Windows 8. Do desktop users need it?

[Andrew_C]

They are aiming for battery conservation...because of course this was designed for handhelds, not desktops, or even laptops.

How does not being able to close an app save battery?

...Everything organised into tidy, well spaced out, readable, custom groups.

Spoiler

Another thing to add is live tiles...
It all sounds great to me. Can't wait.

It's a vast improvement over the default layout, but it still wastes huge amounts of space. How do you do that, though? I used Win 8 (Release Preview) for several days before giving up in disgust and never managed to find how you customise the Metro screen.

Also, Live Tiles? Just another reimplementation of desktop widgets, which have been in Windows in various forms since XP (earlier if you include 3rd-party implementations).

EDIT: spelling, formatting

 

[Verzin]

I'm not upgrading. Not yet anyway. I'll give them a year to work out all tha bugs/stuff that makes people rage.

 

[Epona]

Alright, it was mildly amusing that people keep saying Windows 8 is going to suck because Windows 7 is good. If that is the worst criticism you have for Windows 8, then you should just sit down and stop talking.

Windows 8 is just as solid as Windows 7 and those who are using it right now know that. The problem with Windows 8 is that it really is Windows 7 with a new start screen. Not worth paying alot of money for.

Microsoft is offering it for $40 for the first three months and it's probably worth that.

 

[Zipa]

Alright, it was mildly amusing that people keep saying Windows 8 is going to suck because Windows 7 is good. If that is the worst criticism you have for Windows 8, then you should just sit down and stop talking.

Windows 8 is just as solid as Windows 7 and those who are using it right now know that. The problem with Windows 8 is that it really is Windows 7 with a new start screen. Not worth paying alot of money for.

Microsoft is offering it for $40 for the first three months and it's probably worth that.

There are a whole host of issues that people have with windows 8. Even Microsoft approved software developers (Brad Wardell of Stardock ) say it has serious issues for the desktop user.

 

[SecretsOfMoon]

Oh and if you're complaining about the lack of a start menu then why the hell are you using the start menu?

What?

The biggest complaint about 8 seems to be replacing the start menu with metro. But the start menu has been completely pointless for years now.

Unless you have services and CLI on your desktop and/or quick launch thing, the start menu is very much not pointless.

 

[Epona]

Alright, it was mildly amusing that people keep saying Windows 8 is going to suck because Windows 7 is good. If that is the worst criticism you have for Windows 8, then you should just sit down and stop talking.

Windows 8 is just as solid as Windows 7 and those who are using it right now know that. The problem with Windows 8 is that it really is Windows 7 with a new start screen. Not worth paying alot of money for.

Microsoft is offering it for $40 for the first three months and it's probably worth that.

There are a whole host of issues that people have with windows 8. Even Microsoft approved software developers (Brad Wardell of Stardock ) say it has serious issues for the desktop user.

...and I'll bet all of those issues are more important than "it must suck since it comes after 7".

I have no doubt that there are issues that I haven't seen and if people are talking about real problems I am all ears but this BS about "it has to suck because it comes after Win 7" is dumb.

 

[Andrew_C]

...and I'll bet all of those issues are more important than "it must suck since it comes after 7".

I have no doubt that there are issues that I haven't seen and if people are talking about real problems I am all ears but this BS about "it has to suck because it comes after Win 7" is dumb.

Only one person in this thread has said that. A lot of relevant issues, such as the difficulty of customising the Metro Screen, the space wasted by the Metro Screen and Metro apps, Metro apps running fullscreen and several other issues have been pointed out.

 

[Epona]

...and I'll bet all of those issues are more important than "it must suck since it comes after 7".

I have no doubt that there are issues that I haven't seen and if people are talking about real problems I am all ears but this BS about "it has to suck because it comes after Win 7" is dumb.

Only one person in this thread has said that. A lot of relevant issues, such as the difficulty of customising the Metro Screen, the space wasted by the Metro Screen and Metro apps, Metro apps running fullscreen and several other issues have been pointed out.

It's been said too much in other threads and it's a complete waste. It's not even mildly amusing anymore.

