Windows 8 - Windows 8.1 now available!

All seems a bit Vista-esque so far.

To quote Fox News (!):

...we have become operating system agnostic. Windows or OS X or Linux? Who cares? It just isn't a very important issue any more.

Microsoft are trying to flog people a new Operating System when Windows 7 in terms of Dekstop/Laptop computers does the job just fine, using a system we all know.

There's nothing less fun than learning a new Windows at the best of times, let alone one that's so radically different...

In terms of touch screen devices & tablet computers then it's a different story. Just one fiercely dominated by Apple & Android.

KKLEIN wrote:To quote Fox News (!):

...we have become operating system agnostic. Windows or OS X or Linux? Who cares? It just isn't a very important issue any more.

Microsoft are trying to flog people a new Operating System when Windows 7 in terms of Dekstop/Laptop computers does the job just fine, using a system we all know.

There's nothing less fun than learning a new Windows at the best of times, let alone one that's so radically different...

In terms of touch screen devices & tablet computers then it's a different story. Just one fiercely dominated by Apple & Android.

Well there's not much they can do to improve Windows 7 anyway, there's been very few complaints and there's an increasing amount of time that users spend in the Browser rather than the OS.

As for tablets, they'll be outselling laptops in a couple of years and Microsoft really needed to do something drastic as not to get left behind as they did with smartphones.

I'm not too impressed on my laptop. I can see how it would work on a tablet but in terms of usability on a mouse/ keyboard it's a step backwards. I miss my Start button. I miss the instant search for apps and files

Oh and the stupid strawberry floating splash screen on messaging means it takes longer to get to Live Messenger someone. And there's no way to merge contacts on People yet like there is on Windows Phone. Oh and lots of Apps don't work in the UK yet (Music, Video, Xbox Companion)

KKLEIN wrote:To quote Fox News (!):

...we have become operating system agnostic. Windows or OS X or Linux? Who cares? It just isn't a very important issue any more.

Microsoft are trying to flog people a new Operating System when Windows 7 in terms of Dekstop/Laptop computers does the job just fine, using a system we all know.

There's nothing less fun than learning a new Windows at the best of times, let alone one that's so radically different...

In terms of touch screen devices & tablet computers then it's a different story. Just one fiercely dominated by Apple & Android.

I agree with you. As a standard desktop os i cannot see my company bothering. They're only now finishing migration from XP (having skipped Vista) across our full user base.

NickSCFC wrote:

KKLEIN wrote:To quote Fox News (!):

...we have become operating system agnostic. Windows or OS X or Linux? Who cares? It just isn't a very important issue any more.

Microsoft are trying to flog people a new Operating System when Windows 7 in terms of Dekstop/Laptop computers does the job just fine, using a system we all know.

There's nothing less fun than learning a new Windows at the best of times, let alone one that's so radically different...

In terms of touch screen devices & tablet computers then it's a different story. Just one fiercely dominated by Apple & Android.

Well there's not much they can do to improve Windows 7 anyway, there's been very few complaints and there's an increasing amount of time that users spend in the Browser rather than the OS.

As for tablets, they'll be outselling laptops in a couple of years and Microsoft really needed to do something drastic as not to get left behind as they did with smartphones.

No they won't, not even close.

Fatal Exception wrote:I'm not too impressed on my laptop. I can see how it would work on a tablet but in terms of usability on a mouse/ keyboard it's a step backwards. I miss my Start button. I miss the instant search for apps and files

Oh and the stupid strawberry floating splash screen on messaging means it takes longer to get to Live Messenger someone. And there's no way to merge contacts on People yet like there is on Windows Phone. Oh and lots of Apps don't work in the UK yet (Music, Video, Xbox Companion)

Instant search is still there, although annoyingly it now defaults to just apps from the start screen.

And yeah, as things stand it's definitely a step down from Windows 7 in terms of desktop usability, without a touchscreen at least. However, a Transformer-esque Windows 8 tablet with keyboard dock combo would still be my dream machine. As a tablet OS it's superb, and unlike Android it still works well with a mouse and keyboard. Indeed, once you've got a few pinned apps on the desktop taskbar it might as well be Windows 7 while you've got a keyboard and mouse in play, with the added bonus of having access to your metro apps. At the same time too if you snap in a twitter app or something.

