suggest that you stop listening to the bad press and get on board…or not, you can go use something else you have that option. I for one find Windows 8 to be very good, it is completely customizable, it is Windows 7 with a very ingenious touch interface. If you don't like the tiles, don't use them. Microsoft isn't forcing you to as some would have you believe. If you don't like touch, don't use it, Microsoft isn't forcing you to use touch and throw away your mouse and keyboard like some would have you believe. If you don't like hybrid devices with multiple capabilities, you don't have to buy one, Microsoft isn't forcing you to upgrade. You see how I negated all the whining BS in all these forum pots with this one paragraph. However, I guarantee the trolls will post some exceptionally retarded comments below.
I have yet to hear one single actual issue with Windows 8 in these forums here at ET. We'd all be happy to hear about them because then we can work to resolve them by making them known to MS. Bitching that you don't like the pretty colors or tiles or touch screen and fingerprints and corners and all that other retarded BS is not doing you or anyone any good. Jumping on the hate bandwagon and telling people to stay away and complaining about how ugly it is or retarded it is just makes you look stupid. Don't you get that people? You aren't cool. You just sound dumb. If you have something intelligent to say, that is actually worth hearing, please post it.
Seriously, Vista was good?? Really??? All I can say is WOW. You want specifics, Just Google (not BING) "windows 8 issues"
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I said, Vista did very well (sold) regardless of the bad press. It wasn't, after some updates of course, as bad as it was made out to be in the news.
"Sold" and "used" is two different things IBM used to do that too. The fact that XP usage is within single digits of Win7 users (as of Dec 2012) suggests that many Vista users ditched for XP. Microsoft built in a "fall back to Win7″ into windows 8. Perhaps a very prophetic move. If I buy a new PC that is what I'll do. Windows 7 is fine, and works pretty well. I am just maintaining that Windows 8 is a bad idea, and wasn't well thought out froma marketing or adoption standpoint. the Interface could have a "retro mode" for existing users, and people who like the "old style" interface. change for the sake of change is never a good idea. should have some reason. Personally, I like touch screens, always have. I am afraid of the fact that since windows is "force feeding" it to the masses, the tech will get a bad name…..sort of like 3D is now. Tech works, but is abused.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
So much of what you said there is media speak. From reading the hyped BS and believing it. Never watch the news or read a story without realizing there are two sides and they are hyping whatever will get the most publicity. And in this case, An article with a title that has a catchy negative slant on Windows 8 gets the most views.
1. They sold a lot of Vista, there is still a lot of Vista around…though I wish it wasn't. Personally I like to drop 8 on any old Vista PC and breathe new life into it. These old machines run better than new.
2. XP was good, it had a lot of years to mature and be adopted. It's outdated though and it needs to be mothballed.
3. Windows 8 has a fallback to Windows 7 in every build, it's called the desktop. I work in Win8 all day long and unless I want to, which I do on occasion, I don't see the Start screen at all.
4. Why would you want a new machine with an OLD OS? This makes no sense at all. Like buying a car with an old engine.
5. If you don't like the Start screen, MS doesn't force you to use it. They have made it customizable by 3rd parties. Up to you how you want to use it.
6. Touchscreen is the REASON it is the way it is. For touch to work, you need a bigger target. Tiles are your bigger target and they have an added bonus, they actually give you more info.
7. MS is not force feeding anything to anyone. They aren't making you use it.
8. 3d is very cool and shouldn't ever get a bad name. (If it's done properly. ) This is more press bs ruining perfectly good tech.
Wales P. Nematollahi
Why not go to the new OS? Perhaps those of us with many years of experience with computers do NOT regard Win8 as an improvement, but rather as a step back. Anyone who remembers the Corvettes that came out in the early '70s will understand.
To many of us, the UI is not intuitively obvious (and do not even try to question my intelligence; I know where I stand in that regard) and difficult to use smoothly. From the press releases, Micro$oft was not interested in customer feedback, but just interested in customers falling in line with their program. My experience with software leads me to believe that Micro$oft cares less about customer satisfaction than almost an other company in IS and IT.
Whether you have any valid points or not is obscured by your
arrogance. EVERY ONE of us who disagrees with you have opinions equally valid as yours. Your dogged determination to put down anyone who does not like Win8 ("This is more press bs ruining perfectly good tech.") leads me to believe that either you are a Micro$oft employee, an owner of many shares in Micro$oft, or a CIO who pushed Win8 onto his employer. Go ahead and put me down, too, since you are unable to conduct reasoned debate without conducting ad hominem attacks.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I am no MS lover or employee.
I am merely arguing the other side because, It is very good and I will never be swayed by the hype machine. I like it because I use it and I use it because it is actually very good. When I first started to use it with the first beta I thought it was a mess but, they have cleaned It up significantly and I am much more proficient with using it because I didn't just go…oh this sux, let me put windows 7 back on my machine. I actually gave it the benefit of the doubt and immersed myself into the OS and even though, in the ET forum, it's not cool to like Windows 8, I actually like it. I find it fast and efficient. I am able to work much more effectively on Windows 8 than I ever was in Windows 7. I, unlike many, have taken the time to learn the ins and outs and this makes using Windows 8 far faster than any other OS to do things everyday things. I am not arrogant either. I'm just better than you…LOL, JK. I am however, someone that is never afraid of change and always gives something the benefit of the doubt and a significant amount of my time before I offer up my expert opinion. Otherwise, you are just a fool kicking a car's tires and saying this car sucks without even driving it. *more car metaphors ☺ And I don't mean "you" personally.
Seriously, if you don't' use it, you shouldn't comment on it. If you haven't used it for months on many systems, you shouldn't have anything to say about it. If you tried it for 10 minutes and hated it, your opinion isn't relevant because you didn't actually use it.
Wales P. Nematollahi
Seriously, as far as I can tell, the only opinion relevant to you is one that agrees with you. You have displayed a tremendous amount of childishness and hostility toward everyone who dares to disagree with you in these forums. The other responses to you should tell you that you are out on a limb, I'm glad I am not working for you, and I pity anyone who is.
Furthermore, If you really believe all our opinions are irrelevant, why do you keep responding to them? Your statements are hypocritical. What is it about Win8 that makes you defend it as if it were one of your parents?
I am certain you'll reply to get in the last word, but frankly, I have lost all respect for your ability to conduct professional discourse. I have no more respect for you than you have for me.You really need to start writing like an adult.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
What I wrote was very professional. I guess you can't see that because you don't agree with what I wrote. In the ET forums, if anyone says one thing good about Windows 8, they get bashed over the head by people saying how STUPID they. You are calling me unprofessional? I enjoy an intelligent back and forth discussion but, when someone comes in and starts ranting immature troll BS, I will respond in turn. Sebastian should be moderating any post that directly attacks another person. Having an intelligent argument is different. Calling someone stupid or ignorant for their opinion is just wrong. Yes, I responded to a certain few individuals here with the same crap only to get the point across to Sebastian that this was not good for ET. I have watched over the months as more and more people that differ in views have left and never came back because they were attacked.
Nothing I have said is hypocritical. Well, unless it was too those certain individuals that are here to be nothing but obnoxious. What is it about Windows 8 that makes you hate it so?
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You do realize that if anyone posts anything to the contrary here at ET, they get gang raped. Take a step back and look at the posts. If someone has anything good to say about Windows 8, they are completely and utterly attacked.
Wales P. Nematollahi
Seriously, as far as I can tell, the only opinion relevant to you is one that agrees with you. You have displayed a tremendous amount of childishness and hostility toward everyone who dares to disagree with you in these forums. The other responses to you should tell you that you are out on a limb, I'm glad I am not working for you, and I pity anyone who is.
Furthermore, If you really believe all our opinions are irrelevant, why do you keep responding to them? Your statements are hypocritical. What is it about Win8 that makes you defend it as if it were one of your parents?
I am certain you'll reply to get in the last word, but frankly, I have lost all respect for your ability to conduct professional discourse. I have no more respect for you than you have for me.You really need to start writing like an adult.
