Windows 8

[Chromeman]

I have to agree! Win 8 is too focused on a touch interface. They did make some improvements for regular desktop use (mouse & keyboard) in 8.1, and more to come in another update to come in a "spring update" recently announced.

If you want to keep using win 7, and think you need another licensed version for a new computer within a year or so, then it could be a good idea to buy a box with win 7 since I think they are planning to stop selling it to the general public this autumn.

If you have access to a corporate licensing scheme then it will be available for a longer period.

[kendo]

Just getting my head around Windows 8,one thing I really like is
I run dual monitors with up to four web pages by moving cursor right hand side of screen until charms appear click on devises then click on expand you can now move your cursor through both screens at the same time.

There are loads of tutorials on Utube for Windows 8 so take a look overall I don't know if I really like it it's a lot of getting used too.

I am sure I have read somewhere that Windows 9 is coming out next year so maybe 8 is not a very good operation system but it will take me that long to get used to 8.

Kendo.

[Jack Sprat]

It's a shame people don't understand Win 8.....It's exactly the same (when in desktop mode) as Win 7 (only faster).
I use my old laptop in exactly the same way with Win 8 as I did with Win 7/Vista/XP.....

If you don't like the Metro interface, simply ignore that interface and use your computer as you always have using the desktop.(you can boot directly to the desktop if you so desire and never see the new Metro screen).
It's very simple really.....just use your computer as you always have.

I do use the Metro screen occasionally....there's a great golf app that I use every day called 'Mygolfhub'.
Just think of the Metro screen in the same way as you would use your smart phone....simple.
You have to realise that Win 8 is an operating system that caters for both 'normal' computers and also tablets in the same breath......what other OS can do that....er none....
An OS that is identical on both your tablet and your desktop/laptop....a great idea in my opinion.

[Pleng]

Yea it's pretty cool to hate on Windows 8 which, as you say, is exactly the same as Windows 7 but it's faster and the start menu is now full screen (for that is all that the Metro interface is).

I've seen all kinds of justifications about WHY people don't like having a full screen start menu, none of them rational.

I have to admit that the Metro apps that I've used were pretty awful, so I gave up on that side of things.

[hhfarang]

You can actually try Ubuntu without doing anything to your PC. You burn it to a CD or USB stick and then boot from it. This allows you to try it out.

Thanks, I may try that, but I also left a large free partition when I configured the hard drive on my desktop with this in mind as a dual boot with XP.

For those defending Windows 8, I haven't used it but I refuse to buy into the planned obsolescence game just so companies like Microsoft can make more money. I'm perfectly happy with XP so resent being forced to pay good money for a later operating system that I like less.

[Pleng]

For those defending Windows 8, I haven't used it but I refuse to buy into the planned obsolescence game just so companies like Microsoft can make more money. I'm perfectly happy with XP so resent being forced to pay good money for a later operating system that I like less.

Windows XP has been around for, what, 13 years? I can't think of many industries where you can buy a product for a couple of hundred pounds (much less if it came with your computer) that is supported for such a long time.

[Chromeman]

For those defending Windows 8, I haven't used it but I refuse to buy into the planned obsolescence game just so companies like Microsoft can make more money. I'm perfectly happy with XP so resent being forced to pay good money for a later operating system that I like less.

Windows XP has been around for, what, 13 years? I can't think of many industries where you can buy a product for a couple of hundred pounds (much less if it came with your computer) that is supported for such a long time.

Yes, but on April 8th it is over with support for XP...

[hhfarang]

^ So what, I don't need support from Microsoft. There are plenty of third party free software companies to keep the bad stuff off your computer... and if an OS still needs patching and support after 13 years, it was a crap product in the first place... it should be perfect by now... this is just a scam to get you to buy new software or a new computer. I got by with the worst OS they ever released on a machine (Windows Millennium) with less computing power than phones have had for the last three years from 2000 until 2013, so I think I can keep XP working for many years to come without any help from Microsoft.

[PeteC]

I actually have Windows 2000 humming along on an old computer. Not used too often but works like a charm when I need to use it. Pete

[Jack Sprat]

I think I can keep XP working for many years to come without any help from Microsoft.

''''''I've got to quit saying "How stupid can you be?"

Too many people are taking it as a challenge''''''''

[Pleng]

For those defending Windows 8, I haven't used it but I refuse to buy into the planned obsolescence game just so companies like Microsoft can make more money. I'm perfectly happy with XP so resent being forced to pay good money for a later operating system that I like less.

Windows XP has been around for, what, 13 years? I can't think of many industries where you can buy a product for a couple of hundred pounds (much less if it came with your computer) that is supported for such a long time.

Yes, but on April 8th it is over with support for XP...

Yes. So it's been supported for 13 years, which I think is more that reasonable. Try taking your car back to have the holes patched over 13 years after buying it and see how far you get.

People (generally) want to have more features that up to date operating systems provide. Others, like hhfarang don't feel they need this. And that's fine, nobody is forcing him to upgrade. But to claim that the dropping of support for XP (the longest ever supported OS from Microsoft) is nothing but money grabbing is completely unfair. All those features that the rest of us want take take unimaginable amounts of time to implement, and these hours don't come from nowhere.

[hhfarang]

I keep cars more years than that. Currently we have two that are 10 and 9 years old and I expect them both to last another 10 to 20 years without any warranty support, because I personally maintain them. I never get rid of anything just because there is something better. I use it until it no longer works. If everyone did that we wouldn't have mountain sized landfills in this world. I feel the same way about technology. Use it until it no longer works. If you're young and have tons of money to throw away, sure, change phones or cameras every time a new one comes out, but you are generally just throwing away money and adding to the electronic landfill.

[Pleng]

I keep cars more years than that. Currently we have two that are 10 and 9 years old and I expect them both to last another 10 to 20 years without any warranty support, because I personally maintain them. I never get rid of anything just because there is something better. I use it until it no longer works. If everyone did that we wouldn't have mountain sized landfills in this world. I feel the same way about technology. Use it until it no longer works. If you're young and have tons of money to throw away, sure, change phones or cameras every time a new one comes out, but you are generally just throwing away money and adding to the electronic landfill.

So you've never spent a single penny (cent, baht, whatever) maintaining those cars? replacing worn out components etc?

Upgrading an OS contributes to landfill how exactly? We're not talking about upgrading phones every year just because there's a new one out. We're discussing the merits of paying for a better operating system to get the most out of the hardware you already have.

[hhfarang]

^ On MS's own page about support for XP going away they admit that many of the machines currently in use will be unable to run Windows 8 (the only upgrade option) and they suggest it's time to buy new hardware too.

Both cars have had replacement tires and batteries. Other than that, only scheduled maintenance like oil and filter changes.

[Pleng]

^ On MS's own page about support for XP going away they admit that many of the machines currently in use will be unable to run Windows 8 (the only upgrade option) and they suggest it's time to buy new hardware too.

Fair enough. Those users might have cause to complain; though I still can't think of any other piece of hardware I've ever had that's lasted, and been supported, for 13 years - I'm pretty sure today's Samsung Galaxy and iPhone models won't be getting security updates in 2027!

Users in that boat have to options of relying on third party software for security concerns, upgrading to a new machine, or switching to a different OS. Microsoft isn't all of a sudden sending some magic update to render the hardware useless.

Anyway, I understand that this situation doesn't apply to you.