First Go at 8

Had my first encounter with Windows 8. Took about an hour to get my head round it, must be getting old. :cry It’s not that intuitive. Solved my friends problem, had a large G&T and went back to my faithful Windows 3.1 :-D

 

>> Had my first encounter with Windows 8. Took about an hour to get my head round it, must be getting old. It’s not that intuitive <<

I know exactly what you mean... especially the somewhat confusing missing Start Menu debacles when I first tried Windows 8. It took a little getting used to. :confused

Luckily though, there are many, many great websites out there that have specifically devoted time and space to Win 8 features; ever since it was released as a beta.

Another cool thing is that the Windows 8.1 is available (as an update) from the metro Windows Store icon - and not as the usual full-fledged all-out "upgrade."

By updating this way, users do not have to worry about losing documents or all of their already installed programs during the update.

Good Luck -- COMP
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>> I love Windows 8. I'm one that thought I'd hate it, but I have loved it from the start and really do think it's simple to use. <<

I've been getting used to it and like using this latest Windows 8.1 OS as well, Laura.

I actually lucked into getting a Windows 8 HP Pavilion p7-1423w that was on sale as an "Open Box" computer for peanuts from a local computer store. It was more than half-off compared to the actual list price. Anyway it had been returned to them by a customer and the store did not know exactly what was wrong with it. When I got it home I was able to uncover the problem in that the memory stick was faulty. The store salesman had told me that the computer was sold it to me "as is" however, the fine print on the product order said that it came with a 90-day "limited manufacturers warrantee" so I called the HP support 800 hotline and they actually sent me the brand new 8GB replacement memory stick for FREE! * Life is good *

Good Luck! -- COMP
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Heh-heh, at the moment I will stick with Windows 7 for my wife's PC. Everything is working well. However, I do like the look of the recent 8.1 upgrade. This summer I think I will upgrade her PC to 8.1 (buy her a new 8.1 unit).

 

8.1 has come a long way.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KypVYlt9T-w/Un58eavPM7I/AAAAAAAACYw/ZJTlZMfJu9M/w1524-h857-no/Desktop.png

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gEVLEw4tovY/Un58cq1pFqI/AAAAAAAACYo/lx8CW2EOkfs/w1524-h857-no/Start.png

 

I have never had much trouble adopting new versions of Windows, but I got a new laptop with 8 installed in July and I am still not comfortable with it.

This is the version that made me start to feel like a crotchety old lady. Which I am, but still!

I don't get the point of the tiles. I don't like the fact that I have to give up my identity to download apps, so I don't. Trying to find and programs was easier with older versions.

On a tablet - I get it. But on a PC / laptop...I really don't like it.

 

Really once you get past the whole Metro or Large Start/All Programs interface, into the desktop, it is just like all the rest of Windows versions out there.

Really the only joke that Microsoft pulled, which was a bad one, was not allowing people the choice to choose between the desktop or Metro, especially with Server 2012.

 

Server 2012 doesn't run Modern apps out of the box, so I think they did fine there.

 

I still have very mixed feelings about Win 8 - especially if malware sneaks in.

In theory, Win 8 gives you the option to do a complete factory restore back to day one. In reality, there is a lot of malware out there that makes it hard or impossible to do it. I've seen issues where malware either prevents a complete start of Win 8 or disables the restore option.

If the PC has UFEI instead of old-school BIOS, it gets worse. Most UFEI systems do not show a startup screen with options to enter setup or choose an alternate boot drive. This makes running bootable cleaning and recovery programs basically impossible (something I confirmed when I posted the issue in the Malware Forum a few months ago). Even if a boot option screen is accessible, it's often a Catch-22 where booting from a CD/DVD is disabled by default for security and there is no way to enter the UFEI ("BIOS") setup screen at boot up.

Until this issue is resolved, I'm leery of Windows 8 and UFEI boards unless the board or mfr. offers a way around these issues.

 

I think you underestimate UEFI. Many computers sold within the last 3 or so years are UEFI ( add another 3 years to that for some server platforms). UEFI silently replaced BIOS and wasn't noticed really until windows 8 safe boot. They can and do have options on boot up. I've worked with 4 different UEFI systems and they all have boot options like a typical BIOS. Three were windows 8 machines and one was a windows 7 machine. UEFI does have software interfaces for some but it doesn't replace the startup options.

UEFI support in Windows was introduced in Vista SP1.

 

I hate Win 8. I just hate it. I am learning Win 7, not a fan, but give me 7 over 8... :-D

 

Windows Server was never made to replace the desktop version of Windows. Of course some out there run it that way, but my point is, that Microsoft screwed up a good product for their server series, as they did with the desktop OS series.

If they would have left better alone, you would see a lot more positive reviews about Windows 8.x, then negative.

 

Again, it is no different than 7, once you peel away the Metro interface. Even with the Metro Interface, it is not much different then if you were using a smartphone or tablet.

Really majority of these complaints I have seen is because of Metro, not the underlying OS itself.

 

Interface rules. It is the Key.

 

We use it at work just fine..what did they mess up with it?

You don't even have to run it with the GUI...so I am not really seeing how they ruined or screwed it up.

 

I don't own a tablet, don't have a smartphone. I don't want that interface on my desktop!

And no, I don't like change.

 

I do not have the metro interface on my laptop. It is 100% desktop only. When I got my laptop, the first thing that went on it, was Stardock software's Start8, because I only use desktop applications. If I need to use a metro app, like the Profile app or the store, I use Metromix for that.

 

Did not know you could do that. My only experience was trying to fix a network issue on a laptop, so I could not make a lot of changes to it.

 

You have been able to do that, since 8 was in Beta.

 

Well, I don't have the Win 8, so, I really have not been able to do that. :-D

but good to know, thanks!

 

lol 3.1 my old compact had 3.1 then i upgraded it to windows 95.:-D

Here is a pic below haha.12kb of ram hehe.Oh and it still runs,

http://remyz16.home.comcast.net/blog/Compaq.jpg

 

That thing don't even speed walk, much less run... :-D

 

HAHAHA i know what you mean.:-D:-D:-D

If i remember i think the CPU speed is 133mhz.

Only had 500mb of hard drive space.

 

You should be able to overclock it to 150, 170mhz...:-D

 

Goldenskull, do you not mean 12mb of RAM.

 

Nope 12,000 kb:-D.Probably one of the smallest ram sticks you will ever see.The computer put it as KB when it booted.Since it was under a mega bite.

12000 kb / 1024 = 11.72 megs

 

Ram didn't come in 11.72mb sticks.


Something else also utilized it.

Its also probably 6mb x 2.

What model is that?

 

1200 model.Now you under stand how old school i am.One of the first systems i paided for.