Windows 8.1 Preview

you're in for a long wait i gather.
it probably will never happen.

the solution is either to stay away from Windows 8, or find fixes to your Metro 'problems' while using Windows 8.

 

No sane person would ever use Metro on their desktop! That's the point. I don't need my intelligence insulted by flippin' tiles to get around my PC. I like it the old fashioned way and if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

I'm happy with Windows 7. I like it - like Classic Coke. This old dog doesn't want to learn new tricks!

 

anyway, you still have 7-8 years of support left with Windows 7.

personally, i would not have included Metro with a desktop Windows machine.
or at least, an option should have been included to totally disable it on a desktop machine.
i don't think it has any place on a desktop machine.

but it is what it is.
and there are solutions to the Metro 'problem'.

 

If users can uninstall the Metro crap rather than by-pass it, Windows 8 could be a decent service pack to Windows 7. I'd install a de-crapified Windows 8. Otherwise - meh.

 

I find the Metro screen very useful as a custom Start Menu for my programs and for searching for Win8 programs. I've unpinned the Microsoft Apps.

 

If you started like me on windows 98 and earlier then GUI wise you can easily see windows 8 Metro as a stalled set in their O/S series. All metro is, is a duplication of internet browsers integrated within this system like Windows Media Player n IE. Not a da#m thing new or innovative at all. In addition the so called Store is hilarious, funny stuff.

Looks like MS gave up on Microsoft Agents completely in this platform.

Trying to drive business and personal desktop user's onto this Metro thing is a weak idea that is doomed to immediate failure right out of the box.like we already seen.

Yea there are some supporters of it like anything else brand new but given time they're eventually come to realize after experiencing it's full effect that it will just leave them bored stiff. No enthusiasm, no true advancement, nothing productive.

By stark contrast, on the security side of windows 8 you'll definitely notice a more beefed up system that won't so quickly fall victim to destructive malware viruses or rootkits. A definite step up from predecessors. I applaud this section of MS Labs. They fine tuned it for a little stronger prevention within and around the system branches.

 

Bored stiff!? Bored stiff is the old Windows geeky business of XP (yawn) Vista (yawn 2) Win 7 (yawn 3). We have some real change due to smart phones, tablets et al, and all you can say is " no true advancement"? I am very tolerant of other people's opinions, but when more than one person says (not you EASTER) that people who like metro must be insane it is tantamount to a personal attack.

 

Which is why Windows 8 is such a success, right?
And they put the start icon back because everyone liked the screen, right?
Apparently, the reality is not something to take into account when designing stuff.

Only the money matters.

Mrk

 

Re: Windows 8.1 review - Still stupendously stupid

Agreed. Obscenity serves no good purpose. I refrain from it ( at least in print ) and it isn't needed to advance the discussion.

Agreed that Wilders members are generally "geeky" but I'm seeing strong criticism at the other end of the spectrum too, amongst users with minimal computer skills. I have setup quite a few new Windows 8 computers for folks in this category, and there hasn't been a single instance where someone has said wow, I really like this new UI, it makes sense to me (or something to that effect). My customers are completely baffled by it. Classic Shell helps them get by but it only addresses a portion of the problem. I understand that the relatively small number of people I'm talking about is not statistically significant though. It would really help the discussion (and maybe Microsoft as well) if a serious survey was done that was representative of the whole user base. Then at least we could stop speculating about how much of an issue this is for most people.

On another note when I think back to the transition between Windows 3 and Windows 95 I seem to remember that Microsoft made a point to talk about how it initiated focus groups to test the UI. They settled on the taskbar/start button/start menu metaphor because it was demonstrated that average people were more able to successfully multitask and navigate the UI. This was one reason for the tremendous success of Windows 95. Since then the UI has been refined but at heart it has remained the same because it "just works". This is not just because people are used to it. It's because Microsoft hit on a winning formula. Consider also the turnaround in attitude between actively seeking feedback about what works for people Vs intentionally ignoring that feedback. As others have pointed out it is only because MS is a monopoly that they can getaway with this. For most businesses that have genuine competition such an attitude spells "death".

I believe a valid argument can be made that MS should be treated somewhat like a public utility, similar to telecommunications and power companies, by virtue of the fact that its products have so much impact on the "common good". This has been demonstrated in Europe where the EU has taken MS to task for anti-competitive practices. In other words they should be subject to a degree of regulation. The government has no stomach for it, but there is a history of restraining the free market in the western democracies. Years ago there was talk about breaking Microsoft up into smaller companies ala "Ma Bell". The situation might be better today if that had happened.

 

It has nothing to do with me being geeky.
Microsoft put the start button back because of me?
Or millions of dissatisfied users?

And they still didn't fix the problem.

I just happen to tell what millions are feeling out there.

Mrk

 

Hi Osaban.. Yes, I am certainly glad Win 7 is supported till 2020, and most likely I will be using it till then, so long as it runs on whatever newer hardware I buy, etc. There is also linux, which I enjoy using too (am running it now as a matter of fact). So I'm ok, I could even see myself going with Apple if they'd just lower their prices (yeah, right...)

But it's sad, because on a grand scale, for most ordinary users, there really is no competition in this market. And that really alters the ball game for most of the population.

Strangely enough, I have always liked and supported MS, but since 8 arrived, no more. They have turned their back on the desktop user, and that's enough to turn me away for good I guess.... Shame...

 

Some posters above in favor of the Metro UI don't reflect or take into consideration, (neither does MicroMonopoly) , the millions of businesses where Metro is completely useless for their computing needs.

Give MS time to spend out the lucrative windfall they are enjoying right now courtesy US Government NSA data collection they have free access to. Then maybe MS will focus once again on producing more acceptable and productive O/S's and apply customer recommendations as expected.

Until then why bother giving serious attention to their customer's reasonable expectations when they need to.keep nsa satisfied first.

 

Windows 8.1 preview removes Windows Experience Index
http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-81-preview-removes-windows-experience-index

 

I agree. I think it's a personal attack on this insane person who likes metro and Windows 8 along with Rainmeter. I can customize my Windows as I like and get satisfaction and enjoyment from it. Insane, maybe, but I feel entitled to my opinion and preferences without being called insane by others.

 

Microsoft slates Windows 8.1 RTM for late August
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...Windows_8.1_RTM_for_late_August?taxonomyId=89

Windows 8.1 to hit PC makers by August
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57592655-75/windows-8.1-to-hit-pc-makers-by-august/

 

Its just a Metro update.... not what I was looking for - and you still need third party start program replacement software to get to the desktop.

 

Hi,

How's the memory management of Win 8.1? Does it use much memory?

 

Well said moontan.

 

Windows 8.1 will use less memory, and less disk space, than Windows 8 & 7.

 

Ah that's great. Thanks. Metro UI doesn't bother me. I'll surely give Win 8.1 a try.

 

Paul's a smart guy and he tries to be reasonable and walk the middle road, but frankly I think he's trying too hard (like many others in the tech industry) to convince himself that Microsoft is getting its act together and Windows 8.1 is OK.

 

Microsoft is trying hard to sell the software equivalent of the Edsel. This too will flop!