Chris, I was a Microsoft zealot until I discovered the truth about the company many years ago. Microsoft stopped being an innovator about the same time (1995). They have become whom they once hated (IBM). Since Microsoft launched the world conquest tour and knocked off many many vendors and technologies (in the process stymied further growth of the PC industry) based on their keyboard mouse interface, rather than embrace and work with other technologies. You mentioned 3D, I worked in the 3D industry for 10 years, and frankly in the IT CS industry since the 1980's. I truly wish Microsoft would be more innovative and more reliable and less nation building. Windows 9 will be fine, windows 8 is another reflection of the "even odd" track record of Microsoft. Not always true, but they have to typically have a failure to create a winner later. windows 9 (whatever that ends up being) will benefit from the majority of x86 (legacy apps) going away and starting over if you will. this should have happened with NT, and could have happened, BUT Microsoft got into it with IBM and they aborted the jointly developed OS/2 system which would have leapfrogged PC development by several years. from that point on, Microsoft drug their feet and simply concentrated on displacing other technologies, often to the mutual destruction of it's own market share. Microsoft didn't even take the WWW seriously until 1995, and had to "buy" a browser (which would become internet explorer). since then most of their "innovation" has come that way, buy COTS and put their name on it. there is no media bias to any of this unfortunately it is personal experience. I really wish you were right, Unfortunately Microsoft seems to be trying to "find itself".
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Business is business, MS is going to do whatever they want. I don't particularly like them myself really it most cases. Companies buy other companies every day for different technologies and patents, this does not make a company evil. It actually makes the inventors very rich. Again, not very evil. Look at Apple, I loved Siri well before Apple bought them. Before that, Siri was nothing. Seeing a technology and buying it up and incorporating into your products is innovative in itself. I have been wishing MS would stop worrying about other companies for a long time and adopt the Apple model. Of course anytime they try to incorporate products into their OS, they get sued because they are hurting the other companies. Yet Apple can have all that nice built in software, they don't have to worry about stepping on toes. And btw, Google's the new evil big brother. ☺
I like your point about Windows 9…I've said it myself. People needed Vista to hate on before we got Windows 7. It's the same thing here. We are going to get a better Windows 9 because of all this whiplash against 8. This is a good thing. It's too easy to jump on the hate train though.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Um, did you see the earning? Looks like they found themselves.
It is a good thing they are making money. We were hoping they'd potentially buy Blackberry or Dell. Maybe so, maybe not. Would like to see a P&L breakdown (more than the article had) of what the profit represented (i.e. one shot deals) batch sale of windows 8, etc. Be nice if the profits were steady, but I think this is just a "keep the shareholders happy" thing. Apple is up in sales and stocks go down, figure that one out? Anyway, we'll have to wait for Windows 9. I am envisioning windows 7 with optional interfaces and NO METRO (or the symbol that was formerly known as Metro)! Have a great day!!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Yeah, I hear ya.
I'm also very interested to see where Windows 9 will take us. I have suggested a Windowed Start Screen, like Bluestack works for Droid apps. This way you can position it off on a second screen or something. Hard to say though.
See, now we are getting somewhere…a real discussion. ☺
What planet do you come from, Woodward? It was the OS since it's predecessor, Windows Millennium.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Stop reading now, I don't have time to argue with you on an old topic.
dale marsh
hey i had vista still do on my other laptop runs good for me . and i just bought the new windows 8 and hey you may think it sucks but if you dont play with it to figure it out then you might as well go back to the 70″s its the new thing and i am getting use to it and i like it .and i agree with you chris and i am just a construction worker not a puter wizard live and learn
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
☺ Hopefully you did a clean install and that machine should run better than new. Reply if you have any questions or needs some tips. Happy to get you started off with Windows 8 on the right foot. Get yourself on skydrive so your data is more or less backed up. Set Skydrive folders as your default document libraries. Google/bing that if you aren't sure what I mean. http://www.rawcomputing.co.uk/windows7/win7tips101.html You don't need Antivirus, it's built in. You might want to run additional Malwarebytes.org for those newer pesky bugs out there. Though, I have never come close to getting a virus on Windows 8.
dale marsh
hey i had vista still do on my other laptop runs good for me . and i just bought the new windows 8 and hey you may think it sucks but if you dont play with it to figure it out then you might as well go back to the 70″s its the new thing and i am getting use to it and i like it .and i agree with you chris and i am just a construction worker not a puter wizard live and learn
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4NZNW47MG5S2DMV3MFVNXBUOZM John
Chris, you Microsoft Troll .You really need to read the posts. Quit spouting your Marketing Crap and actually listen to peoples complaints.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Like what? every one of them I have heard is because people don't use the system the way its meant to be used. They fight the process instead of adapting . Of course you are going to hate it when you refuse to use it properly.
And enough with the attacks. If you can't prove your point without resorting to attacks and name calling, you are the one that is the troll. Marketing crap? Really? Because I can rebut all the idiotic gripes that say more about the users ability, or lack there of.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920
It just doesn't get any more arrogant and self-righteous. Try this link: You probably won't get it but it's worth a try. http://dottech.org/94027/this-hilarious-video-explains-why-windows-8-sucks-video/
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
LOL – That guy is funny. It's the same old bitchfest just funnier.
WOW! A Nokia Lumia 920! That ought to be good until at least the end of the week before something better comes along. What a tool you are.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Oh look, another troll. You're a little late to the playground kid.
Knowing how to touch onscreen tiles is not a sign of tech productivity, nor a sign of any special ability to use new things. You may not like it, but there are people who object to the new interface because it isn't as useful, and not because they don't know how to use it.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Who says it's not useful? I have read so many reports about how fluid and fast it was with a touchscreen like the Surface. I have read that from the very author of this article. Care to backup this statement with any kind of facts at all? Just one would do.
When asked to adapt to a slightly new way of doing something, there is always going to be backlash. There are always going to be people who just can't handle it and whine about how it was so much easier the old way. I personally never want to be one of those people. Can there be changes to make it better, of course. Let's focus on that.
Only 4% of Windows 8 shipments have been on a touchscreen device, according to NPD (see the "very article" above.) This isn't about a "slight" difference, or people who "can't handle" anything. This is about users who have, for the most part, to now use an OS not designed for their mode of input, one likely to cause ergonomic strain on any heavy user who does not have a touch-style track pad or touch screen monitor (i.e. most people.)
The non-touch desktop users who make up the majority of windows users should have gotten change that benefited them, not the kind of change that makes them leverage for Microsoft's desire to get skin in the tablet game.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I work in it all day long on a multi-monitor setup. There is no reason you NEED touch, it just nice to use it once in a while. Especially if you are showing someone something, or bringing up something that is designed for touch. I'm not saying I use Touch to send my email or manage VMware. It's just a NICE addition. Why do you think it is trying to replace anything? Why do you think it is causing you arm strain? A heavy user will hardly even know they are on Windows 8, 99% of the time. Once the machine is booted up and you are in work mode, there is no reason what so ever to see the Windows Start Screen if you don't want to. There is no reason to need to touch anything if you don't want to. It's there in the background waiting for when you need it. Never getting in your way. So, what's the real issue here?
Agree.. I'm a heavy user on the DT I don't sit there thinking which windows I have running… I spend most time on DT pc in full x86 productivity apps and games, I use metro ui for the things where it adds value, even with my mouse and no touch… News bento instead of rss reader and ie10 (hate to admit that this ie is good). Using metro on the surface 99% touch. I also cant understand why this is so much of an issue… especially when you can add a start menu for free and config it to boot directly to DT… win 8 has so many improvements under the hood and much better admin/power user tools… even if you chose not to use metro ui at all, you are still getting an improvement and some great new stuff. I reckon 9 will be better but if Ms had gone full forward and advanced to the level that we will get in 9 with no interim step…. I'm sure they would be hammered even more… damned if you do, damned if you don't… nothing new.
If I were to use vanilla Windows 8, I would see the Start Screen quite regularly, as I use the Start button (on the keyboard) to search for the programs I want to open. I do have a few pinned to the taskbar and the start menu, but for most of them I like to search. For me, this works great in Windows 7, and I get to have a "cleaner" taskbar. For someone using the start button that way, a small nice menu in the left corner is preferable over a giant one, covering the whole screen (yes, even the taskbar…).
Note: This is just one of the reasons I dislike the Windows 8 GUI.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Don't you think you are nit-picking? That process actually has been improved in 8. How is this a negative for you? Just because it comes up as full screen?
BTW, you just explained how inefficient you are working in Windows. I read this to a few people that just shook their heads saying why would someone work like that. This is not an issue with windows, its an issue with the way you work. Don't get me wrong I use and love the search from the start screen and the old start menu in 7 but, that was reserved for stuff I didn't work with often. The taskbar, start screen and desktop are all meant for apps you use regularly.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920
Using the search function is actually quite efficient, but as I said, my most used programs are also pinned for quick(er) access. The reason that I don't want to have 20 shortcuts on my taskbar and desktop, are the fact that I want to have a "cleaner" taskbar, with more space for all the windows I run.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
I agree, the search button is very very good. I just don't use it for stuff I work with on a daily basis so, my point is, there shouldn't be a need to be hitting the windows key over and over throughout the day. The Taskbar is by far the most efficient place to work from. Don't be shy with what you put there but, don't overwhelm it either. I keep about a dozen items on it and that pretty much takes care of my heaviest workload. And this is also my point of why Windows 8, shouldn't be in the way of any power user. I feel like people are just too caught up in hating on the Start Screen and not realizing that it's hardly ever used unless you want to use it. It's never in the way, it's only there when you want it.