 

[Zipa]

Alright, it was mildly amusing that people keep saying Windows 8 is going to suck because Windows 7 is good. If that is the worst criticism you have for Windows 8, then you should just sit down and stop talking.

Windows 8 is just as solid as Windows 7 and those who are using it right now know that. The problem with Windows 8 is that it really is Windows 7 with a new start screen. Not worth paying alot of money for.

Microsoft is offering it for $40 for the first three months and it's probably worth that.

There are a whole host of issues that people have with windows 8. Even Microsoft approved software developers (Brad Wardell of Stardock ) say it has serious issues for the desktop user.

...and I'll bet all of those issues are more important than "it must suck since it comes after 7".

I have no doubt that there are issues that I haven't seen and if people are talking about real problems I am all ears but this BS about "it has to suck because it comes after Win 7" is dumb.

http://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/428680 , thats Brad Wardells issues. Gabe Newell and some guy from Blizzard have come out and said its not a good thing as well though they haven't gone into detail as of yet.

And yeah it is stupid if people are complaining (and are being serious about it) about the sequence number and only every other OS being any good from MS.

 

[Charli]

Nope, we dont. Do the same thing we did to Vista. Don't use it. Simples.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Sort answer, No.
Long answer, it's a reskin of win 7 for tablets and ARM architecture which frankly has nothing to do with desktop users.

Oh, good. I haven't heard much about Win 8 before this, and I was worried they'd made another Vista. I really like Windows 7, though, so if Windows 8 is "Moar Windows 7, but with Tablets" then that's cool.

I won't upgrade, but I won't avoid it either, if I happen to get a new computer where it comes pre-loaded. Not like I did with Vista. Ick.

 

[Hoplon]

Sort answer, No.
Long answer, it's a reskin of win 7 for tablets and ARM architecture which frankly has nothing to do with desktop users.

Oh, good. I haven't heard much about Win 8 before this, and I was worried they'd made another Vista. I really like Windows 7, though, so if Windows 8 is "Moar Windows 7, but with Tablets" then that's cool.

I won't upgrade, but I won't avoid it either, if I happen to get a new computer where it comes pre-loaded. Not like I did with Vista. Ick.

It's pretty much the way to go, it isn't an ME or vista, just that most of the new features won't really do that much for you.

 

[DeltaEdge]

After looking at some demos of metro, I don't think it's necessary for me, but I know that a large amount of people will buy it just because it is new, and also due to the ability to change to a windows 7/vista skin, that will probably help lure some people who are on the edge. It doesn't seem at all like a necessary upgrade though, and I love windows 7.

 

[Kakistos153]

Its going to be another vista - windows 7 thing.

They'll parade windows 8 around for a while, get feedback on it, and then come out with windows 9, which will be a scaled back consumer friendly version of their over controlling intolerable operating system that no one wants.

Then windows 9 will be AMAZING because it has gone through a massive prototype phase of ACTUALLY being on the market as a different product.

You cant get better market research than a full product release.

Especially when everyone with a brain will expect it to be pretty crap but know that something better and more in line with what they actually want from an operating system will be coming soon after and will be willing to buy it because they'll actually be excited about it.

As it stands there will be a LOT of people who wont switch over to windows 8 just because of attachment to their windows 7. windows 8 will loosen that grip somewhat and then by windows 9 the windows 7 users will be begging for something new that is also great. Which is exactly what Microsoft will provide.

Spending billions to carve a niche into a market, but making billions more in that niche.

 

[meshed]

Hiya guys, usually just stalk around but here goes,

I think people forget that if Microsoft just kept rolling out better and better iterations of windows XP/vista/7 ++ they would come irrelevant really REALLY quickly.

I for one will be looking forward to its launch, not necessarily because it will be better, but because it will be different. Personally really happy that they are moving in a coherent direction after years of stagnation. Regardless of whether you like that or not, you have to give them kudos for being so bold.

Personally I really like Metro. Its integration is kinds awkward but I think for the most part, it works. Its use is not very obvious at first, but when you think about it, it makes more sense than most people think.

