My general review of Windows 8.

Just a general review not really geared towards tech savvy people.

Posted about it on a Game forum site and someone wanted a bit of
information on it. So this is what I sent him.


Well, I downloaded and installed the Consumer Preview (CP) and installed it on a virtual machine on my laptop to test it out.

With the few hours I have spent with it, I actually kind of enjoy it. Though it was not build around the Desktop/Laptop environment. It was designed to be a touch-based OS, and with a mouse and keyboard interface it's a bit different.

The only thing I'm not liking( haven't gotten used to yet) is the not having a Start Button like in the previous versions of Windows. You have the "Metro" Interface, now referred to as the "Modern" Interface. Which has basically become your Start menu with your programs displayed on what they call "Live Tiles", that you can move, un-install, or just un-pin from the menu.
They do have a Desktop tile that will take you to a standard Windows 7 looking desktop interface(with the Aero interface), and a side from not having a Start Button at the bottom it practically operates the same.
You do have your Settings, Devices, A link back to Start, Share, and Search features in a little pop-out menu called your charms bar on the right side of your screen. That is a bit tricky to get open, you have to mouse over the lower right corner of your screen till it comes up.

With the removal of the Start Button, you have to resort to some Hot-Key functions to do some navigating. (The Windows key will take you back to the Start Menu, for example).

There is a bit of a learning curve since they made the "Aero" and "Modern" Interfaces reside on the same system.

 

Thank you for your input. I just bought a Lenova Computer this weekend with Windows 8 installed. I'm having a problem with my cursor moving all over the place. I'll be typing a sentence and the next thing I know the words are typing in another line...or, the page just leaves. I adjusted my mouse settings to slower. Another thing is I use IE, Chrome and Foxfire, the icons are below. However, most times I cannot get on Chrome unless I'm already on Firefox. It is so weird. Then tonight I couldn't get on Firefox at all so had to shut my computer down for a few minutes after restarting wouldn't work.

Do you think these are Windows 8 problems or Lenova. It has been a real trying few days for me with all the aggravation.

 

Windows 8 issues.

 

Is this a laptop?
Does the mouse cursor move automatically even when you are not typing?
Are you perhaps accidentally grazing the touch pad (if this is a laptop) while you are typing?

 

What bothers me about the future of Win 8 is discussed here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/26/uefi_linux_lock_out_row_latest/

Yeah, I know, Microsoft sez its the OEM who makes the decision. No pressure from them... ;-)

 

Yes it's a laptop...and I thought that could be the problem and i really try to watch myself...My last computer was a laptop and I never had the problem. That saying, the keyboard has a built-in numbers section so I am still adjusting to the layout Do they make a cover to cover the mouse on the keyboard since I use a wireless mouse.

 

Most will have a little switch above the touchpad that you can toggle on/off.

For example, #4 here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf-JAVA/Doc/images/663/c01876788.jpg

Picture is from here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...c=us&os=228&docname=c01876141&product=1842155

 

The mouse cursor even jumps around on my son's Toshiba, while you are using the touchpad, no matter how you set the settings. It is definitely a driver issue with 8. Getting a wireless mouse for him, since the touchpad is not going to be the greatest when he is sitting at his desk, so will see if it does the same thing, which I am sure it will.

 

Palmcheck and Touch sensitivity are the two biggest culprits, but mainly it is how bad the touchpads hardware is getting in hot being as good as it was in the past, that along with the drivers.