Windows 8, Anyone?

[slamjet]

I have a copy of Windows 8 Pro 64bit that I'm going to install on a 256MB SSD. Anyone else going to join in the pain of learning a new OS?

[annewandering]

My son is planning on it because he has read it is very good with touch screen computers, which his is. I am not because I have heard it isnt that hot.

So what about it do you want?

[Wingnut]

I'm still stuck with Vista. sadface.

[slamjet]

So what about it do you want?

I have a few things:

- Its timing of what to send to what core is fixed so I can update my AMD processor.

- It runs faster and more stable than 7 (although I think it's subjective).

- Better multi-monitor support (I have 4 of them).

- I'm switching to an SSD so I may as well use the newest OS.

- My inner geek cannot stand not having it.

[slamjet]

I'm still stuck with Vista. sadface.

Now THAT is sad.

[Mahone]

To be honest, windows 8 is a pain for system administrators, especially those with large networks. We've only just got everything working on windows 7, and now have windows 8 to contend with - I much preferred the gap between XP and vista as it gave everything time to stabilize before moving onto the next OS.

[skippy740]

As a consumer, I wouldn't touch windows 8. The new browser IE10 still has plenty of bugs - particularly with facebook. Windows 8 certainly looks nice on my 11.6" Dell Inspiron 1121, but its functionality is limited and difficult to navigate compared to Windows 7.

However, if you wanted to disable the metro (tile) start menu, you can download the "Classic Start" menu from Ninite - Install or Update Multiple Apps at Once and scroll down to the bottom. I haven't tried it because I switched everything back to Windows 7.

I admit that Windows 8 is a quicker OS with a faster boot time.

[Dravin]

I'll probably update when I need to for gaming purposes.

[miztrniceguy]

I will stay with XP Pro til my next hardware update, then will move to 7 Pro 64bit

[LittleWyvern]

Not me. Windows 8 is a tablet OS at its core, and if you don't have a tablet (or a computer with a touchscreen), it simply doesn't make any sense to upgrade.

[Vort]

Ten years ago, I worked as an SDET for Windows Tablet Edition, finding bugs in the Ink and Stroke libraries. The handwriting recognition was impressive and occasionally astounding, and the idea of gestures was well-developed and well-thought-out. Touchscreens were even implemented.

But the Tablet Edition Revolution never happened. MS likes to say that it was ahead of its time, that it just hatched the idea a few years too early, before the customers were ready to accept it. And that's partially true. But that is only the minor reason. The major reason Tablet PCs never took off is that Microsoft lacked the "coolness cachet" to make it a big thing. MS's tablets caught on only with certain tiny special-interest groups such as medical students and inventory coordinators. Outside such insular grouplets, the whole idea was an eye-roller. I wasn't until years later, when Jobs released the iPad, that someone with sufficient "coolness" made the idea cool.

I am disgusted by this. But I shouldn't be. That's how human beings are. We see exactly the same thing going on in national-level American politics. The entire American electorate acts very much like a seventh-grade class voting for the junior-high equivalent of prom queen. It's maddening, and it would be a true embarrassment to witness if not for the fact that other nations are, if anything, much worse about such worthless politicking than we are.

[/rant]

[SanctitasDeo]

I am far from using Windows 8. I just started learning Linux a few months ago. I have more to do there before I do anything else.

I think I will wait and see how it turns out. I like how it looks, but we'll see if they can get all the bugs worked out--and I have money--then maybe I'll try it.

[miztrniceguy]

I wouldn't mind trying to set up my Asus Transformer tablet as dual-boot with Android and XP

[dahlia]

I just got rid of my XP at home when I had to buy a new desktop. I was sad, but the Dell person said I would get used to W7. We have W7 at work, so it's not that I haven't used it, but it is not intuitive to me. Now when I want to write or make PPTs at home, I have to fuss around to find the tools I'm used to using.

I hope school doesn't switch to W8 anytime soon. Doesn't anyone think about the down time for the worker when systems are changed? And of course, you look really smart in front of a class while you putz around with the technology because none of it is familiar.

I was fine with XP. Shoot, I was fine with Millennium. : )

[skippy740]

The transition from Office 2003 to 2007/2010 was a little challenging with the new menus and document format, but it's not hard to get used to it.

[jerome1232]

Anytime there's a major UI overhaul there's bickering and complaining. The OS (Ubuntu) I use at home revamped it's default UI last year and everyone was up in arms over the change, now most of us love it. It's even funnier in this case because it's only the default UI that has changed, you can change which UI you use.

