Windows 8
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I reckon the Start button needs to come back. 2 clicks gives me all this from anywhere. Metro will be fine for a touch device, but for a working day (or night!) it needs that Orb.
Having said that, though, Win 8 is very fast.
Having said that, though, Win 8 is very fast.
Usual disclaimers apply!
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Right, I've done playing with it. How does one get rid of it? I dont see Win8 in the add/remove. So is it just a case of uninstalling Oracle VM and then searching for the left overs?
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I installed it on a spare partition, with dual-boot Win7 or Win8.
I think it was designed for a touch-screen (iPad-like). Finding the "start" button is a faff, whereas I suspect swiping might work. I don't have a touch-screen monitor so can't try that.
It didn't seem any faster than Win 7. I set up Thunderbird and Firefox, pointing at the same "Mail" partition Win 7 uses, and it seemed quite able to handle that.
After a few hours tinkering, without installing MS Office or any other added software, I couldn't see anything it does better than Win 7. I didn't check all the peripherals for drivers/function, but the ones I tried worked OK.
When I was running the Win 7 pre-release versions, I soon stopped using XP and switched to Win 7. I can't see me doing that with Win 8.
When I switched back from 8 to 7 last night, all the hard drives/partitions were marked "dirty" and I had to wait for chkdsk to work through them all.
I think it was designed for a touch-screen (iPad-like). Finding the "start" button is a faff, whereas I suspect swiping might work. I don't have a touch-screen monitor so can't try that.
It didn't seem any faster than Win 7. I set up Thunderbird and Firefox, pointing at the same "Mail" partition Win 7 uses, and it seemed quite able to handle that.
After a few hours tinkering, without installing MS Office or any other added software, I couldn't see anything it does better than Win 7. I didn't check all the peripherals for drivers/function, but the ones I tried worked OK.
When I was running the Win 7 pre-release versions, I soon stopped using XP and switched to Win 7. I can't see me doing that with Win 8.
When I switched back from 8 to 7 last night, all the hard drives/partitions were marked "dirty" and I had to wait for chkdsk to work through them all.
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Tried it and it lasted for 2 weeks before returning to Windows7.
Unistalling required using the installation disk and returning the image whereupon all my programs worked OK.
MS; Just have to change for the sake of change. It is a computer operating system not a phone or Tablet; a system with programs for productivity and ease of use. We do not need, with with every upgrade, to have to go searching for things we have setup or have been using successfully through sevaral versions of Windows.
Start menu is just fine, the silly corner to get to the Tab page a right pain: I do not know how many times I have opened Excel just becaues it is near that corner. Then when I want to shutdown or find options, etc I have to fiddle around the right hand side or find a corner to have the choices appear.
The apps thing is corney and unattractive, give me icons which mean something anyday and then when I click to find all apps there are pages of apps relating to app help, app some other program, etc; a myriad of useless information.
Working with a number of friends still using XP, Vista they have a screen full of icons often with several shortcuts to the same program or MS word document, etc and are pleased & grateful someone can sort it out for them; they will be totally lost with the app thingy.
Then selecting and installing the apps; well some just did not work and after years spending time sorting out Windows & programs I have no desire to do it again & again.
Several programs used through XP, Vista & Win7 did not work, e.g. my label printer; checked it was installed correctly, `this is working correctly'; bulldust! Windows 8 says the printer in an `error mode'. Following reinstallation of Win7 it worked first time with no problems.
I am still trying to come to grips with the MS Ofice 2007 ribbon thingy spending countless minutes looking for things I once knew where they were and nowe ending up searching, searching?
Ok, I realise this is a Beta version but too much did not work and is change just for the sake of change.
Unless Microsoft have a big rethink about where they are going I will not be upgrading for a long time Windows 7 might be like XP which many people & companies are still using productively.
Unistalling required using the installation disk and returning the image whereupon all my programs worked OK.
MS; Just have to change for the sake of change. It is a computer operating system not a phone or Tablet; a system with programs for productivity and ease of use. We do not need, with with every upgrade, to have to go searching for things we have setup or have been using successfully through sevaral versions of Windows.
Start menu is just fine, the silly corner to get to the Tab page a right pain: I do not know how many times I have opened Excel just becaues it is near that corner. Then when I want to shutdown or find options, etc I have to fiddle around the right hand side or find a corner to have the choices appear.
The apps thing is corney and unattractive, give me icons which mean something anyday and then when I click to find all apps there are pages of apps relating to app help, app some other program, etc; a myriad of useless information.
Working with a number of friends still using XP, Vista they have a screen full of icons often with several shortcuts to the same program or MS word document, etc and are pleased & grateful someone can sort it out for them; they will be totally lost with the app thingy.
Then selecting and installing the apps; well some just did not work and after years spending time sorting out Windows & programs I have no desire to do it again & again.
Several programs used through XP, Vista & Win7 did not work, e.g. my label printer; checked it was installed correctly, `this is working correctly'; bulldust! Windows 8 says the printer in an `error mode'. Following reinstallation of Win7 it worked first time with no problems.
