Windows 8: Good or Garbage?

[ctchandler]

RM,
Don't switch over to the "Dark Side" (Macs), if you do, you'll never go back to a pc. I think what I like the most is, they just work. My last Windows machine was Windows XP and it wasn't bad, but it was still a pc. I switched in 2007. And to paraphrase President Obama, if you like your Windows, you can keep it, period. Macs will run Windows, I put XP on my Macbook for two programs that I no longer even use, but it's there if I feel like booting Windows and being abused again! As far as I know, you can't load OSX (Mac operating system) on a pc.
C. T.
C. T.

As far as I'm concerned, Windows peaked with XP (and 2000 wasn't too shabby) and it's been going downhill ever since.
Almost tempts me to completely switch over to Macs.

[ctchandler]

Sacolton,
As an IT professional, I had touch screen in 1983 and I hated it. I asked my boss to get a non touch screen for me and he did. The Hertz IT staff used them for a couple of years, especially the counter systems group.
C. T.

Working in IT, I always thought the whole idea of touch-screens should have happened before the mouse. I don't normally sit close enough to my monitor to run my fingers all over it ... and then I hate the idea of smearing my nice expensive 32" monitor with fingerprints. Horrible idea! Not so bad with phones, but on a big computer monitor - it's just awful.

Then there's the whole aspect of having to raise your hand every time to navigate the desktop. The mouse makes it so much more comfortable for this application. I really hope this isn't the future. I'd rather see voice-commands become more popular than touch-screens.

Just my .02

[ctchandler]

Jim,
That's the pc (Hewlett Packard) I was referring to in my reply to sacolton. It was the HP-150.
C. T.

Actually, it did! Back before Windows 3.1 made the mouse a necessary tool for any use of the machines, HP came out with a touch-screen package that had a custom GUI on it but could run DOS programs. It went over like the proverbial lead Zeppelin, consequently making touch-screens the kiss of death for the next 20 years or more, although several specialty markets (such as restaurant POS terminals) did keep them alive until smart phones brought them back into the limelight...

I remember seeing a couple of those early HP systems at a computer store on NW Highway (like the systems, long gone and almost forgotten) back in the very early 80s...

[ctchandler]

Sid,
You and I don't notice a lot of things, but people like my brother-in-law do. He owns his own business and he is good at what he does. He hated wasting his time (money) learning his way around a pc, he needed a computer to work for him. And, Mac was the answer for him. By the way, a programmer that worked for me typed with two fingers and he could type almost as fast as I do. My friend in London is pretty good with two fingers also. I'm a touch typist and I have no clue where the keys are, and when I get off the home position, I'm in trouble.
C. T.

I get I'm different. My dad though didn't grow up with them. He still types with two fingers. Hasn't had any issues with Windows 8.

[zookeeper]

Timely news story!
HP brings back Windows 7 'by popular demand' - NBC News.com

[SoonerDave]

Timely news story!
HP brings back Windows 7 'by popular demand' - NBC News.com

heehee....I beat you to it by a page, zoo !)

Another article I found incidentally while searching for the other article - and this has to stick in Microsoft's craw to no end - and this is a current article, dated Jan '14:

HP Windows 7 PCs Are Back By ?Popular Demand? | Ubergizmo

[zookeeper]

heehee....I beat you to it by a page, zoo !)

Oops! Sorry, SD.

[SoonerDave]

Oops! Sorry, SD.

Heavens, no problem, zoo..all in good fun

[ljbab728]

I'd rather see voice-commands become more popular than touch-screens.

Not me. I don't want to be talking to my computer while I'm talking to a customer on the phone or at my desk.

[SoonerDave]

Not me. I don't want to be talking to my computer while I'm talking to a customer on the phone or at my desk.

I think all of these comments re how one style of interface works in one circumstance, but wouldn't work in another, are perfect examples of the fundamental, fatal flaw in Microsoft's UI strategy - the one they make no bones about selling - "Many devices, one incredible experience" is their moniker, I believe. The increasing diversity of devices necessarily implies a diversity of purpose, and to suggest only one UI across them all can be made suitable hardly even passes the sniff test.

[kevinpate]

Not me. I don't want to be talking to my computer while I'm talking to a customer on the phone or at my desk.

