My Opinion on Windows 8

[Gary]

Let me start off by saying that this is my opinion only and not that of Windows SevenForums. I believe that if Microsoft would have asked the public what they wanted instead of forcing an Operating system on us that no one really wanted.
It was drag a quite ugly and without the start button. Now I understand that in the FREE Windows 8.1 you will have an option to use a start button.
All MS had to do was to offer users a choice of using Metro or The standard Start menu. Then users Of OEM machines would not have started buying copies of Windows 7 to replace an OS that was forced upon them. If MS would have done that the PC market would not have taken a nosedive and many more people would be using and liking Windows 8.
In my honest Opinion Ballmer should be terminated along with the rest of Windows 8 Design staff.

Now as previously said right or wrong this is my opinion and mine alone. I see that Mozilla is now going the way of MS. Just look at the new Icon for Firefox 23 Beta? They will come out with a release in Firefox 25 or 26 that will make customizing Firefox a thing of the past. There will be one and only one Theme which looks just like Chromes? Coincidence? I don't thing so since Mozilla get the majority of funding from Google. This probably will happen in 26 as 25 is already out there. I have used Firefox since day one with Phoenix 0.09 and I will stop upgrading when this change takes place.

 

[sygnus21]

I disagree, an btw the public has spoken or else Microsoft would have dumped it. Instead they seem to be pushing forward, especially since Windows Blue (8.1) seems to have somewhat quieted some of the doubters and criticisms out there.

BTW....

If MS would have done that the PC market would not have taken a nosedive and many more people would be using and liking Windows 8.

I know it's the popular thing to blame Windows 8 for sagging PC sales, but the fact is PC sales were already tanking thanks to smartphones & tablets.

BTW I'm also a Windows 8 user and once you get past/dismiss the Metro screen I can tell you the OS is just as good if not better than 7, especially performance wise.

Also have you tried Windows 8 (not just tried it out in some store, but actually used it for some time? You might give it a try if not, it may even surprise you. I'm using it on my laptop, as well as on my desktop under VM Ware.

Windows 8.1 Preview - Download and Install

Anyway I think this should be posted in the eight forums instead of here.

My two cents.

 

[Gary]

They did not listen to the Beta testers. I beta tested Windows 7 so I know what I am talking about. I said , right or wrong that is my opinion. I have a right to it just as you do to voice your opinion. Fcts are that people that purchased OEM Machines with Windows 8, bought Windows 7. The slump in OEM PC sales are directly proportional to the release of 8. Just asked all of the unemployed from HP. I would not download Windows 8.1 if you paid me.

 

[paulpicks21]

I really disliked Windows 8, I downloaded and installed 8.1 Preview onto a spare SSD and I have to say I disliked it much less. I found it considerably easier to use and I would have no objections to using it full time when it's released if I have the funds.

 

[theveterans]

This is also my only opinion. I'd get Windows 8.1 iff it satisfies these features listed below:

1) Like Gary, I want the option to completely disable Metro Apps, Metro Start Screen, MS Online Account and other tablet oriented features. Well, the Built-in administrator account has these features disabled except for the Metro start screen, but nobody uses that account due to security concerns.

2) Completely disable "Desktop Composition" for legacy programs. Windows 7 has basic theme that has no desktop composition for program compatibility. Windows 8.1 should have this option too!

3) A redesigned Start Menu that doesn't cover the whole desktop, but it's really hard to trump Windows 7's Start menu.

4) Bring back the built-in DVD codec. Microsoft is too greedy to sell Windows 8 for the same price as 7 without WMC and DVD playback as well as Windows DVD Maker.

Without fulfilling my wish list above, I'd keep Windows 7 and won't even care if new features such as DirectX 11.2 and some other new features are only exclusive for 8.1.

 

[Gary]

Say I am a gamer and I am going to build a $5,000 USD rig. Do you really think I would put Windows 8 on it??

 

[Minecraft123456]

I disliked windows 8 and rebooted with windows 7 home premium because I hated it.

It sucked very bad windows 8.1 was a little bit better but I still disliked it.

 

[paulpicks21]

Say I am a gamer and I am going to build a $5,000 USD rig. Do you really think I would put Windows 8 on it??

Well I put Steam on 8.1 and everything ran just fine. Just the same as Windows 7 anyway.

Don't get me wrong I am in no way an 8 supporter, but I am just voicing my opinions on 8.1 compared to the original Windows 8 Consumer Preview I used.

 

[theveterans]

It's just my thoughts that for some people, they would do it just to eke out more FPS in some games as well as to get the latest DirectX for future GPU and game support despite Windows 8's lackluster UI. They can argue that with Classic Shell or Start 8, etc. their OS will now behave like 7. Still for me, no "disable desktop composition" no deal.

 

[Gary]

Since Windows 8 launched just look at how may tweaks were released to make it look and act like 7. If MS would have offered a choice between the Metro and standard start I would have updated my Win 7 Pro for The $39.00 offer. They did not so I am staying with Windows 7 for the rest of my days on this planet.

 

[sygnus21]

They did not listen to the Beta testers. I beta tested Windows 7 so I know what I am talking about. I said , right or wrong that is my opinion. I have a right to it just as you do to voice your opinion. Fcts are that people that purchased OEM Machines with Windows 8, bought Windows 7. The slump in OEM PC sales are directly proportional to the release of 8. Just asked all of the unemployed from HP. I would not download Windows 8.1 if you paid me.

Truth be told, when I bought my Windows 8 laptop I too was going to dump it for Windows 7, but a funny thing happened.... I played around with 8 and liked it. And no, my laptop is not touch screen.

