More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8

[TheDarkSide]

Make Windows 8 LOOK & FEEL like Windows 7

It seems Windows 7 is here to stay, wherever Microsoft want Windows 7 to stay or not, Windows 8's UI has become too touchscreen orientated, and I've even struggled to find files and programs Windows 8 due to the metro Start Menu.

Windows 8 actually HAS a function that allows you to Make it act and FEEL like Windows 7,
if you are comfortable with Windows 7.

I don't know why people aren't telling others about this, but the way to do it is Simple.
Either go to the Help menu on your Windows 8 or
follow this link and follow the instructions.

(if you are paying for a program to change your Windows 8 to look like Windows 7, you are getting cheated )
How to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 | Reviews | CNET UK

Or simply install the "Classic Shell" from here:
http://www.classicshell.net/

 

[Boozad]

Or just use Windows 7 if you've already got it.

 

[jimbo45]

I agree with what you say Jim but mate des this mean that we who have recently taken up 8 will have to shell out more for the 8.1 or do you think it will come as an update? I hope so cos I have spent enough time and money already.

Personally how I have mine set up now is fine by me it has turned my old Ford model 10 laptop into a Ferrari!

Hi there
it will be a FREE update.

Just a reminder -- Windows 8 is being replaced by Windows 8.1 as a FREE upgrade around the end of the year when W8 will stop getting updates etc. W8 is now essentially "deprecated" so venom and vitriol on what is now a defunct OS is a waste of time . W8.1 is available for preview testing (Free) if you want to see for yourselves - IE11 has issues as I've said but try W8.1 -- you might be surprised.

All the discussions on W8 start screen etc should be reviewed in the light of the NEW W8.1 features --pointed out by me in about three posts back in this thread so a lot of the stuff about METRO, endless scrolling on the START screen and not being able to boot straight to the desktop are now TOTALLY REDUNDANT and DEAD. You can configure it up so you NEVER HAVE TO LOOK AT A METRO SCREEN AGAIN if you want and you can disable the corner navigation too.

By all means raise concerns about 8.1 but don't trouble yourselves with W8 any more. BUT READ the difference in navigation and how applications (desktop type) are installed in W8.1 before jumping to conclusions --it's DIFFERENT to W8.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[TheDarkSide]

Windows 7 on 8

Or just use Windows 7 if you've already got it.

Yeah, well the info was for people who are HAVE Windows 8 , and are unhappy with it.

Not for others to just make smart alecy remarks. thanx anyways.

 

[Boozad]

Yeah, well the info was for people who are HAVE Windows 8 , and are unhappy with it.

Not for others to just make smart alecy remarks. thanx anyways.

It wasn't smart alecy. Your post wasn't very clear that it was for people with Windows 8 and don't like it as opposed to advocating people move from 7 to 8.

You're welcome.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

It seems Windows 7 is here to stay, wherever Microsoft want Windows 7 to stay or not, Windows 8's UI has become too touchscreen orientated, and I've even struggled to find files and programs Windows 8 due to the metro Start Menu.

Windows 8 actually HAS a function that allows you to Make it act and FEEL like Windows 7,
if you are comfortable with Windows 7.

I don't know why people aren't telling others about this, but the way to do it is Simple.
Either go to the Help menu on your Windows 8 or
follow this link and follow the instructions.

(if you are paying for a program to change your Windows 8 to look like Windows 7, you are getting cheated )
How to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 | Reviews | CNET UK

Or simply install the "Classic Shell" from here:
Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

Look I agree with you entirely I use 8 in the 7 style and I have no problem with it I actually found the laptop works ten times faster with the 8 than 7 - 5 secs boot and 1 sec shutdown as opposed to around 30 secs boot and 20 shut down. I am not a lover of the Metro muck I just like the speed it is in reality no different than 7 in use.
A lot of fuss about not much at all really I use 7 on the other machines and am about to go to 8 on the Sandy Bridge so I shall have the best of both worlds if one sees a difference at all:sarc:

 

[Wrend]

Windows 8 actually HAS a function that allows you to Make it act and FEEL like Windows 7,
if you are comfortable with Windows 7.

So it gets you the normal functional Start pop up menu back and you don't have to navigate through the Start screen and side menus?

I use my Start menu primarily for system programs that I put there, running programs with command tags, and expanded Control Panel.

I don't use desktop icons, but instead use custom pup up menus from the Taskbar for links, user files, programs, and storage devices. Works great for me, even on my Nexus 7 tablet.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well for what it is worth here is my 8 desktop couldn't be more like 7 really.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Well for what it is worth here is my 8 desktop couldn't be more like 7 really.

Windows 7 SP2?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well for what it is worth here is my 8 desktop couldn't be more like 7 really.

Windows 7 SP2?

Got me there Harry the SP2 what the dickens is that? I can't find anything on Google re that

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I agree with what you say Jim but mate des this mean that we who have recently taken up 8 will have to shell out more for the 8.1 or do you think it will come as an update? I hope so cos I have spent enough time and money already.