Seems we use the taskbar a little differently. You seem to use the default grouping of windows, which makes pinning shortcuts to the taskbar a good choice. After I got a second monitor, I turned off window grouping, and installed "Dual Monitor Taskbar" to get a second taskbar (on the second screen). So with two taskbars and no window grouping I find it better to pin shortcuts to the start menu, and then search for the rest of my applications.
Also, when both hands are at the keyboard (Lets say you are working with a document, or editing some files in explorer), then I find it faster to just type "Win + fo + Enter" to open foobar2000, rather than reaching for the mouse. The flexibility with being able to pin to the taskbar, the start menu, the desktop, and using the search function, is something I value quite high.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Well, windows 8 has native dual monitor taskbar support without needing to purchase Taskmon. You are working against the OS which is why your fighting with instead of working with any new OS. adapting to the changes makes additional changes easier.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920
I use Dual Monitor Taskbar which is free:
And what do you mean by "working against the OS"?
CryVer – you do realize that the non-tile portions of the screen itself in Windows 8 Metro/tile mode functions as the start/search button, right? Actually, I think the search function works even better than in Windows 7 because 1) you don't need to click on a specific button but instead just click anywhere on the screen that isn't a tile and more importantly 2) searching on Windows 8 Metro mode not only allows you to search settings and applications already on your computer but also for apps in the Windows Store and for items within certain, installed apps, like eBay or Amazon.
I'm starting to think what I'll call the "just type" search capabilities of Windows 8 Metro mode is the single-best feature in Windows 8.
Incidentally, even though I have a touchscreen Windows 8 laptop, I don't actually use the touchscreen functionality that frequently; when I do it is usually to close applications or bring up the Charms bar (which is the functional equivalent of the pre-Windows 8 Start button menu selector and the way to access search functionality in Windows 8 desktop mode) to select the option to turn off the computer. I usually navigate on the laptop via 2-finger scrolling on the trackpad, which works pretty well in Windows 8.
Kirk Frederick
The smartest thing I read here was Windows 8 is simply designed for the touch screen and it should have come with detection of its absence or at least an option to trash the so-called Start screen which is a dumb down from the original Windows desktop. It just shows that Microsoft developers are screaming, "HEY LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO!! AIN'T IT COOL!".. Well,, No, it isn't. It sucks. Microsoft would be better off hiring a few interior decorators and simplifying custom-look-creatability for the end user. Maybe even developing a few at a reasonable cost to save them time. Perhaps concentrating on what should work and less on going with the flow would do better for their pockets. And hey look, they already have the expertise, they just need to add them to the roster of options.. What's that? Options? This can't hardly be a new concept, could it? Oh wait,, that's right, if we can't find ways to dumb down the end user, we won't have much control over things like piracy. Let's not forget the true motivation here.
Clicking anywhere were there is not a tile in Start Screen, would require me to press the start button first, as I work from the Desktop. As for the underlying tech for the search in Windows 7, there certainly are a lot that could be improved.
I've been looking at some Linux distros (with different desktop environments) lately, and I've seen some nice search features. An upgraded Start menu that maintains it's basic functionality, but adds to it (in a refined way) would be appreciated (from my point of view). To me, the Start Screen does not do this, but rather requires experienced users to learn something new, that for the most part is no better (if not worse) than what already existed. Shutting down and restarting even became "harder" to do in Windows 8. The over sized Metro GUI (that clearly was designed with tablets in mind) does not make the situation any better for someone running two 24″ monitors.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004088351784 Torak Tu
I agree, I too have been looking at Linux lately because of the whole windows 8 crap. I have been specifically looking at Linux Ubuntu. If MS continues on the path they are going, I then will no longer support windows. I'll go to Ubuntu. Until then I'll keep using my Windows 7. I hated windows 8 and I already know I will hate windows 9 if they again do not listen to the public and bring back our "Win7 style" interface. If I wanted a MAC OS I would have gotten a MAC OS. So windows 8 and 9 trying to be a MAC.. BAD MOVE MS.. BAD MOVE.
I would also recommend you to take a look at Linux Mint (which is based on Ubuntu), if you haven't already. I have yet to try it for a longer period of time, but it seems more suited for power users than Ubuntu.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Who says it's not useful? I have read so many reports about how fluid and fast it was with a touchscreen like the Surface. I have read that from the very author of this article. Care to backup this statement with any kind of facts at all? Just one would do.
When asked to adapt to a slightly new way of doing something, there is always going to be backlash. There are always going to be people who just can't handle it and whine about how it was so much easier the old way. I personally never want to be one of those people. Can there be changes to make it better, of course. Let's focus on that.
However the opinions of hundreds of thousands others who feel this OS is the worst ever certainly does. You can embrace this abortion called Windows 8, but I don't think you are seeing any deeper that what you think is a "cool" interface. It is anything but.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Go away
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
Windows 8 is a great tablet OS. Period.
Bruce Hanify
If you can't tell the difference between 'your' and 'you're', I don't care what your opinion is.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
YOUR pathetic, I know the difference and find it laughable that you bothered calling me out on something so trivial.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920
I hope Microsoft is DEEPLY INJURED by this Windows 8 fiasco What needs to happen is monkey boy should get his walking papers. Maybe then Microsoft may have a better chance to remain relevant.
I have ALWAYS referred to Balmer as EMBALMER! The reason?…..he is most responsible for putting Microsoft on ice faster than anyone thought possible. Balmer scuttled Microsoft's future by driving away potential successors internally as the next imperious leader. Frankly this "new strategy" begs the question of "WHY??" All they need to do was fix the issues with windows 7, and perhaps have an alternative platform that uses touch but runs existing apps. More innovation and less intimidation. All Balmer does is push FUD to the masses.
I also have less than positive things to say about Ballmer.
Cameron Greig
I have Windows 8 and I love it! Granted, it takes a while to get used to, but I have no regrets. And P.S., I am not a Microsoft employee, stock holder or anything like that.
http://twitter.com/nategatorc Nathan C
Some of you guys are missing the point. Despite personal testimonies on how much they like Windows 8, the product itself is failing. The evidence is clear:
a. Microsoft will not release clear sales numbers, instead trying to dress up its sales with questionable accounting.
b. Every independent evaluator has said that Windows 8 sales are way below expectations.
c. PC manufacturers are reporting sales of PCs below expectations as well. And this is after a period where PC sales were depressed because of the recession. As the recession has bottomed out, one would expect PC sales to increase (especially since Windows is still the premier OS for corporations and small businesses). They're not.
d. Around launch, Ballmer pushed out Steven Sinofsky, who as being in charge of Windows was previously thought untouchable. As Sinofsky was probably in charge of the stupid decisions I criticized in my original post, it looks like even Microsoft management realized Sinosky made some huge mistakes and had to go.
So, it doesn't depend whether a couple of folks can offer anecdotal evidence on why some folks like Windows 8. That battle has already been lost — the product is being rejected in the marketplace. My post is merely trying to offer up some ideas on why.
Plus, my explanations are largely easy fixes. Though a service pack, Microsoft could put back the start button, offer some other layouts for Metro including a symmetrical layout, allow the user to decide whether Microsoft boots to Metro or desktop, and send emissaries to the key partners to apologize, show that Microsoft has removed the people responsible, and promise that Microsoft will never allow those hostile actions to occur again. Hell, put in Bill Gates to do the rounds — he's still probably got a lot of credibility with Acer, HP, Valve, and Blizzard.
Of course, those fixes require some humility from Ballmer, which is a big challenge for a guy that feeds off of aggression. But it can be done and may yet stabilize things enough to put out another version quickly, which would help remove the stench of Windows 8 Metro edition a la Vista vs Windows 7.
Windows 8 isn't Vista. Sadly, it is Microsoft Bob. It tries to do a lot of the same things, and fails in a lot of the same ways, for the same reasons. (ease of use? that must mean 18 touches to shut down!)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004088351784 Torak Tu
Totally agree man. You can't do graphic art with touch screen. As a 3D artist, its impossible with your finger on the screen. NOT to mention the fact that you see smudges all over your screen.
