More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

[whs]

I found an interesting German website where they are selling laptops with Linux distros - and there is a big selection of distros from which to choose.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I totally agree with the positive comments re Windows 7 and maybe even a polished "standard" linux supported by software developers. I wonder though if a Lego user interface is the way new users will eventually go. The first Window style OS I remember was on the little Mac and I thought what a joke at the time except the joke was on me. The really "serious" computer users used Unix command line or maybe some propriety DEC PDP OS.

Well, what you say might be very well true for the bulk of the home consumer-base, where they just need 3-4 serious applications, limited multitasking and a dumbed down user interface.

But for company work it makes no sense to abandon the desktop environment for touchscreen and touchscreen-oriented UI, as it decreases productivity.
I suspect that unless some OEM takes action most will simply buy mass-licences of those programs that hack Windows 8 interface to make it more desktop-like. It's not like they are hard to deploy, and when you buy bulk stuff from Dell or Hp it's the easiest way.

If some known OEMs jumps the gun an start offering linux as an alternative system (and discounts the price for the win8 license), and makes BIOS/UEFI/whatever that have a "linux mode" that can be toggled so hibernation and other stuff will work on linux again even if the hardware can also accept the more stringent regulations imposed for Win8 compatibility. It's not hard to see that it might boost their sales.
Dell is trying a pilot project in its developer-oriented laptop. With VT-x enabled, no less.
It's pretty cool and has a nice screen, although it does cost a lot.

They say they don't offer linux to the masses due to techsupport issues, and hope devs and companies will be less reliant on techsupport. Seems like last year they got tons of positive feedback for their project. So if it sells well others may follow.

EDIT: btw, there are other more obscure OEMs that offer normal-looking high-end laptops with Ubuntu preloaded, like System7. If I had to buy a laptop I'd go with them.

 

[explorertml]

Hi Everyone,

And Mainstream Main Street, Firms and Companies and Governments will not be touching Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Blue, they will be upgrading or staying on Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate until Windows 9 and Windows 10 arrives in 2014 and 2015 for Windows 9 and Windows 10 both OS's will be out almost back to back 1st in history this will happen, I got this info from an inside source within Microsoft a few days ago


Have A Great Weekend Everyone, and Come check out my comments time to time within the Windows 8 Forum lots of action and talk in the Windows 8 News Forum

Regards,
Explorertml

 

[Cr00zng]

I've tested W8.0 and didn't care much about the interface and replaced it with Linux Mint. While LM was a OK, with some issues, it was replaced with W8.1. The added feature of the desktop as start up interface may change my mind about Windows 8:



While I still miss the "Start" button, loading up the task bar with frequently used programs does the trick for the time being. I just wish that MS adds a program list somewhere in the final version.

Overall, I do like this version of Windows 8 and probably keep it for good. Once I get used of this OS, my experience probably will be better. It is fast and stable on the Dell D630 laptop with a Core2 CPU, 4 GBs of memory, 256 GBs HDD, Wi-Fi, etc...

 

[x BlueRobot]

I guess Windows 8.1 does give a improvement with being able to boot straight to the desktop, although not improvement we want the most - a Start Menu.

I could probably live with Windows 8.1 if I placed some of my programs on the taskbar and the desktop.

 

[SIW2]

Maybe you didn't read Dedo.

8 is about getting users into MS online services.

For you geeks, it will only get worse. As time passes, more and more companies will find innovative ways of ruining the accepted, efficient workflows, just for the sake of money. You will find yourself clicking ten times more buttons and options just to get what you could do so easily in the past, RE: Windows frigging 8.1 and friends. The normal menu is not coming back, ever, and you will see yet more forced online integration and similar crap cropping everywhere.

Then, it will become subscription based shit, with monthly fees and mandatory online checkins. Following the trend, you will get mandatory ads in every program, and it will be against whatever law or license agreement to remove them. You will not be able to install programs that were not preapproved by this or that company. And so forth. This is your bright future, and it will happen slowly, so that people do not resist violently.

If you do not want to end up an anally probed guinea pig in the money labs, you will be wise to boycott this latest Microsoft operating system thing, because it is an insult to intelligence, to poor people worldwide, and anyone with a basic sense of decency.

Final grade: FAIL. We're done.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-8-1-beta.html

 

[Night Hawk]

I found an interesting German website where they are selling laptops with Linux distros - and there is a big selection of distros from which to choose.

View attachment 275298

View attachment 275299

That's not any surprise! A great deal of the Linux development comes from there and other European locations. While MS is the mainstream here Linux is to them the same! You can also see that for yourself when looking at the non US mirrors to download Linux flavors from and see the ".de" in the hyperlink.

I guess Windows 8.1 does give a improvement with being able to boot straight to the desktop, although not improvement we want the most - a Start Menu.

I could probably live with Windows 8.1 if I placed some of my programs on the taskbar and the desktop.