Personally how I have mine set up now is fine by me it has turned my old Ford model 10 laptop into a Ferrari!

Hi there
it will be a FREE update.

Just a reminder -- Windows 8 is being replaced by Windows 8.1 as a FREE upgrade around the end of the year when W8 will stop getting updates etc. W8 is now essentially "deprecated" so venom and vitriol on what is now a defunct OS is a waste of time . W8.1 is available for preview testing (Free) if you want to see for yourselves - IE11 has issues as I've said but try W8.1 -- you might be surprised.

All the discussions on W8 start screen etc should be reviewed in the light of the NEW W8.1 features --pointed out by me in about three posts back in this thread so a lot of the stuff about METRO, endless scrolling on the START screen and not being able to boot straight to the desktop are now TOTALLY REDUNDANT and DEAD. You can configure it up so you NEVER HAVE TO LOOK AT A METRO SCREEN AGAIN if you want and you can disable the corner navigation too.

By all means raise concerns about 8.1 but don't trouble yourselves with W8 any more. BUT READ the difference in navigation and how applications (desktop type) are installed in W8.1 before jumping to conclusions --it's DIFFERENT to W8.

Cheers
jimbo

Sorry Jimbo missed the post I'll have a Google around for the 8.1 and see what it is about. In the meantime I don't see any Metro except that initial tall tower thing on power up > touch a key and it takes me straight to login then to the screen post of my desktop a while back, takes all of 5 secs.

 

[gregrocker]

Who would pay for it?

At this point, who would buy the OS? The Big Boxes are all taking its mention out of their Sunday ads.

Kim Commando on her Saturday radio show repeated twice to a mother to get her daughter Windows 7 on her new PC for college. Kim is the mainstream's tech mama.

The equivalent is New Coke if they hadn't pulled it off the market within days, and instead doubled down with more prune juice flavor. Now they're into Tylenol territory.

 

[Indianatone]

[/QUOTE]
Sorry Jimbo missed the post I'll have a Google around for the 8.1 and see what it is about. In the meantime I don't see any Metro except that initial tall tower thing on power up > touch a key and it takes me straight to login then to the screen post of my desktop a while back, takes all of 5 secs.[/QUOTE]

Just don't want to pee on your chips John but while Windows 8/8.1 hybrid boot enables the OS to appear to boot up quicker the fact that you then have to wait for Metro to load so you can take all of 5 seconds to load the desktop adds to the boot up time IMHO. I just leave my machines on so the desktop appears in 1 second once the monitor has showed up. The power saving functions of Windows 7 spin down the hard drives and everything else goes to idle. Also hibernation on 7 would make the system appear to boot quicker. I have got Windows 8 Pro and no longer even bother with it. I recently built a new machine to use with my Agfa SnapScan 600 and I installed Windows 7 on that. That PC is extremely snappy and responsive and uses the AMD platform with a Phenom II at 3.4 GHZ not overclocked or anything. Windows 8 had its chance and no amount of polishing the turd will fix it. Roll on Windows 7, give us a SP2 with all the updates rolled in and stick some tweaks in the system to work better. Your desktop client base vastly outnumbers the "Toy town Fondle slab Brigade".

 

[ThrashZone]

Well for what it is worth here is my 8 desktop couldn't be more like 7 really.

Windows 7 SP2?

Got me there Harry the SP2 what the dickens is that? I can't find anything on Google re that

Windows 8/ 8.1 with enough tweaking is win-7 sp2,
I dread visiting regedit for every little thing though
But I'm sure by the dead line/ Price for windows 8 goes up from 40 u.s. I'll have at least one Full version.

 

[Wenda]

The 8.1 preview is too buggy to use as a primary OS at this stage, so I've gone back to Win 8 (I've kept an image, tho). But 8.1, once I'd disabled all the net-centric rubbish and tweaked it up a bit, is a lovely OS to use. I'm running it on a local a/c, not an MS a/c.

I felt no need to install Classic Shell, but did enable the Quick-Launch toolbar, and I have Metro set to go to the All Apps screen instead of the Start Screen (which is as buggy as a flophouse mattress as I've said previously) and it boots directly to the desktop. I never see Metro unless I specifically want to.

All Apps works best if you sort the apps/programs by category.

Shown below is my 8.1 desktop and All Apps screen... In the second pic, 8.1's built-in start menu is activated (Win 8 has this as well).


Wenda.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi thee
As I keep saying -- W8.1 (when released as final) can be operated TOTALLY different to W8 -- a lot of the earlier complaints just don't really wash.

I'd also recommend that you TURN OFF the desktop background on the Applications screen although YMMV - it's obviously a USER preference choice but IMO it's much easier to READ the app tiles when they are on a plain background rather than use the same background as on your Desktop Theme. Keep your desktop themes of course.

@Wenda -- look at your 4th screen (apps screen) IMO that is definitely better if you stick with the plain background for this view.

IE11 is the biggest block to me using it regularly so far -- but for non WEB use it seems fine including Office, Photoshop and all the standard apps I have plus of course VMware workstation which I use a lot too.