Then there is the whole gaming aspect. Most games on PC are mouse driven. OK.. some might say, well you can use your fingers to manipulate around.. Oh great, so not only will I see smudges on my screen from fingers that I might not always be greasy free.. (( Think about that for a second.. your hands are never 100% clean. Never. )) but I also will not be able to see what I'm doing because my HUGE hand is in the way of the game. At least with the mouse its small and does the job right.
Then there is the other aspect of typing on a keyboard. Touching glass is not something I could ever get used too when it came to typing out a message. I like to FEEL the keys under my fingers.
Now some say, "Move to the future.." OK.. Star trek is not our future. WE are not building an LCARS interface here. We are not that far advanced yet. So for now, we should have the choice we want since by the time LCARS will be main stream, most of us will be dead. So no, I am not going to move on to the future. MS can change slowly sure.. but not this radically.
http://twitter.com/mattapitts Matthew Pitts
Just push the Windows button on your keyboard and use the desktop version of Windows 8. I am "typing" on one of FOUR screens running Windows 8 right now — browser is Google Chrome, but I Internet Explorer open in my 4th monitor on another website. Also, I have my toolbar docked to the top of my fourth monitor, but to the left on my other monitors…
Furthermore, each monitor has a different background image that changes every 30 minutes (could be any interval you want)… My main monitor is HDMI, other two are digital, and last is plain old rgb.
I do development, design, and everything else on Windows 8. As a bonus, I can hit the start button to get the metro interface, hop over to the Windows Store and donwload some games and apps to play with in my spare time.
Also, I can find anything on my computer way faster than I have ever been able to — if I hit Windows + Q I get a super fast, capable contextual search screen that dynamically searches my entire computer as I type. Only looking for setings (click to search in settings). Need to install a printer or see whats up with your printer? Alt + Q — and start typing printer. :-) Could not be easier and more productive than that.
I am simply being honest. More than I can say about some other people.
I get that sometimes you have to force users to change there behavior, but in this case they gone to far imho.
I sorta like Metro on my server as i use only 5 applications, and the big tiles in Metro also displays like a gadget what is happening to the program.
On the desktop i tried Metro for 3 weeks, and its just a pain in the ass, specially on 3 Eyefinity monitors plus two older 15" above them like i have, its a lot of blue! (or whatever your background color is)
And yeah, i also almost don't use the start button anymore, because i pin all my most used programs to the taskbar, so what, i just want the start button to be there when i need it.
Its just like volume nob always turns to the right side, for volume up, and is something i don't have to think about doing.
Some things just don't have to change, even do i now use 99.99% of the time a remote, i don't wane learn a new way of doing things if i use the nob on the amp, because for me the old way was not broken!
Same go's for the start button, its there it takes about 1% of my desktop space in, why am i forced to use metro when i don't want to use it!
For reference, i had one of the first Lumia 800's WP7.5 phones when they got out, and i have now a lumia 900, and have to say i like using it.
So you could say i am sorta used to the way Metro dose things.
But a mouse is not a finger, so one size fits all dose not work here.
Let me be clear, i don't hate metro, on touch screen oriented devices like tablets and convertible laptops its real nice, i just dont want it pushed down my throat on places i have no use for it.
If people have the option for metro they will start using when they learn it on and from there portable devices, and if its a handy of doing things, now they push people actually in a way against it, because they are forced to use it, not because they wane use it.
I think it would have been an easier pill to swallow if they left the Start menu, and allowed people to play with the Start Screen at their leisure. That, and make the apps be accessible in desktop mode.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
There are plenty of options to make this possible. MS does not prevent you from doing just that. I like your point about desktop mode apps. However, I'd think the better way to handle apps might be to allow a Windowed RT mode. Kinda like Bluestack that allows you to run droid apps in Windows.
I think both our suggestions are good, and FAR better than what Ballmer and company foisted on us despite negative Technet and MSDN feedback. One or the other would be great, but I think Pokki provided a great example of how Microsoft missed the boat.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1223563048 Angel Ham
In a couple of years when Apple ditches skeumorphic designs for the purely digital "mosaic" format the Apple fans will think it is the greatest GUI ever created EVER. Then people like me will point out to them that MS did it first with Win8 and they will say something like "W-well, Apple made it mainstream."
Tim Jenson
Both have their place, Microsoft has no imagination and thinks everybody that uses their products are creatively bankrupt as they are LOL.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1223563048 Angel Ham
Neither does Apple, they keep on recycling ideas from others. They do have the advantage of having plenty of fanboys (and girls) in the tech news sector though.
Apple does make things better … Windows 8 maybe a first crack, but it far from being usable or perfect (without a touch screen).
In case you haven't noticed, the Apple OS hasn't changed significantly since 1984. Finder is still there, its still at the top of the screen, and the WIMP concept is still there (Windows, icons, mouse, pointer).
Meanwhile every few years, Microsoft whacks its customers with a baseball bat of a learning curve every time they come out with a completely new and different Graphic User Interface.
And thus the MS user gets to enjoy the "Re-learn what I already knew, just gotta find where it is".
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1223563048 Angel Ham
The question is: Will the iOSification of OSX continue up to the point where both eventually will sport the same GUI?
They will probably apply for patents on the very broad concepts related to it, then claim to have invented it. Followed by litigation against competitors using similar obvious concepts to try to maintain their high margins and hold down the pace of change and innovation. Meanwhile the cultists will camp and queue for days outside their stores to buy the same model over and over again, year after year paying a premium for grossly overpriced, underpowered tech whilst still believing that the fruity themed company really did invent the rectangle with round edges. Love em or hate em, they are very good at marketing and spin.
More than half of those figures (most likely more than three quarters) are various flavors of Windows 7, presold licenses to OEMs, Software Assurance, upgrade entitlements and various other things that don't equate to somebody actually using the product. Microsoft offered upgrade licenses at firesale prices and lots of those licenses were bought "just in case" but not installed. Microsoft counts Software Assurance qualified update entitlements sold to the Enterprise on a rolling contract as a Windows 8 license even if the customer hasn't installed it. Likewise "free upgrade" entitlement to people who bought a Windows 7 PC just before or after launch. PC OEMs are selling many PCs – particularly in their "business" lines – as "Windows 8 licensed, Windows 7 pre-downgraded and preinstalled on delivery." Windows OEMs are bulk-buying Windows 8 licenses with downgrade rights as Microsoft is offering that at fire sale prices to get the Windows 8 number up, and with an average unit profit on a desktop or laptop Windows PC of $20, that's one of the many horrors PC OEMs have to do in order to not go bankrupt. All of these tactics were done with Vista but not as well, since Microsoft do learn a little each time.
TL;DR: The 60 million number is entirely bogus from a consumer acceptance point of view. It does not show that Windows 8 is going to be accepted by anybody ever. Look at web usage numbers for a truer representation of the truth. Those figures are distressingly inaccurate too, but not deliberately so.
http://www.facebook.com/andrew.s.hodge Andrew Steven Hodge
To answer the first paragraph of this article, I've seen windows 8 fly off the shelves at all of my local stores straight into the hands of users who installed it themselves. So yes, Microsoft has actually SOLD their 60 million copies that they say they have.
I suspect this is what Microsoft is REALLY doing. They're padding "sales" by counting Software Assurance customers as Windows 8 users. That is, while a customer may have 1000 XP and/or Windows 7 Licenses out there in use, they're ELIGIBLE for a free Windows 8 upgrade as part of the SA agreement…..thus they technically are already Windows 8 users. They're just not REAL Windows 8 users yet.
For f's sake! Quit your childish whining about the start button! If you were able to type your comment using the keyboard then you know exactly where the windows key is and what it does! Act your age and contribute something intelligent!
Doesn't Matter fool. The Start screen still makes want to hurl all over you ahahahah!!!
Very intelligent! NOT!
I Know its not Intelligent but neither are you if you like M$ Windows 8 and think its good when it sucks like donkey shit.
I will preface my post with this: I hate how Windows 8 looks and feels *to me*.
Now, having said that, I don't begrudge someone if they like it. What I *will* begrude them for is if they call other people names because they don't like it. I think Windows 8 is a mistake, and that they could have unified the Windows experience across all platforms without unifying an interface not meant for non-touch devices.
My opinion after toying around with Windows 8 while waiting for a line at a register to shorten: Windows 8 is ridiculously inefficient with a mouse. It's a little better with a track/touchpad. It really only is made for touchscreens, with the desktop put back in as an afterthought. There was so much negative feedback during the consumer preview, and Microsoft ignored it all. That's their fault, but I'm not going to hate on someone because they think it works for them.
