Thinking of a new Laptop, what do you all think?

[tlarseth]

I thought there was no way to remove or hide Metro in the official release? Metro is the main reason I wanted to downgrade back to Windows 7, I didn't like the Mouse and Keyboard controlling of Metro, which is why I didn't want it, but if there is a way to show or hide it, I might stick with it. I heard it does better on certain aspects of laptops, specifically resource management and heat management.

 

[gregrocker]

Ex7ForW8 actually grafts on the Windows 7 Start button/menu, even had all my defaults loaded after installing in 10 seconds using my 7 files off adjoining partition. You can toggle between Metro or WIn7 Start or leave it either.

But it seems much faster than either 7 or 8 normally is, due to the 8 Metro features not being loaded into RAM.

Adding in the 8GadgetPack - Gadgets for Windows 8 and Win8 is stable, faster and perfect.

 

[cytherian]

I have to wonder if Microsoft will get wise to the huge number of people who are annoyed with the W8 GUI change, and in SP1 introduce an optional Start menu based on the work that enterprising computer enthusiasts have come up with.

 

[tlarseth]

They changed which computer is on sale, it is same model number just lowered specs, which is not what i wanted, so I decided to go with another one that is $7 cheaper. The one I wanted originally had an Nvidia Geforce 650M, but they changed it to a full shared memory Intel 4000.

This one has an AMD Radeon 7660G with 2GB dedicated and up to 2 more GB of shared. I was able to mess around with one and ran a DXDIAG and looked at the log file to see the actual vram value.

SPECIFICATIONS

Processor and Memory
Processor Type:	 AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M Accelerated Processor
Processor Speed:	 2.3GHz up to 3.2GHz
Cache:	 4MB L2 Cache
Memory (RAM):	 8GB DDR3 SDRAM (2 DIMM)
Maximum Memory:	 Not Specified
Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives
Hard Drive:	 750GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Optical Drive:	 Not Specified
Multimedia Card Slot:	 SuperMulti DVD burner
Graphics and Audio
Graphics:	 AMD Radeon™ HD 7660G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 4077MB total graphics memory
Audio:	 Beats Audio™ quad speakers and a subwoofer
Display, Keyboard, Mouse and Webcam
Display Size:	 17.3-inch diagonal HD
Display Type:	 BrightView LED-backlit display
Display Resolution:	 1600 x 900
Keyboard:	 Full-size island-style keyboard with numeric keypad
Mouse:	 Touchpad supporting multi-touch gestures with on/off b
Webcam:	 HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated dual array digital microphone
Connectivity
Ethernet:	 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Wi-Fi:	 1x1 802.11b/g/n WLAN
Bluetooth:	 Not Specified
Modem:	 Not Specified
Ports/Slots
Ports:	
3 SuperSpeed USB 3.0
1 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 HDMI
1 VGA (15-pin)
1 RJ-45 (LAN)
1 Headphone-out
1 Microphone-in
Expansion:	 Not Specified
Power
Battery Type:	 6-cell 62WHr 2.8 Ah lithium-ion battery
Typical Battery Life:	 Up to 62 Watt Hours
AC Adapter:	 65W AC adapter
Software
Operating System:	 Windows 8
Manufacturer Software:	 Beats Audio

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum apart from the 8 looks a pretty good buy if had 7 on it I would be very inclined to slip in a SSD and use the original drive as an external

I don't suppose though is there is a possibility of downloading an ISO of 8 and installing onto a SSD (use the sticker code) and still use the original as an external.

I don't know much about 8 apart from you either like it or detest it.

 

[SIW2]

You don't get a sticker code with win8 pre installed os.

 

[gregrocker]

So what if you Clean Install Win7 in a Dual Boot, requiring turning off Secure Boot? Does Win8 require reinstall and will it install and activate without Secure Boot?

Of if you wipe the HD and Install another OS, then want to go back to Win8. Will it activate only if you turn back on Secure Boot? How about if you turn off UEFI altogether?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

You don't get a sticker code with win8 pre installed os.

Hum how come SIW they changed the rules?

 

[tlarseth]

Anti-piracy. The install Disk you make from the image file has the key already in it, encrypted and all.

 

[gregrocker]

Win8 Activation is now coded on the BIOS chip, but the question is if it will activate if you don't want to use Secure Boot or even EFI BIOS.

Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness - Keith Combs' Blahg - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Win8 Activation is now coded on the BIOS chip, but the question is if it will activate if you don't want to use Secure Boot or even EFI BIOS.

Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness - Keith Combs' Blahg - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

So does this mean that you cannot pick up the activation code with Speccy or SIW anymore Greg?

 

[gregrocker]

I don't know as I haven't gotten my hands on a Win8 PC yet.

Haven't had time either since we are swamped here helping with the best OS ever which is only three years old and wildly popular.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I don't know as I haven't gotten my hands on a Win8 PC yet.

Haven't had time either since we are swamped here helping with the best OS ever which is only three years old and wildly popular.

Yes mate I wished I had kept my old dual boot to try it now. Mind you it will,be 2020 before I shall be going 8 to me it's a bit like fixing an unbroken wheel apart from the small apps I just don't think it's necessary if even then.

I'm 7 all the way if I could hep you I would but I am only just savvy enough to turn the thing on

 

[tlarseth]

Haven't had time either since we are swamped here helping with the best OS ever which is only three years old and wildly popular.

I don't know about best, if support didn't end on it, I would still be using Win98SE.

 

[tlarseth]

Okay, the new laptop works great, Guild Wars 2 on ultra settings got me 39 FPS and a max CPU temp of 62 degrees Celsius.

The old laptop was at 11 FPS on minimum settings with a max CPU temp of 95 degrees Celsius.

 

[gregrocker]

Is that with Win8? Is Metro loaded, or are you using the Win7 explorer shell from Ex7ForW8? I'd benchmark both.

Are you going to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7?

 

[tlarseth]

Right now just win8, will try the win7 shell after all my data is transferred over.

This will be after I get off of work, just gotta research about how to implement the shell, I am in new water here. I don't like the idea of going through 3-4 menus to shutdown the computer, luckily all windows 7 keyboard shortcuts work, like Alt+F4, which I use to shutdown. I also don't like how certain applications won't shutdown there is no option, only Task Manager or Alt+F4 will close them. These are any programs built into Windows, they try to stay resident in memory.

 

[cytherian]

Win8 Activation is now coded on the BIOS chip, but the question is if it will activate if you don't want to use Secure Boot or even EFI BIOS.

Windows 8 BIOS Keys - embedded goodness - Keith Combs' Blahg - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Hmmmm... if you have an older laptop running Windows 7 and you upgrade, what if the BIOS chip doesn't support the Win8 Activation encoding? Does Microsoft only utilize it if available, but otherwise do the Win7 method?

My mother is in dire need of a new laptop (we've squeezed all we can out of XP so it's time), and I'm recommending she go with a Win7 installed laptop. Few retailer websites are making them available. Thankfully HP still allows you to buy a Win7 installed new laptop directly from their website at pretty decent prices. For $50 you can buy a 32Gb boot cache too (can't find other sites making this available, including Dell). SSD's bought with a new laptop are absurdly overpriced. Better to get a traditional HD installed and then buy an SSD separately.

 

[tlarseth]

If your bios doesnt support win8 key storage, it then stores encrypted in Windows.

 

[gregrocker]

I believe the new Win8 BIOS-chip coded Product Keys are for factory OEM only.

On Win8 machines it's turning out that the new Secure Boot protection must be turned off to UPDowngrade Windows 8 to Windows 7