More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

[whs]

Thanks Night Hawk. I just ordered 2010 from Newegg - that's the easiest for me. No brick and mortar store around here had it in stock.

 

[Night Hawk]

As for retail outlets forget it after the first six months or so. You are lucky if they even restock something once all copies are sold and simply shove some other software where you would have found the retail package sitting.

Unlike the OSs the store clerks simply stuff what comes off the delivery truck wherever there's space on the softwares shelves while the OSs see a display. Often if a store doesn't have the push in pull out spring loaded rows you have to sift through all the loose softwares found in a bin or see an empty spot on some shelf.

Actually in the last few years retail stores in general have been cutting the volume of first pc games and eventually all softwares down since people would simply buy online or the programs weren't moving fast enough. If you run into a smaller shop that deals with PS3 Nitendo, X-Box you may or may not even find any pc games stuffed into a small space on one shelf!

That's how it's been here in the states for some time now anyways. I think you may find the stores where you are may be following a similar trend to some extent.

 

[whs]

Right, the stores I checked were Office Depot, Staples, BestBuy and Sam's club (where I bought my first Office 2007). All those stores are within 5 miles of my house.

 

[Night Hawk]

Staples at one time had rows of software in one section now all reduced down to one aisle in each store I have been in recently. When first ordering 7 back in '09 I noticed things were slumping but found only one rack when buying the 2010 Acronis!

The Game Stops and other small shops as well as the local Walmarts all started reducing that type of inventory as well. Of course with these places they were starting to push for more online sales as well. "See our site blah blah blah.." Most of the stock you see now will be the usual daily, weekly, monthly carry out purchases rather then the "buy once only" items like softwares and some other things once gone never restocked. Walmart of course is rather notorious for not restocking things!

 

[whs]

Maybe that's why Walmart went broke in Germany. They tried to set foot in the country for 7 years with quite a lot of stores, but then they folded tent. I read that they lost 350 million dollars (or Euros) each year. Shows that the customers are different in different countries. Plus in Germany there are a lot of very large chains with rock bottom prices.

In France they did not even try. There they would have run against such local giants like Carrefour, Leclerc, Cora, etc.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...Walmart of course is rather notorious for not restocking things!

You just said a mouthful there, brother! They are also bad about keeping regular merchandise in stock. I've learned to stock up when they do get stuff in.

 

[mjf]

I have 2 unused licensed copies of Windows 7 sitting on the shelf. I'm also happy with my 3 user 2007 Office pack. I wonder if these W7s OSs will see the light of day.
How is "Wine" (not the drinking stuff) going in terms of compatibility with 3rd party paid apps on linux. There is a lot of GNU high quality license software but there is still some tied to MS.
I'm not trying to be overly controversial but is the writing on the wall? Do many people really need Windows?

 

[Yard Dog]

I use Linux OS .. Ubuntu 12.04.. on a back up computer.. when i lost the vista computer due to hardware failure.. i was able to run all programs i needed.. for free.. so.. hopefully this Win 7 OS will stay good.. i do have back ups of my Vista . but. i really like this win 7 os alot better..

 

[Night Hawk]

...Walmart of course is rather notorious for not restocking things!

You just said a mouthful there, brother! They are also bad about keeping regular merchandise in stock. I've learned to stock up when they do get stuff in.

I know that one only too well when going in and finding a particular flash light in their camping section(not a coleman) and you would see 5,6,7 hanging on a rack and buy one or two to hand out. Then you go back and you may or may not find the last one or an empty spot. That particular brand and style once gone never is to be seen again! Likewise small bath mats with designs, clothes hampers, and other everyday type items poof once gone something takes their place!

The secret there besides transferring inventoroies around between stores is they buy in bulk and once the bulk item is sold out... ??? where can you get that same thing again? Other items you find regularly once sold stay gone for days and even weeks for some until a truck comes in and they put stuff back on the shelves. There is no backroom inventory to replenish shelves while they do offer layaway or free shipping to have something like a swivel chair transferred to the location you choose when not instore when going to order something online.

With the software section before one store expanded to add in grocery and bakery sections resulting in another long time food store closing up during the same time the shuffle practically wiped all softwares out period! You might it online however while the inhouse inventory was replaced by PS3 and other gaming systems and the game cartridges. What does keep them going since that's one area were retail chains come and go is being able to outprice the retailers that last in those same areas by price cutting or beating any coupon you bring in.

The recommend here for software shopping in general is to do a little leg work on Bing and find who sells what for less along with media if you are not simply looking for a download type purchase.

 

[SIW2]

You can have a go at making 7SP2 - pretty easy, just follow the instructions :

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/282232-test-update-7-installation-media.html

 

[Night Hawk]

I ran into a snag using the RT Lite app for seeing updates and SP1 integrated into a new 7 iso and then not being able to activate it with the pre-SP1 key. The same went for the DR SP1 download of the Ultimate or Pro they carry since I have keys for both while the 7 Pro already has SP1 included.

If I could slap SP1 as well as the updates into an iso using that method then I would end up with an easier to use a USB Install Key and save a few minutes!

 

[SIW2]

If I could slap SP1 as well as the updates into an iso using that method then I would end up with an easier to use a USB Install Key and save a few minutes!

Yes, that is what it is for.

It assumes you start with SP1 already integrated in your iso.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-update-7-installation-media.html#post2323236

It is not a test any more - works fine now.