Tell me I'm afraid of change, or that I *should* like change for the sake of change, on the other hand, and I won't be so pleasant. No need to be nasty to the non-fanboi Windows 8 lovers.
I think most people that prefer the start menu uses the start button on their keyboard (most of the time anyway). Also, when I search for a program (using start) I prefer a small menu that doesn't cover my whole screen. It's fine on a tablet, but certainly not on a desktop.
I have my taskbar on autohide to get more viewing space and when I need to use the orb I mouse over that area or sometimes I press the windows key. To me it isn't an issue at all. What matters most is that I get to be more pro-active and productive. I will never limit my chances nor my capacity to learn.
I actually prefer not to hide the taskbar, as I like to have an overview of the windows I have running. Like you, I also focus on being proactive and productive, but I also like to be efficient. For instance, I don't care to learn myself MacOS, as I don't have any use for it, nor do I find it interesting to learn. Learning to use Windows 8 as efficient as I use Windows 7 will take some time, and I believe I will not become as efficient (due to the touchscreen focus). So I'll rather learn myself Linux and/or FreeBSD, as it has a bigger value to me, than learning a system designed for tablets.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HC472HNLLQYOPSQ546HVNCIBQI Chris Lu
Lol, I am one of the 60 million customer sold a license. Sold as in given to me, but not used b/c Windows 8 blows.
I've seen a lot of articles insisting that Windows 8 grows on you if you just give it 6+ weeks. You can learn to live with Herpes too, it doesn't mean you want it. If Windows 8 was a real success then people would want to buy it not feel forced to live with it. There should be no "learning curve"
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
haha cute, but there is always a learning curve with any new OS.
If you have half a brain, it doesn't take long to figure out. Once you do, you realize after up to 6 days just how good it is as you become accustomed to using it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000444456757 EtaYorius Mystic
Tried win8, after a week of using it, i am glad to say i got rid of it and back to win7.
If you are so happy with win8 why are you pushy with it? good that you loved it, but also good that i dislike it… what´s the deal?
I don´t know a single person in town who uses win8, also if it´s so great and sold 60 million copies… then why Steam only shows 2% of the OS share after few months?
Even NewEgg states win8 is selling extremely slow… no hate for Win8, if anyone loves it, be my guest… i just don´t and it´s my personal opinion.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
You can hate it all you want. Doesn't bother me any at all. I've used it and because I am open minded and willing to give any new OS a chance, I have found it very nice to use. I have the opportunity as a IT manager with a budget to buy and test new PC's that are designed for it. Plus I have installed it on all my computers so that I am fully immersed in it. This is where it really shines. Deployment is fast and easy, it runs faster on older systems…better than they ever ran with XP, Vista or Windows 7 on them. They don't crash or hang and sleep mode just works. My kids can sit down at any of the many older laptops or desktops at home and continue playing games or working on projects for school without skipping a beat thanks to the very well executed Skydrive integration. As I add touchscreens to the mix, like my Surface RT and the Lenovo Tablet 2 PRO, it truly shines bright. I have multiple touchscreen windows 8 pc's on my desk in my office and I can work with all of them as if they are one machine because they are all tied together with my Windows Live account. I am only a fan of what works and this works well. It's only the beginning too. We are only just seeing the capabilities it has. Just the Xbox Games syncing alone is brilliant. I can't wait for the other apps to follow suit. Now that there is a VM View Windows App, my ability to deploy even an RT based tablet has become a reality…(potentially even a BYOD reality). Which saves me/my company money.
Look past the negative hype and give it a real go. It's worth it. Make an honest effort and spend a little time to setup your Windows 8 Desktop tiles so that they are simple and easy to use. Make sure you use your Windows Live account and setup 2 or more computers. Add a little Roboform and Firefox Sync and you can work on all of your computers as if they were one. If you can, get a touch device like the Surface.
I have to say i agree with you. Got 8×64 pro on 2 x gaming desktops, a media pc in lounge and i have windows RT on a surface. Took me less than a day to stop instinctively reaching for the start button and less than that to read about some of the other neat features they added to windows 8. The 2 desktops and media pc were dualbooted with 7×64 ultimate as i was slightly concerned about all the negative hype online and wanted a fallback position. However, since installing the windows 8 partitions, all of those machines have booted exclusively into windows 8. I have to admit… i wasn't immediately blown away by windows 8 on the desktop, it grew on me over a period of about 4-5 days up to the point that i prefered it to windows 7 [as good as windows 7 was]. Windows 8 still has some rough edges but i think the benefits strongly outweigh the few drawbacks. Shock horror… i even found IE10 is great to use and i never thought i would be saying those words and eating my own. On the Surface RT it is sublime to use, My only gripe with RT is the current absence of a sky go app and because no silverlight support in IE10 on windows RT, it means i cannot watch any sky tv [uk] online content that is included in my subscription. If Microsoft implements silverlight in full or even limited like they have for flash, then this will be great.
As for the people getting worked up and quite aggressive on here, if you prefer windows 7, stay with it…If you prefer Linux, OSX, stay with that. However if you give windows 8 a good go… and further if you use it regularly on a tablet, you get used to it so quickly… the start button becomes some distant memory. The most difficult thing and biggest change was figuring that the charms for share, search, settings etc applied to whatever app you have active on screen, instead of the classic windows application approach of configuring application settings from within a menu in the application… i figured this out in a few minutes and after temporarily forgetting on one or two occasions, it is now firmly stuck in my memory. For those that find it really challenging to remember new methods, follow MS on facebook or read the countless resources online.
On all my PC's Windows 8 does boot really fast compared to 7. However to give some clarification on why people say windows 8 is faster, in my experience i find two things… The GUI is extremely fluid and its responsiveness is consistent and executes tasks and transitions faster than windows 7, i haven't had any occasional lag you sometimes get with classic applications and i am not talking about webpage load times here. The second thing is that i find it quicker to navigate and get to my apps and files. It takes less time to do the simple things like shutting down than it does in Windows 7 if you take the time to read how to do things quickly. Gaming performance is no different from what i could tell. The differences are +/- such small numbers that its in the margins of error, i would say windows 7 and 8 perform identically in gaming… for comparison my test system was:
Rampage IV Extreme
64gb 2400mhz Ram
2 x 7970 Toxic 6gb GPU's in X-fire
2 x 512gb SSD in RAID0
2 x 3gb HDD in RAID0
As with any windows release, there are some improvements that MS need to make, but these will come over time. Also to correct one of the negative posts from somebody else in this thread,
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Exactly though you left us hanging… :)
Also to correct one of the negative posts from somebody else in this thread, (what?)
Sorry Chris, i decided to respond separately EtaYorius incorrect Steam stats and forgot to remove the sentence from the above post.. edited now.
When i looked at the steam stats last night, Win8x64 + Win 8 was over 7% and is steadily growing.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
haha cute, but there is always a learning curve with any new OS.
If you have half a brain, it doesn't take long to figure out. Once you do, you realize after up to 6 days just how good it is as you become accustomed to using it.
Microsoft is the only company that can attempt to copy Apple and completely miss the point.
From the moment I picked up an iPad I was flying through the interface like I had been using it a year. THAT is what gets people to fork over cash for stuff, not a "learning curve"
Don't forget, OEMs are selling Windows 8 licenses with downgrade rights to Windows 7. Meaning it is not known how many of those licenses are activated as Windows 8 and how many are downgraded.
Specifically on the tablet front, this is one area where Windows 8 has a good chance. Enterprise customers are hungry for a touch based device which can run their home grown Oracle/SQL apps while being manageable and can be domain joined, etc.
For example, Emirates Airlines
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Right but don't forget, this is how they always post there numbers so, this is how you compare it from release to release. Doesn't matter what people do or don't do it with. If you want to compare numbers you have to use the same ones.
I can tell you that I have the Lenovo Tablet 2 and the Surface and both are very good. I also have many clients buying touchscreen ultrabooks like the new HP and they are fast and great to use. A touchscreen is awesome and once you start getting used to it, there is no going back. All these retards that post anything negative about touchscreens aren't actually using Windows 8 with a bunch of different touch devices.
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
Right but don't forget, this is how they always post there numbers so, this is how you compare it from release to release. Doesn't matter what people do or don't do it with. If you want to compare numbers you have to use the same ones.
I can tell you that I have the Lenovo Tablet 2 and the Surface and both are very good. I also have many clients buying touchscreen ultrabooks like the new HP and they are fast and great to use. A touchscreen is awesome and once you start getting used to it, there is no going back. All these retards that post anything negative about touchscreens aren't actually using Windows 8 with a bunch of different touch devices.