Custom toolbars also make a use of the W7 type menu not so relevant anymore either as Wenda shows in her screenshots.

Once again a reminder for people who haven't used W8.1 -- W8.1 CAN boot straight to desktop and also you don't need to use an MS account -- a local account is just fine. People are STILL complaining about W8 -- remember effective from NOW W8 is effectively DEAD AND BURIED -- there will be NO MORE SUPPORT for it after W8.1 is released -- and the 8.1 release is a FREE upgrade. This makes W8 then the shortest lived OS in MS's history !!!

Cheers
jimbo

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry Jimbo missed the post I'll have a Google around for the 8.1 and see what it is about. In the meantime I don't see any Metro except that initial tall tower thing on power up > touch a key and it takes me straight to login then to the screen post of my desktop a while back, takes all of 5 secs.[/QUOTE]

Just don't want to pee on your chips John but while Windows 8/8.1 hybrid boot enables the OS to appear to boot up quicker the fact that you then have to wait for Metro to load so you can take all of 5 seconds to load the desktop adds to the boot up time IMHO. I just leave my machines on so the desktop appears in 1 second once the monitor has showed up. The power saving functions of Windows 7 spin down the hard drives and everything else goes to idle. Also hibernation on 7 would make the system appear to boot quicker. I have got Windows 8 Pro and no longer even bother with it. I recently built a new machine to use with my Agfa SnapScan 600 and I installed Windows 7 on that. That PC is extremely snappy and responsive and uses the AMD platform with a Phenom II at 3.4 GHZ not overclocked or anything. Windows 8 had its chance and no amount of polishing the turd will fix it. Roll on Windows 7, give us a SP2 with all the updates rolled in and stick some tweaks in the system to work better. Your desktop client base vastly outnumbers the "Toy town Fondle slab Brigade".[/QUOTE]
Yes and no mate the chips are fine mate I am talking about a four year old laptop that I boot from cold as I never leave machines running. It has a reasonably slow CPU although 8GB and an SSD but I am just in awe of the speed difference beit 8 or 7 SP2 or Joes café special OS, and I use it just like I do 7 so I have 7 at lightning speed and can dip back and forth into the Metro for apps news etc.
There seems to be an overbearing desire in this thread to jam ones ideas about whatever down the throats of everyone else and personally I am finding a tad boring now. For a $53 upgrade I am happy and that is all that counts
Now SP2 has got me confused than ever LOL!! and I did look into the 8.1 and saw something horrible about Skydrive saving my docs and pics and stuff something that is NEVER going to happen if I have anything to do with it, that would be the only issue with 8 if it ever became mandatory to have.

 

[Dallas 7]

......Windows 8.1 is far superior for decently managing LARGE and MUILTIPLE monitors - windows 7 is a bit of a pain with THREE monitors (or more !!)......


Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo I can just see you swishing, wiping and swiping multiple large touchscreens, especially if you were in a hurry!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

......Windows 8.1 is far superior for decently managing LARGE and MUILTIPLE monitors - windows 7 is a bit of a pain with THREE monitors (or more !!)......


Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo I can just see you swishing, wiping and swiping multiple large touchscreens, especially if you were in a hurry!

Hmm what beats me is why do you need more than one monitor for heavens sake does one live at the stock exchange?? :sarc: As for touch screens dirty habit!!

 

[jimbo45]

......Windows 8.1 is far superior for decently managing LARGE and MUILTIPLE monitors - windows 7 is a bit of a pain with THREE monitors (or more !!)......


Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo I can just see you swishing, wiping and swiping multiple large touchscreens, especially if you were in a hurry!

Hmm what beats me is why do you need more than one monitor for heavens sake does one live at the stock exchange?? :sarc: As for touch screens dirty habit!!

Hi there
THREE screens are actually quite useful in loads of situations (apart from having a Movie on one and applications on others).

Typical examples :

Programming / code debugging -- sometimes you want to have the debugger in a different place so you can set break points and examine variables etc while still running the application - and it's MUCH simpler to have these on separate screens rather than as smaller windows on the main screen.

Engineering / CAD drawing -- you might want to expand / Explode parts of the drawing --again much easier to display this on another screen while still being able to view the main drawing.

There's all sorts of other reasons too. -- what about say at work when you are logging on from ONE computer on your desk to THREE different company machines -- say PROD / DEV / QC -- OK you CAN do it with a single monitor and switch applications or windows but it's much easier with three screens especially when an application works say in QC but fails in PROD and you need to test a new version in TEST. You need to see all 3 at the same time. (OK it CAN be done with ONE -- the same way as you could RIDE A HORSE from NYC to Washington DC but there are better ways to go from NYC to Washington DC - same as using multiple monitors in the scenario I've just stated above).

Loads more cases -- once you've got used to using more than one monitor you'll be surprised how strange it feels to only going back to using ONE.

(For casual browsing / other typical "Tablety" or Mobile phone stuff then one monitor is fine --that's if you even NEED a computer at all for those purposes).

Cheers
jimbo