My take, Microsoft seems to release a lame duck OS every other one, so I'll wait 'till version 9 or until 7 runs it's End of Life to switch.

My place of work (a warehouse) still uses server 2k3 and xp clients. Our handheld devices just migrated off of using telnet to login to the servers. This isn't a mom and pop shop warehouse either, it's a major corporation.

[Wingnut]

The transition from Office 2003 to 2007/2010 was a little challenging with the new menus and document format, but it's not hard to get used to it.

I'm still using Office 2003, and dreading the transition next time I have to.

If anyone is interested in Windows 8, I saw this coupon offer this morning: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=530625323632123&set=a.530625303632125.135105.192835407411118&type=1

[dahlia]

I'm still using Office 2003, and dreading the transition next time I have to.

I hear you. I loved my Office 2003. It loved me. Now everything is strange...

And on top of that, I tried to update my iPad and had issues. I shut it down before I lost my school stuff, but I'm missing an app.

[Mahone]

I hope school doesn't switch to W8 anytime soon. Doesn't anyone think about the down time for the worker when systems are changed? And of course, you look really smart in front of a class while you putz around with the technology because none of it is familiar.

In most establishments, they usually do training before hand on the systems, and give the staff plenty of notice before the upgrade takes place as standard - if they don't, then there is a serious flaw there that needs resolving.

It's also common for larger establishments to upgrade much later than most home users have, which gives them time to get used to it at home before having to use it at work.

In an educational environment however, there is a argument for upgrading sooner than most - little point in teaching students how to use out of date software.

My place of work (a warehouse) still uses server 2k3 and xp clients. Our handheld devices just migrated off of using telnet to login to the servers. This isn't a mom and pop shop warehouse either, it's a major corporation.

Probably less in spite of it being a large corporation, and more -because- it's a large corporation. Stick to what you know works in that environment, until you're absolutely forced to upgrade, or the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages - less chance of things going wrong and money being lost. Yes, there are flaws to this method of working, but it has saved a lot of peoples skin in the past

Edited October 27, 2012 by Mahone

[slamjet]

I have Win8 installed and it's actually nice except the Metro is mystifying. Why start an app in Metro only to have it switch to the Desktop? So I went ahead and paid for Start8 by Stardock ($4.99). It boots Win8 straight to the desktop and it restores the start button.

But it will take getting used to. I installed it on an SSD and left my Win7 alone. So when I want to go to Win8, I just switch the boot order in the BIOS.

[miztrniceguy]

The transition from Office 2003 to 2007/2010 was a little challenging with the new menus and document format, but it's not hard to get used to it.

I have had Office 2010 since it was new. I hate that they have added 438 buttons on the menu bars in Word and Excel. Who needs all those tools? I have eliminated most of them, but still more than I want. Blech :rant::rant:

[dahlia]

In most establishments, they usually do training before hand on the systems, and give the staff plenty of notice before the upgrade takes place as standard - if they don't, then there is a serious flaw there that needs resolving.

There's a difference between 'staff' and 'faculty.' They are not going to train faculty on any of this stuff except the online class management system. I have no idea if staff gets training.

I did my PhD at the U Washington. Being in a technically oriented program (but not comp sci), we had a close relationship with Microsoft. I swear, it seemed that every other month they were doing something new to our computers. And no, we never got training for that, either.

[Mahone]

There's a difference between 'staff' and 'faculty.' They are not going to train faculty on any of this stuff except the online class management system. I have no idea if staff gets training.

I did my PhD at the U Washington. Being in a technically oriented program (but not comp sci), we had a close relationship with Microsoft. I swear, it seemed that every other month they were doing something new to our computers. And no, we never got training for that, either.

My apologies. I was referring to the literal definition of staff, as in, everyone employed by an organisation. In the UK, we differentiate between the two by putting them into 'teaching staff' and 'support staff' categories, which I gather is the equivalent of 'faculty' and 'staff' over there?

Either way, my point still stands. All staff, whether teaching or not, should be trained on any new operating systems, as it is a major change to the user interface. You should probably raise this as an issue because it can stifle productivity.

Edited October 28, 2012 by Mahone

[mnn727]

Never load a MS operating system until its Service Pack 1 is out -- unless you like bugs.

and I do tech support for a living.

[mnn727]

I have a few things:

- My inner geek cannot stand not having it.

Which is actually the answer