Yes, I understand this is your opinion. I just think some of the vitriol is a bit overdone, especially by those who haven't actually used the OS.

And again, the "slump" in PC sales is just a side tracking excuse to dump on 8. It's pretty much universally acknowledged that the real cause of PC sales are tablets.

What you could say, that "may" be partially true, is that Windows 8 didn't help PC sales. That would be more accurate than out and out blaming 8 for the desktop PC's declining sales.

As for no liking 8, that's your prerogative. People said the same thing about 7, XP, 2K, 98, 95. Some people don't like change, I get it.

My two cents.

 

[SIW2]

I get it.

Really?

 

[sygnus21]

I get it.

Really?

Yes, Really!

BTW I knew you would be chiming in here. You didn't disappoint

 

[SIW2]

You clearly don't get it.

Do you think because others don't share your opinion, there is something wrong with them? They don't like change?

I think you will find people like change for the better. They don't like it for the worse. Do you get that? I expect not.

 

[smarteyeball]

In my honest Opinion Ballmer should be terminated along with the rest of Windows 8 Design staff.

I know a ridiculous amount of thought went into the design, but whoever was the lead must have been "My way or the highway" with zero room for compromise. Also ignoring who should've been the most important people of all - the consumers. That really came across as one big F*** You! to it's customers.

It's a great OS marred by arrogance.

I've customized my copy of 8 to remove all the ugly and dis-functionality. But it always did and does still does strike me that removing such simple and fundamental choices was an act close to lunacy from a commercial point of view.

Now as previously said right or wrong this is my opinion and mine alone. I see that Mozilla is now going the way of MS. Just look at the new Icon for Firefox 23 Beta?

Everything's currently going for the homogenous 'Modern" look.

Say I am a gamer and I am going to build a $5,000 USD rig. Do you really think I would put Windows 8 on it??

I did.

Performance is virtually identical to Seven. Better in some cases.


And if I wanted to play legacy games, I'd install XP.



As for PC sales it's not 8 killing the market. It's not helping, but it's not the sole cause.

 

[sygnus21]

You clearly don't get it.

Do you think because others don't share your opinion, there is something wrong with them? They don't like change?

Reading most of your posts over at eightforums on this subject I could easily argue the same. And for the record, no one said anything was wrong with them. That's something you chose to take from my post.

As I said before I have a lot of respect for you, but on this we're on opposite sides.

Yes, I understand many don't like the direction Microsoft has taken with 8, I get that. Some think the GUI is silly, and I'll even add myself that I don't like the Metro screen. Outside of that, for me, 8 isn't bad. To me, once you get past the silly Metro screen, all is good.

My point, people are acting like Microsoft produced the second devil and slapped all the angels in the face; I honestly don't see it being that serious, thus I voice my opinion on it.

Once you post an opinion, others will chime in, that's the nature of the forums.

We can agree to disagree agreeably.

 

[lehnerus2000]

What you could say, that "may" be partially true, is that Windows 8 didn't help PC sales. That would be more accurate than out and out blaming 8 for the desktop PC's declining sales.

As for PC sales it's not 8 killing the market. It's not helping, but it's not the sole cause.

I agree.
These are more accurate statements.

Everything's currently going for the homogenous 'Modern" look.

"Homogeneous" isn't the word I'd use.

And if I wanted to play legacy games, I'd install XP.

My old games run adequately in an XP VM (all except one, which will only run on an actual XP install - so I don't play it).
The bonus is that I can also play them when I'm using Linux.

 

[smarteyeball]

Microsoft produced the second devil and slapped all the angels in the face

Oh I like that phrase



Seven vs Eight simply reminds me of the vitriol of XP vs Vista.

Lots of valid points, a lot of not so valid points coming from a wide range of people such as the never tried right up to the thoroughly tried. And just like those endless debates, things get heated.

Did MS make mistakes with 8? Most definitely. Are they interested in rectifying things? Not really. But is it Microsoft's worse OS and biggest mistake? Not by a long shot.


Not everyone likes customization nor relying on 3rd party apps. But imagine if it were locked down like an Apple OS?
Agreements;disagreements aside; Overall I'm just happy that 8 can be customized to accommodate personal usage habits.


At the end of the day - it's your computer and you can run what you like on it. Like most things in life, there's never a 'one size fits all'. If you really don't like something - don't use it. It's not as if there isn't a very good alternative in this case.

 

[sygnus21]

I don't use any 3rd party apps with my copy of 8. Just straight up.

And I, like most people, hate the Metro screen; for me it's too damn cluttered.

As for the than missing start button, I have to admit I've gotten used to it being gone now and find the search feature just as useful. The Start button on 8.1 is meh, but again, doesn't bother me.

Oh and for the record, I was a H8ter to, till I started using the OS and got used to the way things were. Am I ready to dump 7 as my production OS on my main rig, not yet, but the final version of Windows Blue (8.1) will determine that.

Performance wise no one is really complaining there, it's more about the looks and GUI.

 

[Wenda]

I'm running 8.1 now. Once I got rid of/worked around what I didn't like, it's quite nice.

I have 8.1 set to boot to the desktop, and to go to All Apps when the 'start button' is
clicked, and I use All Apps instead of the Start Screen. It's still cluttered, but better
than that in W8. Metro is left enabled to use if/when desired, but isn't in my face.
Start Screen is purely an app-launcher, nothing more.

I have deliberately refrained from installing a start menu, but, due to a bug where some
programs won't pin to Start or All Apps, I've enabled Quick-Launch for these programs.

I've disabled Sky-Drive and that silly 'universal' search, and am quite happy with it.


Wenda.