Windows 8

[Amaris]

I have to admit to being out of the loop when it comes to Windows 8, but is there some sort of point to this OS beyond jumping onto the apps bandwagon? Was there something wrong with Windows 7 that needed fixing? Are there any major improvements that makes Windows 7 obsolete? Or is this just Microsoft's desperate attempt to remain relevant in the age of the iPad?

So far, I haven't found any compelling reason to upgrade from Windows 7. At one point I was looking forward to Windows 8 to see how much better it would be compared to 7, but I see no reason to waste money, as I have a desktop that runs Win 7, and a tablet that runs Android 2.2.

 

[Caretaker]

It's taking a little getting used to, but not as much as I thought it would take. I am using Windows on a boot camp partition, clean installed, on my late-2011 MacBook Pro. The only two problems in the week that I've had Windows 8 installed:

1. I tried to install one of the optional updates that Windows Update offered (Intel Management Engine) and it BSODed the system. Luckily, Windows caught on and let me use my installation disc to refresh.

2. Adaptive brightness defaulted to on. I had to turn it off - with it on, setting Windows to maximum brightness was still way too dark.

 

[Candlelight]

I've started using Windows 8 as my primary computer at work just in case we choose to roll it out to the staff later (which is unlikely; we only went to Windows 7 from XP about 18 months ago).

I caved and installed Classic Shell. I prefer the quicker access to apps, control panel, etc rather than resort to Metro. I still have Metro enabled though in case I change my mind.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

A cousin bought a new laptop with windows 8 on and asked for my help setting it up for him. I have to say I don't see the point on a desktop or laptop. I can see it working brilliantly for a phone or a tablet but it just makes things much more fiddly when you're trying to uninstall or even just shut down.

 

[JoeZhang]

I have to admit to being out of the loop when it comes to Windows 8, but is there some sort of point to this OS beyond jumping onto the apps bandwagon? Was there something wrong with Windows 7 that needed fixing? Are there any major improvements that makes Windows 7 obsolete? Or is this just Microsoft's desperate attempt to remain relevant in the age of the iPad?

It's part of an attempt to rebrand Microsoft as both a services and device maker - moreover it's part of a broader strategy to make sure Microsoft is set up for the cloud - the integration between 8, microsoft office and things like office365, skydrive and xbox are quite high and getting higher all the time. It's all a reflection of Microsoft's own analysis of what people are doing with their own PCs - outside of enterprise, the desktop is simply a way for the majority of consumers to access the web and consume media and this redesign reflects that - the desktop is still there for legacy apps and enterprise use.

The simple way to think about it is that Microsoft want to provide a seamless experience between devices in the hope that all your devices are microsoft.

 

[JoeZhang]

I wasn't convinced to start with but once I learnt a few of the short-cuts, things started to speed up dramatically.

A cousin bought a new laptop with windows 8 on and asked for my help setting it up for him. I have to say I don't see the point on a desktop or laptop. I can see it working brilliantly for a phone or a tablet but it just makes things much more fiddly when you're trying to uninstall or even just shut down.

Not really - it's simply that there is a learning curve and that you need to forget things that applied before and don't apply now - the number of steps are the same:

Windows 7 - Hit Start, select shutdown

Windows 8 - Win key +I, hit power (or pin a power button to the desktop).

I prefer the quicker access to apps, control panel, etc

Advanced features are actually quicker to access in Win8, head down to the bottom left corner and right-click and see what happens. As for apps, just start typing their name.


(win key + Q is another useful one to know).

 

[Robert Maxwell]

The simple way to think about it is that Microsoft want to provide a seamless experience between devices in the hope that all your devices are microsoft.

In other words, Microsoft wants to be Apple.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

In other words they're seeking to be an ecosystem in the same way as Nokia were, and Apple and Google are. You don't have to buy your hardware from them but everything you use will be connected by them.

 

[JoeZhang]

The simple way to think about it is that Microsoft want to provide a seamless experience between devices in the hope that all your devices are microsoft.

In other words, Microsoft wants to be Apple.

And why not? Microsoft's ultimate aim is to maximise it's profits - if copying the most profitable technology company in the world allows them to do that, that is why they will do.

In other words they're seeking to be an ecosystem in the same way as Nokia were, and Apple and Google are. You don't have to buy your hardware from them but everything you use will be connected by them.

Right and I have no problem with that - some of it is pretty neat, I've dropped dropbox largely in favour of skydrive because of the way it integrates with windows 8 and the document editing capabilities from any browser.