15″ touchscreen monitors are near $400. Needless to say, that's a waste of money to do to my desktop, and negates the ability to use the Start screen to its fullest. The Start Screen really does need a lot of pixels to be at its best. I'm a gamer, so a lackluster all-in-one PC's specs will only go so far (not very :p).
I agree with you, touchscreen on my desktop would be a big waste of money for my usage.. i like gaming and don't want fingerprints all over my big displays and i don't want to mortgage my house to buy touchscreen displays either. I can see some usage scenarios for touchscreens on desktops in business, but not for me at home. I don't think the start screen is a dead loss without touch though… sure its nicer to use with touch but does work fine with mouse. If you have a mouse with a middle button/scrolling wheel, the scroll-wheel works great with the all the metro apps and replaces the swipe L-R.
I canned using iGoogle for RSS feeds a while back when google announced they were going to cease it and if i wanted to use it to install chrome. I refused everything google from that point on and found an alternative, Now i just use News Bento app on all my devices and reading all my choice sites is much better with touch or mouse with Scrollwheel replacing L-R swipe, same thing for the people app which i use a lot.
I am keeping my eyes on how the Leap Motion develops.. touch-like without touching, looks awesome and i think will have some practical uses for me and looks like it could work great with windows 8.
Trust me, most enterprise customers are steering clear of Windows 8 and are crossing their fingers that Windows 9 will be like Windows 7. Windows 7 gave the value of 64-bit to handle larger memory maps and a unified driver system. Windows 8 actually takes features away that people used to have in Windows 7.
That's Ballmer attempting the "less is better" Apple idea, not realizing Apple never took features away from their customers, they simply made things easy to use and simplified the interface, not the features.
http://www.facebook.com/george.crihalmeanu George Crihalmeanu
What about the License Agreement? What if I want to change my motherboard every 2 mounts??? I don't want to buy a new Windows every time!!!
http://www.facebook.com/xxcorpxx Chris Woodward
In the real world, you wouldn't do such a thing. If you did, I don't see any reason why you couldn't. Even if you had to wipe your OS each time. The worst case scenario, you would just have to call the activation line and explain your situation and they would give you a new code. I have done this many times with OEM licenses. It's very quick and easy to do.
Btw, I'd say it going to be cost prohibitive since Intel is soldering the chips in certain cpu's soon. Though I doubt that will be the case for the more gaming/performance oriented chipsets.
Right, its a non-issue. Anytime you change major components (mobo, cpu, gpu or OS reinstall) in Windows Vista or 7, something normally only done by enthusiasts, it forced you to activate again and in the worst it gets is not being able to activate online in which case it gives you the automated activation line which is a freephone number. I only ever had to use the freephone with vista, i think MS improved this for Windows 7. Looks like the same underlying methodology in Windows 8… Nothing to worry about.
Poor MS, if they could only convince us stupid cows that we need to buy a new OS every year no matter how superfluous the "upgrade" would be from what we are already using then life would be so much happier for them! C'mon people, stop being so selfish!
http://www.facebook.com/jay.p.908 Jay P
I got an HTC 8X
last week and so far I love it! Navigating is really fast and fluent and the
overall experience is slick. I prob wont upgrade my desktop (maybe my laptop)
to W8 but in terms of the mobile experience i am rather happy. I hope more
people get on board the W8 mobile ship.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Christian-Howell/802349586 Christian Howell
Not having Aero is totally SORRY… Once again Ballmer has screwed the pooch by not releasing TWO OS'… It's Intel's fault though because MS couldn't get sued for trying to run Aero on a mobile GPU… And this flat white crap SUCKS… Sometimes I can't tell where the Window ends…
I don't necessarily see it as being a bad thing to turn it off by default, but they should have allowed people to turn aero glass back on if the folks so chose.
Rick Reid
and like raising the price 400% is gonna help sales alot
I agree with you, i think the old OS business model of MS needs to change.
Microsoft is attempting a licensing model of subscription with Office 365. Unfortunately its structured to be identical to purchasing it….$400.
http://twitter.com/Toro_lol Toro-ll
what missing in this article is the fact that Microsoft want existing independent Apps/Software developers to became Microsoft's slave cash cow.
Microsoft envied the Apple's Walled-Garden & Apple-Store,
and try to 'persuade' those developers into the MS own walled garden, of course with intention to tax'em 30% just like Apple did.
The means to do that is so transparent, the Metro Apps.
Metro Apps must be digitaly signed by Microsoft, otherwise it can't be run on Windows 8.
I don't know which store this text is talking about, but I'm quite sure to have a facebook app as well as I found exactly three twitter apps (1 official). In overall this article sounds quite "anti-microsoft" and maybe isn't exactly true in most facts.
http://www.facebook.com/Jafu3457 Jafu Bumbalini
Another caveat is the deep discount for W8. Win 7 never had that advantage. When the win 8 price goes up next month, the true retail sales figures will tell the story.
Microsoft is learning the hard way that people fear change. Its like indian cinema where every movie is romeo and Juliet told with different songs. People don't want to learn something new they would rather stand at a distance and balk at how it looks than try to understand it.
So for those of you ranting on how you refuse to give it a chance I say "Way to go" Would you have preferred just a shinier windows 7?
I would like to keep Windows 8, but hope that Microsoft add some refinement in quite a few areas of metro.
http://www.facebook.com/mike.godfrey.754 Mike Godfrey
As far as my use was concerned, Win 8 is a handy cheap way of upgrading my OS for $29.99 and enabling that extra RAM I had fitted to a new Mobo.
My dilemma was this – I wanted to change my MOBO to a newer one with Sata 3 to be able to maximize the advantage of a 500 gb SSD I purchased, put an AMD 4 core CPU in place and have access to 16 gb of memory. My existing Gigabyte dual core intel computer was lagging a bit and it only had 32 bit Win 7 on it restricting memory usage. Any Win 7 upgrade path was going to cost me $120 or more and the Win 8 pro option for $29.99 fitted the bill. As I do some casual PC work for friends and OAP's I also felt it useful to get some hands on with Win 8 as well.
The end result was a new GUI which was quite pleasant, all the Win 7 'techie' stuff under the covers but still accessible and the ability to take advantage of faster hardware at minimal cost. I'm not using a touch screen nor do I intend to get one at present.
As far as the general public is concerned for desktops or laptops, I can't see any real advantage unless its for the similar reasons to mine. BTW, I did try to upgrade a 17 inch Acer laptop with a HDD in the DVD caddy slot but the DVD 'disappeared' and I had to fall back to Win 7 home premium. The desk top did not have that problem so perhaps I'll try again when I have time
On tablets, its a different story and gives us three main stream GUIs all of which are reasonable and none of which are outstanding. The price of the Surface however is way over the top just like the iPad for casual users and I'll stick with my $220 generic 10 inch tablet direct from China.
I installed Win8 as an "upgrade", not a "clean" install on a Dell XPS 730 (fast). My system is now very unreliable, sound does not function, Outlook 2007 mail import freezes after the system has been running for a couple of hours Further the system will not shutdown via the OS. A manual shutdown is always required. MS and Dell are no help. I will blow away Win8 and install Win7. Ugh!
http://www.facebook.com/ishesh.agrawal Ishesh Jacobean Agrawal
I want to ask that if i Purchase the windows 8 upgrade key now and install it afterwords say in march would it be a valid key then or not.
