Windows 8

I finally got to try my hand at 8 for a bit (display model laptops at Walmart), and my initial verdict is: it's not bad, just really confusing. I had no idea how to close the Metro version of Internet Explorer.

That would be a deal breaker for me. Any browser program you cannot close by clicking on the handy x in the top right corner is worse than useless.

So, wait...

Does Windows 8 have a desktop mode that looks like Windows 7 that is built in to the system and does not involve having to hack the system?

Yes.

It does, but you have to either mess with the registry/build a script yourself, or buy a third party application for between 5 to 15 bucks that will automatically boot you straight past Metro and into the Desktop, and put a classic start button in there from scratch, since the desktop UI for 8 does not include the start button

Hmmmm, I do not care if I have to go through Metro first, I just wanted to know if it had one at all.

Looking into buying a new computer and I want a Windows 7 machine, but if I can not find one I like I may have to buy a Windows 8 one.

The real question is if there's any way to change the color scheme or if you have to stick with those hideous jewel tones.

So it begins:

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2012/11/02/win8-zero-day/1

All your base are belong to the haxxors. Already.

That is why you shouldn't buy any kind of software on day one.

edited 2nd Nov '12 7:15:42 PM by Heatth

Heh, our copy is already shored up against that, we had a test copy months ago at my company, and our app dev guys had a field day with closing a bunch of holes. Good thing we have 1337 haxxors on our payroll.

X-posting this from the Scrappy Appreciation thread:

Okay, there are laptops and comps with Windows 8 at the PX here at Osan. I HATE, HATE Windows 8.

It took me 3 days to beat windows 7 into the state where I could use it. The Quicklaunch toolbar disappeared during one update (WTF microsoft?). Skydrive? They are censoring images people are putting on it. People can't figure out how to work jumpdrives?

The cloud is BS. It goes against years of building PC's for the people. We went with the personal computer because the man controlled the mainframes. IBM went into history as PC's over took mainframes, and the computer mags and Micro$oft want to go back to the IBM era.

The new interface is horsehockey. Touchscreens are too much money for those of us not making 100K a year. I have a monitor and I can use a computer, why do I feel like the designers of "Metro" think I'm an ADD 5 year old?

And screw backward compatibility. Many orgs (charities, the government, most non-profits) will spend money not doing their mission but upgrading to windows 7 then windows 8. Screw you Balmer, I paid for proggies that work and you want to break them. I hate apps, I do not have a 17 inch smartphone.

I'm just gonna buy a 'droid tablet, download more shareware and not buy this OS. Valve's CEO is right, MS wants to move to the Xbox and be more like Apple. Cause that worked so well in the 80's and 90's.

Microsoft wants to be Apple (hipster a-holes) with IBM's stranglehold on your content and software.

Based on past experience, I'll probably check it out once Win8 SP 1 comes out to fix the biggest problems that every new Windows OS tends to have.

Windows 8 Service Pack 1 had better include incorporating all the third-party fixes that people are making in order for people with real computers to be able to use the currently fubar standard operating system. Or else I am sticking with Windows 7 until the support for it from Microsoft stops.

I have a question for those with access to Windows 8: Has Microsoft restored the actual "Balance" option that in Vista and 7 was replaced with a misnomer option that just allows you to set left and right volumes independently? Or at least included an option to force the sound to "mono"?

I just do not understand what's up with the crazy colors. Like, why isn't Windows embracing, say, brown, which would definitely differentiate it from mac? Why must everything be like tiny OS? What's the point of having a phone and a tablet and a laptop if they all work the same way?

Windows 7 will be supported for a very, very, very long time, and I intend to keep it, because I quite like it.

The Cloud is good for businesses, several of our clients use a cloud based solution, but it's not very useful for a consumer because hard drive space is not at a premium. Right now though, virtualization/virtualmachines/cloud solutions are a 'fad' in IT. It'll pass.

Build a whitebox with OEM windows 7, buying pre-built computers is for scrubs. :P

Pre-built is for laptops. I agree, I'd rather build my comp. It lets you tweak it easier down the line.

Indeed. I am calling the next iteration of my current computer the Frankenbox. I wouldn't have the same "fun" that I expect to have in building the sucker if I stuck to the pre-built route, or any fun at all with a Windows 8 one.

The pre-built ones just tend to give you way less value and are more expensive. There aren't any gaming rigs I've seen that come pre-built that are worth the price. The difference between a 650 dollar prebuilt tower and 650 dollars in parts that I've bought is quite drastic.

Eh, after poking at a Win8 pokeputer, its gestures are iffy and it's clearly shoehorned for the desktop/laptop/netbook. It is, however, probably a decent tablet OS, or it would be if I could make the fucking buttons have a more sane colour scheme.

It's a tablet OS shoved randomly onto a desktop system it's not designed for. Making a unified OS is a lofty goal. But you need it to actually work on all systems and not be clunky on one or the other. When they have completely different control schemes, this becomes nigh impossible.

Links to Skydrive censorship here and here.

The money quote:

It’s always just a little bit creepy to hear news like this, but WMPoweruser has a story about multiple users who have had their Windows Live accounts suspended over content that was uploaded to their Sky Drive. The recent example that inspired the post was of a user who lost access to his entire Windows Live account, not just Sky Drive. His email, apps, Xbox Live achievements, everything. He had to create a new account and start over.

To is some clear bullshit. I hope the stop.

However, without wanting to be "that one annoying guy", this isn't the "Microsoft officially evil" thread. This topic warrants its own thread, I think, there is no reason to post it on the Windows 8 thread, where we will be forced to go back to the proper subject soon.

I don't see why anyone would use Sky Drive anyway. Just use photobucket or dropbox and you don't have to tie a ton of accounts to it.

Vote with your time and money. Don't use shit that pisses you off, because in the IT world, there is always an alternative.