KKLEIN wrote:There's nothing less fun than learning a new Windows at the best of times, let alone one that's so radically different...

Speak for yourself.

man-eater chimp wrote:Looks like a fantastic thing for tablet PCs, and when touch screen desktops become more common it will be a fantastic OS. But as we still live in the age of traditional mouse-keyboard PCs (the latter with stay methinks) I think its come too early.

Will be good to see where PC gaming goes if touch screen PCs become the norm though, as this is clearly designed with those/tablets in mind.

I'm wondering how older games like Red Alert 2, Broken Sword and Blade Runner work with a touchscreen and a tablet.

Going to be a lot of confused people buying ARM powered devices not realising 99% of existing PC software won't work with them. Maybe Windows 8 ARM tablets will be marketed as 'Tablets', and x86/x64 tablets will be marketed as 'Tablet PCs'.

http://m.engadget.com/default/classic/a ... latest_art

Lenovo has revealed the pricing for its very flexible Ultrabook -- and it's about as pricey as you might suspect for a Windows 8 tablet-laptop. Lenovo UK has the basic IdeaPad Yoga pegged at £1,200 ($1,900) -- a nudge above previous estimates -- while a meatier Core i7 model will set you back £1,500 ($2,380). Neither device has been gifted a release date just yet, but it does cement the likelihood of the 0.67-inch hybrid launching beyond Beijing relatively soon. Alongside the IdeaPad Yoga, Lenovo's U series has pulled itself together following its recent disassembly at the FCC's hands, with both the U310 and U410 also UK-bound. Prices will start from £600 but Lenovo remains similarly mute on other launch details. We'd advise working on your bank balance's flexibility now.

£1,200

I've been using Microsoft OS's, products & services for nearly 20 years. I've used nearly everything they've released extensively and without a shadow of doubt, Windows 8 is the biggest lemon they've ever released. They are essentially shoe-horning a mobile operating system UI into a desktop OS in a desperate attempt to steal back some market share in the tablet market.

Windows 8 is just too damn frustrating to use with a keyboard & mouse. If trying to hit the 'sweet spots' in the bottom left and right corners wasn't annoying enough, Microsoft in their wisdom decided to shunt the Shut Down/Restart options in the settings menu. The strawberry floating settings menu!

For a laugh I gave my Dad a laptop to use with Windows 8 and I asked him to do a few simple things like log on, add a printer and shut down, it was a joke. Now my Dad is not an advanced user, he's just the typical home user. His needs are simple, he just wants to browse the web, look at photos and watch videos. Windows 8 just makes everything a chore to do. The constant flicking between the Metro UI & desktop 'app' gets on my strawberry floating tits. It's either one or the other, combining both is just strawberry floating madness. I don't care for the full screen tiles either. And opening a picture brings up that ghastly Photo app that no longer works (it tells me an update is available but then tells me I am running the latest version, so it's borked).

I'm only running it as a VM on my own PC at home but there's no way I'm buying that gooseberry fool. Bare in mind Microsoft are only going to be making a few minor changes to the UI. So as a desktop OS, it's shite.

Steve wrote:I've been using Microsoft OS's, products & services for nearly 20 years. I've used nearly everything they've released extensively and without a shadow of doubt, Windows 8 is the biggest lemon they've ever released. They are essentially shoe-horning a mobile operating system UI into a desktop OS in a desperate attempt to steal back some market share in the tablet market.

Windows 8 is just too damn frustrating to use with a keyboard & mouse. If trying to hit the 'sweet spots' in the bottom left and right corners wasn't annoying enough, Microsoft in their wisdom decided to shunt the Shut Down/Restart options in the settings menu. The strawberry floating settings menu!

For a laugh I gave my Dad a laptop to use with Windows 8 and I asked him to do a few simple things like log on, add a printer and shut down, it was a joke. Now my Dad is not an advanced user, he's just the typical home user. His needs are simple, he just wants to browse the web, look at photos and watch videos. Windows 8 just makes everything a chore to do. The constant flicking between the Metro UI & desktop 'app' gets on my strawberry floating tits. It's either one or the other, combining both is just strawberry floating madness. I don't care for the full screen tiles either. And opening a picture brings up that ghastly Photo app that no longer works (it tells me an update is available but then tells me I am running the latest version, so it's borked).