 

[PaulGo]

Why Windows 8 Is The First Windows Release I Absolutely Hate



...The problem with Windows 8 is that Microsoft decided to shove a highly inefficient touch-based user interface onto millions of PC users using non-touch desktops and notebooks. I have no problem with the idea of touch on tablets and other systems that have a touchscreen—Windows 8 is actually quite good on these—but forcing people sitting behind desktops and notebooks to change their workflow on a whim is simply asking too much.
And believe me, after trying for months to like Windows 8, I still hate it.

Why Windows 8 Is The First Windows Release I Absolutely Hate - Forbes

 

[Night Hawk]

If I could slap SP1 as well as the updates into an iso using that method then I would end up with an easier to use a USB Install Key and save a few minutes!

Yes, that is what it is for.

It assumes you start with SP1 already integrated in your iso.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...-update-7-installation-media.html#post2323236

It is not a test any more - works fine now.

Unfortunately it also assumes you have an SP1 not pre-SP1 product key to work with. That's the whole ancholatta there! When seeing SP1 integrated or even trying a download where SP1 was included the Oct. 2009 key simply won't work in seeing the new install activated. The rest of the updates no problemo!

Why Windows 8 Is The First Windows Release I Absolutely Hate



...The problem with Windows 8 is that Microsoft decided to shove a highly inefficient touch-based user interface onto millions of PC users using non-touch desktops and notebooks. I have no problem with the idea of touch on tablets and other systems that have a touchscreen—Windows 8 is actually quite good on these—but forcing people sitting behind desktops and notebooks to change their workflow on a whim is simply asking too much.
And believe me, after trying for months to like Windows 8, I still hate it.

Why Windows 8 Is The First Windows Release I Absolutely Hate - Forbes

It simply goes to show what the general reaction is as well as allowing another blog writer to lash out at MS at their latest... ??? Blonder! as far as the desktop platform is concerned. Personally I would simply look at 8 as a "waste of time" trashing the desktop OS while the motivation by MS was mainly to push Surface Tablets out there! Trash one platform to promote another they are looking to grab market share of!

 

[SIW2]

Unfortunately it also assumes you have an SP1 not pre-SP1 product key to work with.

That is strange. The key should work fine.

 

[Night Hawk]

When going to use the RT Lite 7 app and later simply downloading a 7 with SP1 from the DR site I tried them both on a VM at first and got nowhere fast! It seems the pre-SP1 keys are locked to 7 without since the SP brings in a few changes the key won't work with.

I think the problem is if you have an MS subscription and are working from that the temp keys for each download simply work with any 7 install. For the retail keys however that are out on the market those are tied to the media and when not seeing SP1 included back in 2009 on the launch date are too old seeing any SP1 integration as a newer release. You have to remember the SP has a time stamp showing a date newer then the product key was intended for.

 

[lehnerus2000]

When going to use the RT Lite 7 app and later simply downloading a 7 with SP1 from the DR site I tried them both on a VM at first and got nowhere fast! It seems the pre-SP1 keys are locked to 7 without since the SP brings in a few changes the key won't work with.

I think the problem is if you have an MS subscription and are working from that the temp keys for each download simply work with any 7 install. For the retail keys however that are out on the market those are tied to the media and when not seeing SP1 included back in 2009 on the launch date are too old seeing any SP1 integration as a newer release. You have to remember the SP has a time stamp showing a date newer then the product key was intended for.

Companies wonder why people say, "Pirated software is superior to legal software."

 

[theveterans]

Companies wonder why people say, "Pirated software is superior to legal software."

I wouldn't say that. I believe that a fully patched software with complete support from the company is far superior and safer than a pirated software which can have strings attached.

 

[Night Hawk]

That's understating things too! When people were first rushing at 7 whatevers I found some hidden items by simply taking a look at what they were going after without running them! I strictly ran the betas and RCs over playing it dumb! I was able to discover some hidden malwares concealed or simply not usable downloads as they were "DEVELOPER ONLY" type builds that got out. Then some wonder why they had problems? daaaaa....

The problem with the product however is due to what changes the SP makes even when integrated into a 7 iso that then invalidates a good key but pre-SP1 simply by the time stamp factor on the new files added. It is then no longer seen as Genuine due to the changes in the original layout. I imagine the OEM and other SP1 ready keys dated newer wouldn't be seeing the same problem.

Now here's something else for the books and get us back to the 8 topic at least. Some I know wil immediately frown at just the title of this one alone for sure! Here's Why The Windows 8 UI Makes Sense ??? is about where I would put it as well!

 

[lehnerus2000]

Luck of the draw?

Companies wonder why people say, "Pirated software is superior to legal software."

I wouldn't say that. I believe that a fully patched software with complete support from the company is far superior and safer than a pirated software which can have strings attached.

It has been a long-standing Internet "joke", that WGA shut down many legitimate copies of XP and had almost no effect on pirated ones.

Allegedly, a large percentage of XP installs that are still running are pirate versions.

It seems that all DRM schemes inconvenience legitimate users and have almost no effect on pirates.
Just look at the latest Sim City debacle:
Failed State: SimCity's Disastrous Launch | UPROXX
EA And Maxis Says 'SimCity' Would Need Significant Reengineering To Be Played Offline. They're Lying
EA And Maxis Could Make 'SimCity' Playable Offline By Removing A Single Line Of Code | UPROXX
Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello Resigns Amid 'SimCity' Debacle

I'm willing to bet that there are already pirate versions available with the offending code stripped out.

It would be interesting to see an independent study (not run by Adobe, MS, AV companies, etc.) into pirated software vs legitimate software.

Specifically:

• Performance benchmarks
• Backdoor/Malware rates

BTW, I'm NOT advocating piracy.