Learning to Navigate Windows 8: How About You?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by RAM PhD, Jun 23, 2013.

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  1. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Windows 8 is a beast of its own, much different than XP, Vista or Windows 7. I'm learning to navigate it, but it has been a bit frustrating at times. :thinking:

    Anyone else experiencing this?
     
  2. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I got a machine with W8 and returned it in two days...I HATE IT!
     
  3. nmesproject

    nmesproject New Member

    You will be fine in another week. You will start loving its stability compared to previous OS's. I have my Windows 8 laptop with 16 GB memory and 250 GB SSD drive. Runs like a champ.. love it.
     
  4. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    I'm going to keep it, just taking a little time to learn the new format, look and functionality.
     
  5. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I did not like the fact that I could not get into the BIOS to change to boot sequence so I could boot to the CD-ROM and use my Acronis disk to ghost the drive. I called Best Buy (where I got it) and they were not sure how to get into the BIOS either. After figuring out how they say to do it, it did not work. Also, I use Angel to teach at one school and Angel and W8/IE10 do not play together.
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    The most apparent problem with Windows 8 is the fact that it's optimized for touch screen usage. It looks like it would easy to use with a touch screen, but it sucks with a mouse, IMO.
     
  7. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I use Windows 7 at work, and it works fine. I've heard 8 is a usability nightmare. Fortunately where I am they seem to transition to new versions of Windows pretty conservatively (I think there are still a few situations where XP is used) so hopefully I won't have to deal with it any time soon.
     
  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I have used just about every OS Microsoft has ever made - and some they didn't (Linux etc.). I've looked at 8 - and I will go back to DOS before I buy into that! Not happening!

    Johann
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I bought a new ultrabook recently and had to shop around to avoid Win8. I was successful.
     
  10. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I bought a new computer and it has windows 8. There are several things I don't like, but silly things that are hugely annoying include no start button, I don't know how to turn off my computer (seriously, I just use the button, I don't know where to power down) where is the friggin calculator? And the preloaded crap on the front screen doesn't work and it makes it look like you have all these features which in reality are links to things that require additional steps- either to purchase or download. I realize some of these issues I have might be specific to me not being very techno, but I don't find it intuitive at all. Also, whatever the photo program is, I hate that too. When I put in a memory card, I have to physically go in and launch/download pics instead of it being automatic. Also, my computer is not a touch screen, so I have to use the mouse, which I guess is not really optimal. Finally, I use the Open Office suite and it always freezes. Anyway, I hate it.
     
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    My next computer - I will build. That way, I won't have to pay for useless, kludgy pre-loaded crap like Windows 8. I'm keeping XP disks around till then, plus a favourite Linux distro or two. Those $250 Macbook-looking Googledroids are very attractive, but I don't want to live strictly in the Googleverse - though that would make more sense than Win 8.

    This will be a worse disaster for Micro$oft than either Windows ME (Mistake Edition) or Vista.

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 23, 2013
  12. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    For people who want to "bring back" the Start Menu in Win 8, this may help. The program is freeware. Yep- totally free.
    Start Menu Reviver Hope it helps. You're on your own, though. I accept no responsibility.

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 23, 2013
  13. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    I asked an IT guy at my workplace about a possible future rollout of Win8.

    His response: awkward silence for a moment, followed by nervous laughter.
    Then he said that there were no plans to move away from Win7 at this time, and changed the subject.
     
  14. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Our IT team is moving from WXP to W7 in the next month or so - 15,000 machines will be upgraded. No talk of W8 and I was afraid to ask.
     
  15. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I plan to get one, actually, although the first thing I'll do is put Ubuntu Linux on it. The hardware is very inexpensive and others have already done all the hard part.
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I heard they were going to sell the machines with W7 again and a free option to a W8 upgrade if you want. Not sure if it is true but nothing would say "failure" louder!
     
  17. suelaine

    suelaine Member

    I bought a laptop with Windows 8 a few months ago. I thought, "How bad could it be?" I am very shocked that Microsoft would think it is a good idea to promote a less intuitive operating system, than the previous versions. I keep hearing how it is optimized more for touch screens. I know MS wants to compete with the boom of tablets and touch screens, but they stopped considering the consumers where they actually still had an overwhelming market...people who have to seriously use their computers for extensive or complicated work, rather than spending most of their "computer time" surfing the internet and watching movies. And these "serious" computers do NOT have touch screens.

    I did two things to my laptop. I was able to figure out how to get into the bios to make it so I could dual boot this machine (it was NOT easy!) It now dual boots into Ubuntu Linux or Windows 8. I am using Ubuntu right now and that is what I always use unless I know I need Windows for an application or course I'm teaching (such as Visual Basic). The other thing I did was add a program called Classic Shell to Windows 8. It not only brought the start button back, but I can access most of the features I was familiar with, with previous Windows versions. Still, at times that annoying tiled screen pops up if I accidentally hit the wrong key somewhere but I do know which key to hit to quickly get rid of it!

    My husband recently bought a laptop. He knows how much I use computers and when he heard how much frustration I expressed over this, he made sure his new computer had Windows 7, rather than 8. Win 8 may be a very stable OS with some actual improvements but I can not bring myself to focus on that because of the bizarre changes to navigating to accomplish the things we need to do. The thing I hate the most is that Tile screen. You hit the Windows key to go to the Desktop screen. But accidentally hitting that button instantly brings up the ugly tiles and reminds me every time how much I dislike this new excuse for an operating system.
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    It will be a looooooooong time before IT managers flock to a new OS from Microsoft. Look how long--and what it took--to get them to move from WinXP. One might (maybe) argue that Win8 has advantages over Win7 for the user. What what is IT's WIFM to migrate?

    Either the OS is a mature product that will need only refinements in the future--leaving Microsoft to lengthen and level its glide slope to its demise--or someone, somewhere will have to come up with a new way of interfacing the user with the machine. Win8 is an attempt, but touch screens are no big deal. Phone operating systems are a bit of a change, but as we saw with Win8, they're not revolutionary with their touch screens. But unlike Win8, they're necessary.

    What will be the new interface? Voice? Thought? Or will it be a new way to organize and access data (both yours and others')? Currently, we're organized exactly the same on the internet as we were 20 years ago (or 30 for desktops using Windows, which is just DOS with a GUI, or Mac, which is just Microsoft and Apple copying each other).

    I wouldn't bet on a revolutionary OS in the future. As we saw when people quit going to the store (virtual or physical) for software, the data are now the issue. Software--applications like word processing, database managers, spreadsheets, or web browsers--are no longer key. What you can know, how you can know it, and when you can get it are the issue now. Just as the office applications market died--WordStar or WordPerfect, anyone?--so will the browser and OS markets. Marshall McLuhan gave us "The medium is the message." Not anymore, bub. The medium now just has to not suck (Windows Vista?). We're back to the messages again.
     
  19. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Even Bill Gates is having trouble with Windows 8.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 24, 2013
  20. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    No they didn't. In fact, MS has considered your position very carefully -- and has concluded that you need to be exposed to their new touch interface, which also works on tablets and phones.

    MS is simply trying to leverage their position in traditional computers (which is very strong) to improve their position in tablets/phones (which is very weak). The idea is that you will grow accustomed to the new Windows interface on your PC, and then you will want the same thing on your tablet and phone.

    In theory, it's not a crazy idea. In practice, it may not be working as well as Microsoft had hoped.
     

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