I'm only running it as a VM on my own PC at home but there's no way I'm buying that gooseberry fool. Bare in mind Microsoft are only going to be making a few minor changes to the UI. So as a desktop OS, it's shite.

So that's where they are.

cnet wrote:

Microsoft has lifted the lid on the desktop for Windows 8, and it features a cleaner look than previous Windows operating systems. It's also flatter than a pancake.

Shown off on a post on the Building Windows 8 blog, the desktop does away with Aero Glass, which was the UI introduced on Windows Vista. That means "flattening surfaces, removing reflections, and scaling back distracting gradients." And hence a cleaner look. I think it resembles Google Docs and Gmail since the refresh a while back.

The desktop has been brought "closer to the Metro aesthetic, while preserving the compatibility afforded by not changing the size of window chrome, or system UI." Black text on a light-coloured chrome will remain, just as in Windows 7, to keep it compatible with existing programs.

The aim was for the desktop to feel "light and airy" with a chrome style that doesn't distract from the content of the app.

Clean and crisp are the order of the day, with no more glass and reflections, and squared off edges for the windows and taskbar. Basically, it's a lot plainer, and much less flashy, with more muted colours.

strawberry float this operating system.

That's exactly what people have been asking for since Windows 8 was revealed.

Well I haven't.

If you're that fussed, you can always turn it off anyway in Windows 7.

Windows 7 4 lyf

KKLEIN wrote:Well I haven't.

If you're that fussed, you can always turn it off anyway in Windows 7.

Indeed, but in Windows 8's case the Aero Glass thing feels totally out of place with the Metro aesthetic, and personally I think it looks a bit dated too.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:Windows 7 4 lyf

That's the thing really. Like it or not, I think it's brilliant that Microsoft are going all out with Windows 8. Windows 7 is still going to be around for some time for those that don't like the changes, and releasing the same thing again is just pointless.

Umm, I think I'll stick with 7 thanks.

Mogster wrote:

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:Windows 7 4 lyf

That's the thing really. Like it or not, I think it's brilliant that Microsoft are going all out with Windows 8. Windows 7 is still going to be around for some time for those that don't like the changes, and releasing the same thing again is just pointless.

Not really. If they were going all out for Windows 8, the desktop UI will look Metro-ish, rather than the poor man's Aero Glass they've decided to use. Now it looks like a clumsy mash-up between Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7, and it doesn't gel together.

Delusibeta wrote:

Mogster wrote:

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:Windows 7 4 lyf

That's the thing really. Like it or not, I think it's brilliant that Microsoft are going all out with Windows 8. Windows 7 is still going to be around for some time for those that don't like the changes, and releasing the same thing again is just pointless.

Not really. If they were going all out for Windows 8, the desktop UI will look Metro-ish, rather than the poor man's Aero Glass they've decided to use. Now it looks like a clumsy mash-up between Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7, and it doesn't gel together.

Sorry but I have to disagree, after using it for a week or so it starts to make a lot of sense. Far better than just Windows 7. I think it wont be as good as Windows 9 (or what ever they call it) but it is far far from another ME / Vista strawberry float up

Delusibeta wrote:

Mogster wrote:

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:Windows 7 4 lyf

That's the thing really. Like it or not, I think it's brilliant that Microsoft are going all out with Windows 8. Windows 7 is still going to be around for some time for those that don't like the changes, and releasing the same thing again is just pointless.

Not really. If they were going all out for Windows 8, the desktop UI will look Metro-ish, rather than the poor man's Aero Glass they've decided to use. Now it looks like a clumsy mash-up between Windows 7 and Windows Phone 7, and it doesn't gel together.

Glass will be gone for the release preview, and it's due to change further before release. There's only so far they can go without ditching legacy apps altogether, which is exactly what they're doing for Windows RT.

As for the clumsy mash up thing, the two fit together surprisingly well in practice. I've been using the consumer preview as my main OS for some time now, and even though I barely use the Metro apps (due to lack of decent ones rather than out of principle), the start screen is excellent. It's great to be greeted with the live tiles when you log in, and it's a far better launcher than the start menu or even the taskbar in many cases.