Windows 8 - Windows 8.1 now available!

Finally going to have to take the plunge. My ThinkPad X220 Died ( :cry:

) and I'm going to get myself a Lenovo Flex15.

I was pretty unimpressed when I used 8 before, but 8.1 looks like a decent update.

I think Manny would just be happiest on Windows 3.1.

People like him are why we're going to get the old Start Menu back in Windows 9

Probably 90% of people aren't happy with Windows 8. And it isn't just nontechnical people either, the platform is a mess and designed for touchscreens. It has two settings menus that conflict with each other ffs.

You people are just trying to be hip. It could have been done much more better, say for example, focusing on the platform that you have the most market-share in.

Windows 8 is far from 'a mess'.
The whole idea of Windows 8 was cross-platform familiarity. Can you use a Windows Phone? Then you can use a computer and a tablet. Can you use a Windows tablet? Then you can use a Windows Phone and a computer. Can you use Windows 8? Then you can use a Windows Phone and Windows tablet.

With the increasing popularity of Windows phones, it's a strategy that, in the long term, I think can pay off.

Windows 8 IS a mess. Unlike every other version of Windows, including ME, I can't figure out how to do some gooseberry fool without Googling it. I'll get used to it, but I shouldn't have to.

Incremental updates to how people use the UI would have been a better idea I think for win 8, start with what people know and slowly convert them via service pack updates then introduce them to their grand vision for 9.

It has a few issues with stuff being in off places, but for the most part you can just type when you want on Start.

It will get better on the next few versions as they tune it, they had to be messy really. They are the first to merge the Tablet and desktop OS's its something everyone will do eventually they are just ahead of the curve, its uncharted territory and although they have made some mistakes I still think they have done a pretty good job.

The main thing is giving it the time to get used to its ways. But that not that new a thing you had to do that when moving from XP to Windows 7.

It's two OSs stuck together. There seems to be no consistency to whether a feature or setting launches in desktop mode or metro. At least I could turn off the fast app switching, that confused the strawberry float out of me. Swiping in from the left switched app, rather than bringing up the list. It was doing my head in as it kept happening and I didn't know how I'd done it.

Lagamorph wrote:Windows 8 is far from 'a mess'.
The whole idea of Windows 8 was cross-platform familiarity. Can you use a Windows Phone? Then you can use a computer and a tablet. Can you use a Windows tablet? Then you can use a Windows Phone and a computer. Can you use Windows 8? Then you can use a Windows Phone and Windows tablet.

With the increasing popularity of Windows phones, it's a strategy that, in the long term, I think can pay off.

The problem being that tablets/phones and real computers are very different beasts, with different expectations and different inputs. You can't force a "one size fits all" solution. Would you want Android on your PC?

Fatal Exception wrote:It's two OSs stuck together. There seems to be no consistency to whether a feature or setting launches in desktop mode or metro. At least I could turn off the fast app switching, that confused the strawberry float out of me. Swiping in from the left switched app, rather than bringing up the list. It was doing my head in as it kept happening and I didn't know how I'd done it.

You have to swipe from the left, then keep hold of the app and swipe back to bring up the list. It works well once you get used to it, but it's not immediately obvious.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:The problem being that tablets/phones and real computers are very different beasts, with different expectations and different inputs. You can't force a "one size fits all" solution. Would you want Android on your PC?

The thing is, you can pretty much ignore either side of the OS depending on what type of PC you're using. I use my desktop more or less the way I did with Windows 7, except I have a taskbar on every screen now. The only Windows 8 app I ever really use is Netflix, with most of the Start screen devoted to desktop apps and a few useful live tiles. On the Surface Pro however I mainly use the Windows 8 apps while using it as a tablet, rarely seeing the desktop. If I stick it on a desk I switch to the desktop and use it like my PC.

Describing Windows 8 as two OSes stuck together isn't inaccurate, but it's kind of a good thing in that you can ignore either side depending on how you use it. I think for Windows 9 they should actually take it further down this route, so you're not sent over to Metro to change Windows settings on a desktop PC for instance. The default apps should be consistent too, and this could be solved so easily with a simple question during the OOBE asking if you're using a desktop or a tablet. It could then set all the defaults accordingly.

The problem I do have with Windows 8 is that it's clearly a work in progress. Its direction has changed for the better since 8.1 but there are still some odd features missing. I found out yesterday that the wireless network manager from Windows 7 was nowhere to be found, so I had to use command line tools to remove one at work. On the whole though it's like Windows 7 with a better launcher, faster boot times and better looks.

I know the hold thing, but it was gooseberry fool. I kept accidentally switching apps until I turned it off, as it affects the touchpad too.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:
Lagamorph wrote:Windows 8 is far from 'a mess'.
The whole idea of Windows 8 was cross-platform familiarity. Can you use a Windows Phone? Then you can use a computer and a tablet. Can you use a Windows tablet? Then you can use a Windows Phone and a computer. Can you use Windows 8? Then you can use a Windows Phone and Windows tablet.

With the increasing popularity of Windows phones, it's a strategy that, in the long term, I think can pay off.

The problem being that tablets/phones and real computers are very different beasts, with different expectations and different inputs. You can't force a "one size fits all" solution. Would you want Android on your PC?

Exactly.

The start menu is simply superior to the start screen when you are using a large monitor. Switching between different screens in order to launch a new application is probably necessary in a smaller screened touch device as you need be able to present the content in a limited space and make icons large and predominant enough for accurate touch command. On a PC it is just pointless, removing you from the applications you are working from and decontextualising you in order to show you an array of over-sized icons and allow you to use a search function that could make much more efficient use of space. Pressing Win + S to search for things is always better when using PC Windows 8 than just pressing start as it replicates the functionality of the start menu by allowing you to search for and launch things while not hiding what you are already working on.

Remember, in mobile devices that are touch enabled presenting lower information density and switching between screens for menu options is necessary sacrifice. Doing the same thing on PC is an unnecessary one. It's basic common sense. The only reason MS did what they did is because they wanted to create unity between platforms (i.e. exploit their near-monopoly on PC to leverage sales in tablets and phones). They did not do it because they it is better for PC users. Does anyone mind explaining to me why I am 'backwards' for not accepting an inferior UI for my PC just so MS can push their market share in mobile devices?

P.S. I recently discovered a group policy you can edit to disable to the pointless "lock screen" needlessly included in Windows 8 PC. Sure, it only takes away one extra click but it still helps in streamlining things and removing some more of the useless clutter in W8.

The Nokia Windows RT tab, with LTE is down to £299 at John Lewis. Lovely looking bit of kit.

http://www.johnlewis.com/nokia-lumia-2520-tablet-qualcomm-snapdragon-windows-rt-8-1-10-1-32gb-wi-fi-4g-lte-red/p943136?s_afcid=af_47868&awc=1203_1395852495_30c984571fb730dc7f56ebc834e44aaf

very nice cant help but think this is because the surface 2 with LTE is due out soon

New Windows Start Menu.

It's almost like people weren't buying win8 and they actually listened to people on some of the reasons why and put it back in.

Errkal wrote:New Windows Start Menu.

That's a lot more like it.

Where do you get the new start menu from? In an update?

It will be in an upcoming update, date not announced.

Windows 8 - Windows 8.1 now available!

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