Will be fine to activate. U might want to get ur media centre addon key before then or at least check the terms of the offer
I have ALWAYS referred to Balmer as "THE EMBALMER"! The reason?…..he is
most responsible for putting Microsoft on the fast track to failure faster than anyone
thought possible. Balmer scuttled Microsoft's future by driving away
potential successors internally as the next imperious leader. Frankly his latest "new strategy" begs the question of "WHY??" All they need to do
was fix the issues with windows 7, and perhaps have an alternative
platform that uses touch but runs existing apps. More innovation and
less intimidation. All Balmer does is push FUD to the masses. Remember
these are the guys who built the XBOX product that would 100% melt down
without an after market fan. Microsoft has always been a 90%
company….most stuff they launch is 90% great 10% really bad! (10% is the difference between success and failure)
Wales P. Nematollahi
Isn't it interesting that the main troll in these threads, Chris Woodward, seems unable to give any evidence supporting his veneration of Window 8 without attacking others and their opinions in the most childish manner? He fits the stereotype of a Micro$oft troll. Just curious: is he Ballmer's second-in-charge?
http://www.facebook.com/aipple1 Jake Allan
windows 98, then the lemon windows NT then eventually a decent one XP…….then the lemon Vista….then a decent one window 7,,,,,,,,then the lemon windows 8 ,,,,,,then the next decent one??? see the trend ? but what about the people that part with there hard earned sheckles and who get left with lemons cuz you told em it was the best thing since pcs were invented, not a care in the world how much folk you fleece have ye Bill?? stop milking every penny out of us and ye might get more respect from the consumer… and stop thinking everyone is stupid bar you
Came here looking for info, found tech equivalent of a bad cable news program. Tech heads don't care if it's ugly, we just wanna know it works. Everyone needs to chill the F out. You know that moment when your dad would start talking about how things where better when he was your age, and you tuned out….that's what all of this sounds like. If your not a 16 year old the market isn't targeted at you anymore, ( let's face it, if we purists keep companies afloat, SEGA would still be making consoles). Long story short, im not a artist/hipsta so I don't have a Mac, I'm not a intense programmer so I don't run lenex, I'm just a dude trying to figure out if windows 8 is worth my Christmas money, or if I should just keep on using my seemingly outta date ( apparently crappy, even though it got me through college) technology?
That last line was talking about vista
J. Christ, it is very apparent that this site and majority of it's "followers" in the forums really HATES on Microsoft… You can say all you want, believe it or not, there a LOT of people out there that enjoys the BEAUTIFUL Metro UI. Including me. For me and a lot of peeps out there, Windows 8 rocks! I for one, can't wait for the Surface Pro to come out. The wait is painful actually. "The quality of apps is questionable"? Right, like the istore or droid store has only quality apps. NOT. 90% is crap anyways. Enjoy your heavily aging and dull iOS. Latah!
Windows 8
is a great OS. I do wish to have the start menu return. It is just a simple
thing to me that makes windows look real. I know that I have choices of choosing
different start menus that are available but to me they are not the same as
having the true Microsoft version. I think that it should be my choice as to
weather or not I want to use the start menu or not. So there it is. I do love
the OS.
Over half of my applications that ran in Windows 7 do not run in Win 8. In spite of what Microsoft says. Businesses can't put up with that! We're downgrading all new computers until they get their act together.
I personally like windows 8 the only things that bothers me is this glitch where backround apps open themselves back up for no reason, annoying then your typing. It will probably be fixed though. the eufi bios is frustrating, it has a redundant amount of stuff to prevent another o.s. to be installed. Im not a bing/ie10 fan but it was easy to remove them and replace them with google/chrome I don't know if I did if I where to buy a surface, I like the surface but id only be willing to pay 600 max for non-pro 8.
Kirk Frederick
To be perfectly honest – Windows 8 should not be installed on a machine without a touchscreen. Unless you are a new user without habits, Windows 8 will be nothing but annoyance to you. If you are a business owner and have productivity in mind, start thinking of re-training and adaption costs immediately before investing in this time sucking OS. There is actually an extra step that will add to the problem an already tested human productivity factor that hinders us. Stick with Windows 7 if your already there. Windows 8 is just another bells-N-whistles mess up that you do not need. So far though Windows 8 has been fairly stable and control is present, and some features of the old are still available through add-ons and light apps. Personally, I feel, if you haven't figured it out by now, it's just as bad as Vista and is about as exciting as Windows 2000, which was phase out quickly with Windows XP. Don't make the mistake of following Microsoft's plight, if anything, wait for Windows 9 and plan on upgrading to new peripherals entirely.
Edward Casey
My take on this article is simplistic and common sense. It is thus:
Company A make a product. The press and early adopters really like it; sales take off.
Company B makes a product. The press and early adopters tend to not like it.sales are lackluster.
Conclusion: to make sales, make a product people will like.
marvin nubwaxer
i'm using windows 8 right now in virtual machine to comment and i have a mouse and keyboard. the touch interface just covers the same old system that's evolved from windows 2000, which i think was MS masterpiece and i wish i could still use a system as light and secure as it was. windows 8? big yawn; not for me.
http://twitter.com/summerhousejo Jo Lucy Davies
Im one of a rapidly growing number of Windows 8 users that is locked out of the system and onto a Temporary Profile, with access to files denied, no ability to save anything and no access to apps. My exile came after the computer froze and had to be turned off, as is the story of some of others in the same situation. BUt the problem as I see it, is this; you've got to be pretty darn good with computers to deal with the fix. I'm just a regular person and I've had about as much as I can take with it! Surely a degree in computing is not a regular requirement for keeping a PC going? Something has got to be wrong here, and something has got to be done.
http://twitter.com/suntam Tammy Stouffer
I got the windows 8 pro upgrade as soon as it was available. I was running windows 7 Home premium on my Toshiba laptop. P745-4160 I kept Windows 8 for about 1 week and switched back to 7. I tried that twice and I just do not like it. I am very into the personalization and looks of my PC. I feel that when the took away that, it was the killer for me. I want to use the font I want to use, Sorry 8 not good!!!
Don Koscheka
My computer is infected with the "Sinofsky virus" which turns your perfectly working Windows 7 into Windows 8.
Windows 8 is more like a virus than an operating system – the metro interface is interesting but feels like a bolt-on, I lost most of my device drivers when upgrading, it's nearly impossible to find all my applications and the integration between the desktop and metro is clunky – things that used to take one click (like launching new applications) now take 3 or more clicks.
I get the fact that Windows 8 is designed for touch-screens, but did they have to ignore us mouse users?
Michael Henry
Windows 8 sucks beyond belief. I don't know how it works on a tablet, but on a laptop or desktop it is the worst, most frustrating OS ever made. You have no control over your OS experience and Windows 8 is completely locked down. No safe mode, no bios, no ability to boot live disks or use any other operating systems. I started developing using Microsoft's .Net technology last year, but this crap is pushing me back to Linux and open source solutions. Microsoft, you suck. You really, really suck.
http://www.facebook.com/jose.m.borreguero Jose Miguel Borreguero
Somebody please, enlighten me how do I place thirty applications on the Metro screen in such a guise that I won't loose my sanity when looking for anyone icon. The START button on my XP has a hierarchy of categories (media, internet, security,…) which makes finding any application a tour of heaven. How do I do that on this pestilent Metro screen?
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
Here's my opinion:
Running the RTM version on my new *normal* laptop for some time now. I find myself wishing it came with Windows 7 instead. Buying a new laptop with Windows 8 only to install Windows 7 later is like buying a new car only to replace its transmission because the previous generation was better.
Windows 8 is a great Tablet OS, but as a desktop/laptop OS, it kinda fails. The touch-centric design philosophies made their way even in the 'every-pixel-counts' environment of the desktop, making it more frustrating to use than Windows 7. Significantly harder? No. Less enjoyable and more of a chore? YES. Why put Metro front and center when desktop users will just minimize it anyway? Why put the charms bar on the desktop environment when nothing in it (Share? Devices? Doesn't work on the desktop. Search? Slow way to get into search, just hit the Windows Button.) is designed for the desktop? Why bury the shutdown / restart within some three/four step charms bar procedure? Why have an entire side bar that pops up to obscure the scrollbar, restore, and close button of any maximized window when you click on, say, network connections? Installing a lot of programs? Expect the Metro Start Screen to be cluttered, in ways that would make the Windows XP start menu look like a filing cabinet. The search, as noted on other websites, and in my own experience, is actually *worse* than Windows 7, putting whatever touch-screen oriented app first and actual files that I want to use second, if they even appear at all.
If you don't like tiles, don't use them? Surprise! Metro can't be disabled, and soon, you'll run out of space on you taskbar to pin stuff to, forcing you to go back into that square space, which, arguably, isn't quite as efficient at displaying items, anyway. Microsoft isn't forcing us to upgrade? Tell that to several new non-touchscreen computers that come "Windows 8 only", or better yet, just tell that to my laptop.
And to top things off, Avast! doesn't work on it (causes a Blue Screen every two hours or so), and Windows Games Live Marketplace (latest, from Xbox Live) is experiencing *serious* issues, making any of my games that require said system buggy as hell. I experienced none of this issues with my 'old' Windows 7.
I get Microsoft's logic; with the emergence of tablets and phones as (finally) a viable companion, or, alternative (depending on your use) to the all-powerful PC, they want one OS to rule them all. A sound idea on paper, but the execution was flawed. It appears what they really did was take two completely different OSes (Metro and Windows), staple them together, and hope everything sticks. Control Panel, in particular, has been gutted, and there are no indications whatsoever on what part of the OS you have to go to for a particular setting – a recurring theme, since there are no indications on anything Metro whatsoever, such that old-time Windows users will be greeted by a totally unfamiliar interface with no tutorials other than a completely inadequate loop animation on setup.