If you say the same sort of things at your computer that I do at mine .... good choice.
(me and computers ... love/hate buds going on 30 years)

[Richard at Remax]

Windows 8: good for tablets, bad for desktops/laptops

[zookeeper]

To be fair to Microsoft, Windows phones with the tile interface of 8 is probably as intuitive an interface as I've seen on a phone. A buddy of mine has a Windows phone and I've messed around with it and it's impressive. Incredible camera.

[Uncle Slayton]

Amazed that this just keeps going and going. Lots of great (and strongly held) opinions on both sides. An update: the Windows 8 laptop sets in its box with a receipt taped to it, waiting to be subtracted from Best B**'s bottom line, and the MacBook Air just landed on the front doorstep courtesy of UPS and Apple.

[venture]

Congrats! Just ordered a new laptop myself. Inspiron 15 7000 Series Aluminum Laptop Details | Dell

Arrives tomorrow. Can't wait! (I love new toys)

Those aren't too bad. They sell pretty well for me. Hopefully you didn't over pay. :-P

[andrew3077]

Amazed that this just keeps going and going. Lots of great (and strongly held) opinions on both sides. An update: the Windows 8 laptop sets in its box with a receipt taped to it, waiting to be subtracted from Best B**'s bottom line, and the MacBook Air just landed on the front doorstep courtesy of UPS and Apple.

I have a 2008 model Macbook Pro and it's still my main computer, running like a dream! Apple service is second to none and once you learn the differences between windows and Mac OS you'l never look back! (Most keyboard shortcuts are the same, except with command instead of control, and learn the different multitouch gestures that make your life easier) Enjoy your 12+ hour battery and let me know if you have any questions!

[Uncle Slayton]

I have a 2008 model Macbook Pro and it's still my main computer, running like a dream! Apple service is second to none and once you learn the differences between windows and Mac OS you'l never look back! (Most keyboard shortcuts are the same, except with command instead of control, and learn the different multitouch gestures that make your life easier) Enjoy your 12+ hour battery and let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks, I will do that. Once I got it to stop talking to me, I was golden.

Windows 8 has converted more people to Apples than John Chapman...

[bluedogok]

Windows 8 has converted more people to Apples than John Chapman...

Unfortunately for a lot of us a Mac does no good as the software I run (Revit, 3dsMax) only runs on Windows. I will just stay with Win7 on everything else for now.

[CaptDave]

^ I think that is a key point on Windows 8. It is designed for a touch screen interface and feels a bit (maybe more than a bit?) clunky without one. Makes perfect sense on a Windows phone or Surface, but not as intuitive on a laptop without touchscreen.

[Snowman]

Agree. In that way, Metro was probably a couple years too early. They should have figured out how to make it work on the tablet and the phones, made all the speed improvements and rolled out 8 as a better 7. A smaller iteration. Maybe a Windows 7 Touch for beta testing existing touch laptop devices, even.

The issue was more on management, most of the problems were brought up early and often in the previews and beta, they ignored the feedback to keep their 'one windows' concept. In fact they doubled down and had several of the ways people had found in the preview and beta to reactivate features taken out.

[Uncle Slayton]

"The Rest of the Story"

The Redhead bought herself a MacBook Air and set me up an account on it. Once we realized that both of us are so net-addicted that the "let's just share the one" idea wasn't going to work, she bought me an identical one for Valentine's day.

I had a lot of crap already set up on her Mac...email (outlook), favorites, etc, so I was dreading the usual agony of starting up a new computer.

Mine arrived yesterday, I turned it on, it asked me how I wanted to set it up, i.e. "From another Mac"...once the two computers detected each other and the six-digit code was entered to start the transfer, in 10 minutes I was up and going without having to copy/paste or transfer to flash drive etc.

The Microsoft Windows 8 Surface tablet...I dunno. I lost it somewhere in the house. I think I am using it to level an antique clock. The Windows 8 laptop I bought went back to B(igg)est Bite and I exited with a pile of those spiffy new hunna-dolla bills.

Seeya, Microsoft. Look out your "Windows 8" and you'll see my backside receding into the distance.

[RadicalModerate]

That Sir, was Poetry. Thank you.
(yet they will have to pry my Windows 7 laptop from my cold, dead hands on account of I'm cheap.
and, it too, was a present. =)