Windows 8 flops

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702 posts

Ultimate Geek

#798346 12-Apr-2013 12:16

Don't like how Windows Media Player no longer plays DVD's.

Also didn't like the missing start menu. Installed a 3rd party app, which I paid roughtly NZD$10 for, for lifetime updates, which I installed on each Windows 8 Pro PC. All computers now act and look like Windows 7, except being Windows 8.

Plus, having to purchase additional software that only works on Windows 8 Pro to play DVD's/blu rays is ridiculous. Despite there being freeware products out there on the web that one can utilise.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#798358 12-Apr-2013 12:54

I wonder if microsoft will restructure in the medium term?

They are certainly not in any immediate financial trouble due to the near 100 billion dollars they have sitting in bank accounts around the world.

But, if their sales decline you'd expect some adjustment.

Although, with 100 billion dollars you don't have to but the mantra is to maximise shareholder return.

PassiveFever81

367 posts

Ultimate Geek

#798365 12-Apr-2013 13:20

In my experience with Windows 8, it gave me the motivation I needed to go back to Mac :P
Love Windows 7, but 8 is just all over the place. Seems half finished imo.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

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#798658 13-Apr-2013 04:26

I can't say that I've used Win8 at all. I don't have any touch screen devices so am not used to using those at all. Juding from other's experiences, Win8 sounds like it's worth missing.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

TwoSeven

1623 posts

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#798706 13-Apr-2013 09:39

Speaking of touch screen, I was looking for a 24" touch screen monitor - preferably with HDMI input (not an all-in-one or an android monitor) and there seems to be a dearth of them on the market.

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StevieT

702 posts

Ultimate Geek

#798778 13-Apr-2013 14:38

I'm so accustomed to laptop keyboard and mouse pad that any future laptop that will more than likely be touch screen, it will be something I rarely utilise except as perhaps using the pen to digitalise my signature into documents directly.

Wade

2225 posts

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#798858 13-Apr-2013 17:46

Use a win8 hybrid tablet and it will all make sense.... Win7 on a normal laptop seems archaic by comparison

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Hammerer

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Lifetime subscriber

#798903 13-Apr-2013 19:32

There are some difficulties moving to the Windows 8 hybrid user interface but there are many new features worth having. I can't remember everything but the decision was real easy for me to make given the following:

better account management
better security
better installer; install from Internet and create DVDs etc; options to refresh (reinstall while keeping all my stuff) or reset (to reinstall wiping all my stuff)
better recovery options
more boot options
better integration with devices including bootable USB sticks and mobile broadband
better video sub-system

[Edit: Found this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8]

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#798949 13-Apr-2013 20:57

Tried it (briefly), hated it!

I'm actually in the market for a new system at the moment, as my main desktop box is more than 6 years old and creaking. However, it still works. I will either get something with Win7 on it, or sit tight until Win9. Win 8 simply isn't an option, and won't be contemplated unless they fix it with a service pack. And by fix it I mean:
- Provide an option to remove/stop Metro from EVER launching, as a boot screen or otherwise;
- Dump the Fisher-Price graphics;
- Restore the start menu;
- Put the media player and the ability to play DVDs back into the core build; etc.

Failing that, for the first time in more than 15 years, Win8 has made me start to think seriously about moving to a Mac. It's more or less only the investment I already have in software, and the lack of software options for some of the stuff I do, that is holding me back now.

Surely even Microsoft must have twigged to the chorus of dislike by now?

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#798986 13-Apr-2013 23:38

Running it now. Don't really use Metro, don't really care about the start menu.

Windows Key D at startup then I spend most of the rest of my time there.

Windows key then start typing is way more effective than using the start menu.

I get people don't like change, but the vitriolic hate is in my opinion over the top.

Otherwise Windows 8 is fast, stable and does the job fine.

Regs

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Snowflake

#799347 14-Apr-2013 22:04

StevieT: Don't like how Windows Media Player no longer plays DVD's.

this was most likely cut due to the cost of licensing the mpeg2 codecs and the dvd CSS. Regardless of whether the feature was used, microsoft would have been paying a license for the feature on every windows 7 box.

DVD and MPEG2 are kind of disappearing now, and there are alternatives like buying powerdvd/tmt (or getting copy free with the dvd drive), or through other software

note that dvd playback was only introduced in windows 7 - you had to buy the mpeg2 codecs separately for windows XP.

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Snowflake

#799349 14-Apr-2013 22:08

StevieT: I'm so accustomed to laptop keyboard and mouse pad that any future laptop that will more than likely be touch screen, it will be something I rarely utilise except as perhaps using the pen to digitalise my signature into documents directly.

I found myself wanting to swipe the (non-touch) laptop screen not long after buying a touch based smartphone. now that i've used a win8 touch based device as well, i really struggle at times on my laptop. looking forward to replacing with a hybrid tablet/laptop device with a bit of power/memory.

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blakamin

4431 posts

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#799867 15-Apr-2013 21:01

Switched back to 7 2 weeks ago after buying 8 at launch as we don't use the laptop much and are always on the desktop when we do (2 nexus 7s and s3s). Mrs hated it.
HATED skype always ringing even when "logged out".
Metro tiles annoyed us both.

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#799897 15-Apr-2013 21:53

blakamin:
HATED skype always ringing even when "logged out".
Metro tiles annoyed us both.

So don't let Skype run in the background (you would have been asked about this at least twice).
If you don't like Metro tiles don't use them

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#800000 16-Apr-2013 08:41

Windows 8: it's over.

Agree with this:

Yes, we are entering a post-PC world. Tablets and smartphones are becoming more important... to sales. PCs are no more going to go away than mainframes did. We're still going to be using them in offices and homes for the foreseeable future. They let us easily do things that we need to do every day that we can't easily do with a tablet or a phone.

Perhaps most of our computing will move to the cloud, but you know what device we'll still be using for most of our interactions? It will be a PC, simply because it's easier to enter data with a real keyboard than any other interface.

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