It does have some valid improvements though (speed isn't one of them), like the new file transfer/copy mechanism, the battery-saving 'flat' look (personal preference – I like it, but I also like Aero, which is completely GONE), and the new task manager to name those that come at the top of my head, but again, these small things do not justify a new OS, and neither are they Windows 8 only – they could've been delivered as an update to Windows 7, and yet, I'd wager they're not going to – which makes me dislike Windows 8 all the more.
All-in-all, it's not great (I don't see any significant upgrade to Windows 7), and it shouldn't be THAT terrible (I don't see a problem with the Metro for touch-screen, or for the Facebook-Twitter crowds), but with Windows 7 hot on its heels, I would like to withdraw the latter statement. It's text-book case of a parent setting drastically high standards for the child, and said child's only response is "You don't understand me! No one understands me!"
I sincerely hope Windows 9 learns from the mistakes of Windows 8 and does better. And NO, they still haven't returned Windows Media Player's Mini-mode in Windows 8. Tsk tsk.
http://twitter.com/SoftwareWorlds SoftwareWorld
People are just not buying new desktops , laptops anymore that easily. The major reasons in favor of tablets and smartphones is portability , low power usage , price and mobility.
How can a desktop or a laptop ever match that ?
The entire concept of a desktop must change.
http://twitter.com/SoftwareWorlds SoftwareWorld
yes we see that already but still you can't make a desktop as small as a smartphone or a tablet…you can't make it use less power than a smartphone and you can't go mobile with it.
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
It doesn't have to. The PC has its own uses. True, fewer people actually need a 500w super-powered computer, but as a programmer and network administrator, I'd resign if I were to work with a tablet and smartphone.
http://twitter.com/SoftwareWorlds SoftwareWorld
People are just not buying new desktops , laptops anymore that easily. The major reasons in favor of tablets and smartphones is portability , low power usage , price and mobility.
How can a desktop or a laptop ever match that ?
Peter Noble
I do not know about the real numbers but I have upgraded my MacPro to run virtual Windows 8 PRO, my three HP workstations, and my Sweetwater CS450. In contrast my first MacBook Air 2010 still runs Snow Leopard, second runs the horrid Lion, and only two workstations run Snow Leopard and W7 but the majority run W8. I also, or we also have an MS Surface RT which is far more solid than iOS6!
I have shares in MSFT and APPLE. I prefer Windows 8 or Snow Leopard. Yet, I prefer Windows 8 as it scales beautifully.
If enough users protested to Steve Ballmer and requested…no, DEMANDED that XP be continued, he would almost have to give in. I would gladly pay a yearly fee, much as I do for anti-virus software in order to provide M$ with a revenue stream and allowing those of us who have spent YEARS taming the XP beast. Forcing computer user into the cloud where strangers keep YOUR data on some unidentified, unsecured mainframe (ALL computers can be hacked no matter what they tell you) is insidious and, ultimately, dangerous. Windows 8 is the most unusable OS of all time; worse than Millennium, and worse than Vista which was supposed to serve as a gateway into the future of personal computing. What was to have been a gateway has become a portal into hell itself. It is disappointing and at the same time perversely gratifying to see that W8 isn't making the huge splash Micro$oft had hoped. Instead W8 computers are still sitting on store shelves all over the country because, I think (and fervently hope) that computer users are getting wise to the fact that just because Micro$oft, or Apple pumps them up over a "new and better" OS, doesn't mean it is. Let's hope the public wins one for a change and we get what WE want, rather than having the giants in the computer industry decide that for us. Write to Ballmer. Let him know you're not falling for BS marketing any more.
OK so I;ve been using a Windows 8 PC for 2 weeks now. I absolutely HATE it and here are just a few tidbits why:
1. Email (even using Outlook) runs on IMAP only. If you have a traditional POP3 email (which I've had for several years with no problems) you have to import it (complex process) and can't go back. But he worst part of this is that it means every time I get emails on my iPhone I must download all the emails I may have already deleted. With the volume I get it means I really cannot use my cell phone for emails unless it's an emergency. It also means I sometimes cannot fetch emails for up to 2 hours due to synch issues with my GoDaddy hosting service.
2. It takes multiple clicks and a "How to…" web search for instructions on how to do simple things such as "Shut the PC down".
3. The flashy front page is useless and I go straight to the traditional desktop – only so many traditional functions are missing and it requires numerous clicks to find things.
4. You are stuck with the IE 10 browser, which is incompatible with 25% of the websites
out there. It's a nifty idea to not have to download flash and java updates, but that makes it impossible to access some websites. It took me 20 hours to figure
out how to access a customer portal – including numerous web searches to figure
it out. Also, if you imported your favorites you will not be able to add new favorites unless you re-login as an administrator…and then shift around emails, etc. to that profile. Add 4 hours to your set-up. This is just an example of how piss-poor MSFT
did with Windows 8.
5. If all this sucks and you want to downgrade to Windows 7 you can forget it…it is extremely difficult.
I dread going Mac but I'm at that point now. My Mac friends do not complain like this so there must be something to what they are doing.
What's truly terrifying is the interface shows up in Server 2012! Why in god's name does a network administrator need that!
http://www.facebook.com/lance.guinto Lance Guinto
Because Microsoft: We're Not Happy, Until You're Not Happy
http://twitter.com/SoftwareWorlds SoftwareWorld
Windows 8 is trying to be a one size fit all operating system.
My opinion of windows 8 is that its made for tablets with touch screens in mind. Whereas windows 8 on desktops and notebooks without a touch screen is not that intuitive or a fun experience.
Everyone who sells computers got a free copy of Windows 8 where I work. Since we have thousands of stores with at least 5 associates in each that accounts for many sold licenses. Since MS probably gives free copies to everyone involved in its sales I would think that free copies are actually quite a large portion of the reported "Sales".
I may be forced to sell computers with touch screens and Windows 8, but for my own use my next computer will most likely be a Mac.
http://twitter.com/BugsWeta Bugs Weta
Same garbage from MSFT. A half-assed mobile phone based OS cobbled together with the worst features of Vista. A disgrace. It's incredible how MSFT takes steps backwards every time it churns out another garbage OS or Zune or anything. A completely dead money company at every possible level.
I've been working in a Windows computer environment pretty much daily, full time since it first came out and have always been a 100% Windows guy. And. I. Hate. Windows. 8. But according to all the IT geeks, I guess I'm just stupid. Insert sarcastic remark here. Who cares, eh? People like me are only their primary users. Maybe not much longer.
It helped me a lot..!!! I didn't really like the way Windows 8 Looks..
Think it is premature to judge windows 8 yet. They are just starting to get the hybrid laptop/tablets out there. As far as RT I have enough ARM devices. I think a deatchable 17 inch laptop/ tablet with 6 gig ram. Right now the envy is still to small for me.
Andre Bell
Windows 8 suck. I've used it for three days. I had to re-install the drivers for the blue tooth mouse each time after the laptop went to sleep. Now it started asking me to type in the password for the mouse… and it refuses to install it. The interface is awful, this is not a subjective complain but widows simply close before you can complete an operation (in this case adding the mouse). Unfortunately I have to buy this rubbish to develop things, but I honestly hope this is the last thing I buy from Microsoft.
I'm here as a former Android user, who is now stuck with Android, because Verizon sucks, and I wanted a prepaid plan that doesn't cost more than my mortgage every month. I miss my Windows phone! Whoever wrote this article is an idiot, and you need to wash your hair…. maybe shave too. Switch to windows phone for a week, then see what you have to say about it. There is no better OS…. period.
http://twitter.com/yyl000 Henry Lu
I will reject Windows 8 as much as I can, just because it is plain ugly. I wouldn't use it if it is provided for free, not to mention paying for it. Why would I want to pay for something that is less pretty and does about the same thing as what I have now on Windows 7.
And Microsoft, please stop trying to use the same UI for both mouse-based and touch-based operations. They are different use cases, and require different designs. From Pocket PC to Windows Mobile to Windows Tablet PC Edition to Windows 8, you have times and times again demonstrated that what works well with a mouse doesn't work well with fingers, and vice versa. Apple gets that from the very beginning. When will you?
http://obatkeputihanonline.com/ dian pamungkas
"How many computers are actually running Windows 8 or Windows RT?" difficult question to answer, but if the question is bagaimana tips mengatasi wanita frigid maybe I can answer.