I see it like a Social/Cloud Hub. It aggregates all your contacts, feeds, messages, images etc into one slick interface. And the live tiles give you a nice overview on whats going on at a glance. Great for stuff like keeping up on the news/email/ whatever. Suddenly I dont have to keep track of a million tabs. Yippe! And when youre done with it, hit the windows key and you can get back to work on your more practical desktop.

I guess what I'm saying is that they are obviously not selling the idea windows8 to any of us at the present. Theyre building and OS for the future, a time where you constantly have access to the cloud and you can get texts from people on your PC.

 

[rob_simple]

Am I the only person that thinks Windows 7 is awful? I was forced to take it with a new laptop just when I'd finally got used to wrestling with Vista and in 7 it feels like they've made even more of an effort to wrestle control out of my hands.

It feels like it was designed to be accessible for people who have no idea how to use a computer and an absolute nightmare for people who know not to open an e-mail attachment from the deposed prince of Nigeria.

 

[Rack]

Oh and if you're complaining about the lack of a start menu then why the hell are you using the start menu?

What?

The biggest complaint about 8 seems to be replacing the start menu with metro. But the start menu has been completely pointless for years now.

Says who, and why? I use it every time I want to do anything! All my most used tasks are on there, anything I need to search is there too. The only thing that has become dated about it is browsing the program folders in it. I only do that a fraction of what I use to in 95/98.

Win key plus typing the name of the program is much faster and easier, why fumble with all those clunky menus?

 

[Pinkamena]

I know I won't fucking switch to it!

 

[Signa]

Oh and if you're complaining about the lack of a start menu then why the hell are you using the start menu?

What?

The biggest complaint about 8 seems to be replacing the start menu with metro. But the start menu has been completely pointless for years now.

Says who, and why? I use it every time I want to do anything! All my most used tasks are on there, anything I need to search is there too. The only thing that has become dated about it is browsing the program folders in it. I only do that a fraction of what I use to in 95/98.

Win key plus typing the name of the program is much faster and easier, why fumble with all those clunky menus?

Just because you're happy doing that doesn't mean everyone else is comfortable with it. There's several different ways in accessing the Task Manager, yet I would never say "nix the Start Bar option" just because I'm used to hitting Ctrl+Shift+Esc with only two fingers.

 

[SpAc3man]

It's the overemphasis with icons that people are hating. Even so, why remove it completely? Why not leave an option? Why are we being forced to use Metro?

I wouldn't having it but if it meant removing the start button then I would rather do without.

Start Screen tiles are there to have your most used features right there in front of you along with live updates of information that is useful to the user. It is a combination of pinned taskbar items and the widgets that actually were useful like email and news feeds. A lot faster than having to dig through the Start Menu. Microsoft have no reason to keep the option of using a feature they have replaced for something that works better.

For times where you want something that isn't on your Start Screen you just start typing from the Start Screen to use the really good search functions or from anywhere in the system you can use winkey+Q to search apps, winkey+W for settings and winkey+F for files. Anyone who uses Win7 regularly should already be using the search box to quickly access things.
Have a rundown of how to use Win8 search

Spoiler

You could almost argue that the search screen is the real start menu replacement.

It's a vast improvement over the default layout, but it still wastes huge amounts of space. How do you do that, though? I used Win 8 (Release Preview) for several days before giving up in disgust and never managed to find how you customise the Metro screen.

Also, Live Tiles? Just another reimplementation of desktop widgets, which have been in Windows in various forms since XP (earlier if you include 3rd-party implementations).

EDIT: spelling, formatting

I figured it out very quickly but I suppose I will be kind enough to give a helpful link. [http://www.ampercent.com/organize-app-tiles-windows-8-metro-start-screen/10184/]

I would argue that the desktop always wasted large amounts of space while Metro is actually making use of it. Why have everything cramped on the taskbar or have all those messy desktop shortcuts? Widgets were always horribly messy and out of place. By integrating everything together it becomes a neater, less cluttered UI.