Boot to the desktop? Not happening here with the 8.1 on a VM and the constant need to log into an MSN account instead of press enter and keep desktop tile in upper left corner. Once I pass the Lock screen and login the same old Start screen with Apps on the bottom not right to scroll downwards instead is what you see.

In 7 I keep additional Quick Launch toolbars and everything works. On 8 and I can imagine 8.1 too much doesn't or is simply no longer due to MS removing it!

Sorry! I put the Preview on to see what little changes if any they made and I guessed right not much! I can't see dumping a known to be best version for tablet! It doesn't work here any! When you wait years version after version for the one extraordinary version to arrive it certainly ISN'T 8 or 8.1!

And that is precisely the part no one can figure as to why MS would try to devaluate themselves in the short to long term but not following up a success story with a strong competitor as far as the next "DESKTOP" version that is! I guess since MS knew it would be some time before people and companies alike were ready to move up from 7 with numbers still having arrived yet they could venture into Mobile/Tablet land for a go at the Fruit company and that one's new competitor the Google-itis crowd. 8 and 8.1 are still going to be what they were intended for just like Windows RT tablet... tablet... Surface Tablet!

 

[Cr00zng]

Maybe you didn't read Dedo.

8 is about getting users into MS online services.

As oppose to getting into Apple, Google, etc., online services? Dedo seems to have no problems with Google services and subjecting the page visitors to Google snooping on them. Google, "so-called cloud, where allegedly government agencies can allegedly take a look at your alleged activities at their leisure." Come again Dedo, what were you saying about MS online services?

Quote from Dedo:

To Microsoft's credit, they at least set the data collection options for your account to off, which means you will have to opt-in to share your localization, usage patterns and other details.

Was there an opt-in for Google snooping on me visiting you website? That's right, there was none...

There are number of issues with W 8.0 and 8.1, online services isn't one of them.

 

[SIW2]

The entire purpose of metro is to get users into MS online services, ads and other monetising schemes.

In 8.1 they have allowed skipping the start screen ( their main ad billboard ), and opting into their data collection stuff.

Why? Is it because they suddenly into Mother Theresa ?

No, of course not.

It is because they know some of us are aware of what metro is for. We have been making a lot of noise about it.

Therefore, they have decided to do it slowly, like boiling frogs.

Dedo understands it, that is exactly what he says here:

If you do not want to end up an anally probed guinea pig in the money labs, you will be wise to boycott this latest Microsoft operating system thing, because it is an insult to intelligence, to poor people worldwide, and anyone with a basic sense of decency.

Final grade: FAIL. We're done.

BTW google adsense is used on this site too, you don't see it because you are a member. That is completely different from what MS is trying to pull.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

google adsense is ok, it's google analytics that I keep locked out with both noscript and ghostery that is a bit of a peeping tom.

But hey, that was a review of windows 8.1, so bashing anyone else than windows 8.1 would have been going OT.

 

[Layback Bear]

SIW2 I pan fry my Bull frogs.

 

[SIW2]

Do they notice if you heat the pan very very slowly ?

I am not sure it is really true that frogs will not notice if you boil them slowly - but it is a well known saying, nonetheless.

 

[Night Hawk]

Well by now you realize that "there is a sucker born every minute" that will chew into the "get you coming and going" crud that's being served up! Scroll down using the Apps button at the bottom of the 8.1 Preview to see what's in store for the guilable!

Let's see a look at some of those prepackaged tiles includes: Finance, Food & Drink, Health&Fitness, Music, News, People, replace the word Scan for "SCAM"? naaaa... Marketing gimic!, Sports, Store(MS Store obviously), Travel, and then use the slider to scroll over to the right for what is offscreen and find the things you should be seeing like Calc, NotePad, Paint, Remote, Snipping tool, WMP, etc. with Weather stuffed in between the two screens.

Obviously MS has some new angles being pursued at the same they promote their new Surface Tablet series.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I can confirm that crayfish do. They make a high-pitched noise and try to jump out if thrown in boiling water. they stay put if you raise the temp gradually.

 

[SIW2]

The idea is to start with cold water. Then heat it very very very slowly. The story goes frogs will sit there happily until they boil to death.

The saying "like boiling frogs" means doing something slowly so that people don't notice.

The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog

 

[Cr00zng]

The entire purpose of metro is to get users into MS online services, ads and other monetising schemes.

And you could say the same for Apple, Google, Facebook, etc., as stated earlier; all of their services are monetizing schemes just as well. So, why is it a OK to do for one company but not the other?

BTW google adsense is used on this site too, you don't see it because you are a member. That is completely different from what MS is trying to pull.

BTW... Member or not, I see adsense and analytic blocked in my browsers; not just this, but every sites.

 

[gregrocker]

And you could say the same for Apple, Google, Facebook, etc., as stated earlier; all of their services are monetizing schemes just as well. So, why is it a OK to do for one company but not the other?