I am still trying to come to grips with the MS Ofice 2007 ribbon thingy spending countless minutes looking for things I once knew where they were and nowe ending up searching, searching?
Ok, I realise this is a Beta version but too much did not work and is change just for the sake of change.
Unless Microsoft have a big rethink about where they are going I will not be upgrading for a long time Windows 7 might be like XP which many people & companies are still using productively.
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Unless MS came out with "new" "better" (mostly just "different" human interface) versions of their software and operating system every three years or so, people wouldn't "upgrade". Soon there would be a lot of empty buildings in Redmond.
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Well, I bought this notebook a year ago, and it came with Windows 7, so I had no serious qualms about trying Windows 8 on it. It's OK so far, no serious problems and only a couple of niggles. I had all my data backed up anyway, but the upgrade went smoothly and I didn't need to restore or reinstall anything.
In the long term for this laptop, however, Windows will be coming off and Linux going on. Windows 7/8 is only acceptable because it's a powerful machine (Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM), and I have a few Windows applications that I need to work flawlessly for the next couple of months.
In the long term for this laptop, however, Windows will be coming off and Linux going on. Windows 7/8 is only acceptable because it's a powerful machine (Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM), and I have a few Windows applications that I need to work flawlessly for the next couple of months.
More bang for your buck
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For anyone who would like to try using W 8 in a virtual M/C but is unsure how to this is an excellent guide: Series: Step by step: How to safely test-drive Win8 « Windows Secrets
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Microsoft has wrought drastic changes in the human interface to Windows and Office products over the past few years.
I suspect that this leads casual users to seriously consider a MAC when getting a new computer. Going to new versions of Windows would also require a lot of (re)learning.
I regularly meet people who have switched to a MAC. MAC owners are often evangelical about their "toy".
I'm sticking with the past (XP) as long as possible.
I suspect that this leads casual users to seriously consider a MAC when getting a new computer. Going to new versions of Windows would also require a lot of (re)learning.
I regularly meet people who have switched to a MAC. MAC owners are often evangelical about their "toy".
I'm sticking with the past (XP) as long as possible.
I'm sticking with the past (XP) as long as possible.
And having had to wrestle with Vista systems belonging to friends, and also at our local church on an ongoing basis, my resolve is strengthened every time I am forced to do so.
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In the early days of aviation many pilots simply hopped in and took off in their first efforts of learning to fly. Instruction was literally on the ground. Pre-flight, wind check and go.
W8 Consumer Preview expects as much. The video referenced omits one key element of instruction as to liken in early days of flight regarding the throttle. It is in the lower left corner where the Start frame has always been located.
From there on, it is a powerful upgrade to perhaps a laptop that's seen its better days, or fast becoming obsolete. The Consumer Preview is good to use until Jan. 2013.
For a developer now is a good time to learn what the "tiles" are about.
Where, in Google Chrome, the "app tiles" are not as dynamic. Might look the same or seem easier, but the "app tiles" in W8, are integral to the OS and when active become resident in the system for executable instruction when data is sent or received. So that, as an event notification changes on the screen along where all your other tiles are placed. Information that is updated in real time is viewed within the frame space of the tile. A large tile is 30x150 pixels and may be programmed to display text, image, either of which information is always streamed through, unless clicked upon. The start page might have 10 or more tiles displayed. Links to web pages, temperatures, time, indices, web cams, email notification, or social media updates, or however any app installed uses the system to perform the task assigned.
The start window is only what the user "pins" on it. In a touch screen environment the window is a "snap" screen. Without the touch screen capability the mouse pointer is used to locate the hidden windows a snap screen is designed to reveal when touched.
There is quite a bit to learn because the resources of the computer are being used to a greater extent than ever before.
W8 Consumer Preview expects as much. The video referenced omits one key element of instruction as to liken in early days of flight regarding the throttle. It is in the lower left corner where the Start frame has always been located.
From there on, it is a powerful upgrade to perhaps a laptop that's seen its better days, or fast becoming obsolete. The Consumer Preview is good to use until Jan. 2013.
For a developer now is a good time to learn what the "tiles" are about.
Where, in Google Chrome, the "app tiles" are not as dynamic. Might look the same or seem easier, but the "app tiles" in W8, are integral to the OS and when active become resident in the system for executable instruction when data is sent or received. So that, as an event notification changes on the screen along where all your other tiles are placed. Information that is updated in real time is viewed within the frame space of the tile. A large tile is 30x150 pixels and may be programmed to display text, image, either of which information is always streamed through, unless clicked upon. The start page might have 10 or more tiles displayed. Links to web pages, temperatures, time, indices, web cams, email notification, or social media updates, or however any app installed uses the system to perform the task assigned.
The start window is only what the user "pins" on it. In a touch screen environment the window is a "snap" screen. Without the touch screen capability the mouse pointer is used to locate the hidden windows a snap screen is designed to reveal when touched.
There is quite a bit to learn because the resources of the computer are being used to a greater extent than ever before.