Those companies did not develop a desktop experience perfected in Win7 which is used for much of the productive work that drives the world economy, and suits consumer needs that are more productive than social. I can knock out a dozen Forums posts on a desktop or laptop in the time it takes to do one on an Ipad or IPhone.

Most of those companies actually created the Social media platforms and content that tempted MS so much to overreact to Ipad and rework their business model to monetize Apps and eventually the OS - completely abandoning it's strength with the productive desktop experience.

Go to any office store or Best Buy and ask them the effect of Win8 on PC sales. Even though they're now being subsidized by MS to take the loss, the fabled decline of the desktop is almost entirely a self-inflicted prophecy. That they think the world's productive work will end up on the Surface is almost pitiable. This is such an unmitigated disaster that it makes New Coke seem like a drop in the bucket.

Are we disloyal to MS when we are the home here to their only successful product, which saved them from Vista and may still save them from Ate? The quality support for the best OS ever has always been right here and we will not be moved to join any suicide pact.

 

[Wenda]

Well by now you realize that "there is a sucker born every minute" that will chew into the "get you coming and going" crud that's being served up! Scroll down using the Apps button at the bottom of the 8.1 Preview to see what's in store for the guilable!

Let's see a look at some of those prepackaged tiles includes: Finance, Food & Drink, Health&Fitness, Music, News, People, replace the word Scan for "SCAM"? naaaa... Marketing gimic!, Sports, Store(MS Store obviously), Travel, and then use the slider to scroll over to the right for what is offscreen and find the things you should be seeing like Calc, NotePad, Paint, Remote, Snipping tool, WMP, etc. with Weather stuffed in between the two screens.

Obviously MS has some new angles being pursued at the same they promote their new Surface Tablet series.

Yes, Nighthawk, I agree that most of the apps should be re-named CRapps, but there are one or two that are OK. I use the weather app, and one game (Pinball FX2) and that's about it, app-wise.

But in 8.1, you need never even see the Start Screen, and you don't need 3rd-party stuff to do it. Simply right-click on the task-bar then go to Properties>Navigation. There, you can customise how Win 8.1 starts, and what it starts to. See pic 2 below.

The All Apps screen can be accessed directly now, without having to go through the Start Screen. All Apps is still somewhat shambolic, but new customising options do help. With a few more options (like being able to hide and move tiles more easily), it could become a viable Start menu. The potential is there. See pic 1 below.

There are at least two ways to get a replacement (of sorts) for the Win 7 Start menu without resorting to 3rd-party programs like Classic Shell or StartIsBack. Firstly, there's the old and all-but-forgotten Quick-Launch tool bar.

Enable Quick-Launch toolbar by first unlocking the taskbar. Then right-click on the task-bar and go Toolbars>New Toolbar. Then drill down to C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer. Highlight, but do not open, the Quick Launch Folder, then click on OK. Go back to the task-bar, and you'll see it is enabled. Configure it by moving the two vertical bars, then re-lock the task-bar. Done! See pic 3 below.

There's also a version of the old 'Win 95/98/XP classic' Start menu cleverly hidden in 8 and 8.1 as well. I used it on the Win 8 DP before I discovered 3rd-party fixes, and it works reasonably well.

Enable 'Classic' Start Menu by following Jimbo's tutorial here... More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8 - Page 18 - Windows 7 Support Forums See pic 4 below.

I do agree re the boiling-water syndrome, and I have come in for some flak on EF for my dislike of the always-online, pay-as-you-go direction MS is heading, and my dislike/distrust of the 'cloud' but I've found ways to avoid, both in 8 and 8.1 So long as I have the choice, it's fine. But I'll dump MS like a hot spud the day I no longer have the choice.

Sorry for such a long post, but I do hope some may find it useful or helpful. And no, I'm not trying to convert anyone, or being a fanboi for 8.1


Wenda.

All screenshots taken from Windows 8.1 preview.

 

[Layback Bear]

Do they notice if you heat the pan very very slowly ?

I am not sure it is really true that frogs will not notice if you boil them slowly - but it is a well known saying, nonetheless.

I understood what you meant.
Some of the young might not of got it.
Just keep giving little pieces of candy to the unknowing and you will get them hooked on your candy store.
Kind of like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Cloud cocaine.

 

[mjf]

I'm sure I'm repeating myself but it certainly appears that MS want the world to use an "app" oriented machine in a cloud environment. This may be based on the tremendous growth in smartphones, iwhatevers, tablets etc. I believe it may be a mistaken growth path for a company whose days may be numbered because of stronger competitors in this segment. Play in this sandbox but don't bet the farm on it.
Business from small, SME through to Corporate want desktop systems that allow their employees to work efficiently. Even as a personal user I have too many application areas that require an efficient desktop environment. While MS ponders Windows 9/10 linux may slip in.