Windows 8 For Power Users?

Doubts

Member
Member
Messages
36
Hey guys. I do lots on the PC; developing (websites, .net, whatever), writing, business management, gaming, etc. I was curious if anyone can tell me if they've been under the hood of Windows 8 and if it's really battle worthy.

I absolutely love Windows 7 (my favorite OS of all time to be honest) and regret such a drastic change from Microsoft.

How is driver functionality? Development functionality? Gaming functionality? Application functionality? Are my 100 different development apps going to work? Or my games on steam? With all of my monitors on my different video cards? I was curious if anyone who makes heavy use of their operating system can tell me if it's a joke or not.

Or, please feel free to give me your first impressions, and if it makes you sad as a power user. ;)

Thanks I appreciate your invaluable time and opinions!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
I upgraded to 8 - the upgrade allowed me to keep all of my installed apps except for DaemonTools (note below) and some legacy bluetooth thing I had forgotten about (it asked me to uninstall both of these prior to the upgrade). I would advise you to uninstall your antivirus unless you wait for your particular AV to be 8-approved. AVG broke IE10 pretty quickly requiring me to try out the new Refresh functionality which unfortunately uninstalls all desktop applications as part of its procedures.

* Catalyst Control Center (not the driver itself) (for ATI cards) doesn't work (at least not the version I wanted, with the 1080p overscan/underscan settings). But I found a forum thread on how to fix it through the registry (you'll know if you have the problem): How I fixed overscan/underscan issues on an ATI card without Catalyst Control Center

* Video driver ultimately supported my card - full 1080p over HDMI. But driver installation initially caused my display to go black. Thought I had fried my card. Restart didn't help (couldn't even see the POST tests on boot!). Powering down and unplugging the PC from power for 30 seconds fixed it. No fried card yay.

* DaemonTools does not appear to be necessary anyway - seems like Windows 8 magically mounts ISOs as new drives. Worked to install VS2012 anyway!

* Been having a hard time getting TFS 2010 to host a collection from my previous Windows 7 configuration. It insists I need to install more IIS components but I'm not finding any more to install! Not blaming Windows 8 just yet though - could be me. Perhaps I need to review what I've really installed for IIS thus far.

* Minecraft runs, FWIW. Didn't really play at all but started up the app to see how Java was doing and if the graphics still worked.

* Haven't installed Steam yet, sorry I can't comment on that

Let's see, anything else... yup

* IE10 Metro doesn't support Netflix.com due to it's lack of Silverlight support (not sure whose genious decision that was...), but IE10 Desktop does. Just go to the site once and then pin it to your taskbar.

* Windows Media Player no longer supports DVDs! So I downloaded VLC despite its boring and non-attractive interface. Gets the job done.

* Winamp runs just fine

* Remote desktop client doesn't appear to be installed by default but is available for free in the app store (unless that's some 3rd party thing I'm seeing that's called the same thing). Been remoting in to the machine just fine though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS
I'll add that after running it for just over 2 weeks, I don't regret the upgrade. Actually I love it - I configured the start screen to use a larger font and tile size, and it looks great on a TV across the room. Much better than a desktop view for media center PC. But it's not my work PC so your mileage may vary.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS
Windows 8 is battle ready.

I must say that native driver support is quite phenomenal. I've had a few devices that needed the manufacturer drivers just to work. In 8, plug it in, Windows detects it, and most likely it will start working in a few seconds. Display drivers will need their special drivers, just as before. Under the hood, it's real solid and real stable and REAL fast. Hybrid boot helps a lot with startup from shutting down. There's also Automatic Maintenance feature in 8 that runs disk defragging/optimizing (which you can set to daily to defrag), updates are installed (also less restarting unless there is a major security issue that needs the OS restarted), Windows Defender scans for viruses and such. I believe it also does something to clean up the registry. I've been using/testing Windows 8 since it's early days with the Developer Preview almost a year ago now in a few weeks, literally, no joke, there has been NO boot time degradation or performance degradation that has been lovingly referred to as winrot. My boot times have been incredibly steady and have gotten quicker with each preview was released. Compared with 7, that is a HUGE win. To do that, I would have to use third party utilities to get that to happen, in 8, it's automatic and out of mind.

I haven't tested a huge swath of games, only a few older DX 9 games, like Grand Theft Automobile Vice City. I remember I had to install a 32 bit virtual machine of Windows 7 back in the day to get it working correctly, even Halo 2 as well as 64 bit had some issues with it. I installed the two in 8. GTA VC ran perfectly in 64 bit 8. Halo 2 actually installed but didn't run due to an Xbox Live issue that I didn't try to resolve. In 64 bit 7, that never happened. I remember it would just fail to launch. I would imagine your Steam games will work, probably over 90 percent will I'd guess. If not, install in compatibility mode of Windows 7. :p OH! The graphics kernel has been HUGELY optimized in 8. Even older hardware can run 8 and still skip along dandy without horrid graphics performance or limited performance unlike 7.

As for applications, the final last few preview builds of 8 increased and maintained app compatibility of Windows 7 and vista era programs. I've only had a few menial programs not work, but I didn't try to install them in compatibility mode as they were too menial. Actually, I think I've come across two programs. One of which works perfectly fine now with 8, the other needs some work to get it running.

And as for making me feel less like a power user, POSH! The Start Screen still has pretty much all of the functionality of the menu. I can have ALL my libraries, custom and default, pinned to Start whereas in 7, I would have had three awkward Library entries in the MFU portion of the menu. I can access all my main used programs just as fast and even faster than using the menu. I know where everything's at. I also use the new metro styled apps as well, no problems here! The Start Screen is SO malleable to YOU, the user. It's visual, like the classic Desktop, but with little applets of live tiles feeding new info in. You can have a whole plethora of things pinned to it, or you can have a few groups with only a few things pinned on it. It's what you make of it. If you do a lot Desktopping, you can have a lot of Desktop apps pinned ready to be launched. If you want to do both Desktop and immersive apps, you can.

DVD support is kind of gone technically, but you just need to download Media Center (at 12 dollars) or install VLC player or an alternative that is free and WAY better than Media Center. Bleh.

I suggest you dual boot 8 with 7, learn the new things with 8 and learn some tips to make it.... GR8. As I can appreci8, and you shouldn't h8, for I cannot W8 for 8!! :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
* IE10 Metro doesn't support Netflix.com due to it's lack of Silverlight support (not sure whose genious decision that was...), but IE10 Desktop does. Just go to the site once and then pin it to your taskbar.

Yea but when you go to Netflix from Metro IE and try to play a movie it says Netflix App coming soon...so that's a good thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
Oh yes, I remember a while back, I think when Surface was announced, Microsoft also announced that Netflix will be coming soon to Windows 8 and even had the app installed on the Surface they were using.

Apps are coming....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I'll add that after running it for just over 2 weeks, I don't regret the upgrade. Actually I love it - I configured the start screen to use a larger font and tile size, and it looks great on a TV across the room. Much better than a desktop view for media center PC. But it's not my work PC so your mileage may vary.

Hi there
RDP works fine on W8 -- run cmd mstsc.

Enable settings of course in control panel==>system==>remote connections.

DVD playing -- just download VLC - plays every known codec on this planet (and probably on others as well) and it's free. Has a decent built in equaliser for audio and reasonable video settings are usable as well.

Not sure why there's such a meal made here in W8 about removal of DVD playing from standard version of Windows.
As for music apps there's winamp and loads of others, and for audio streaming zillions available as well.

Where I am Netflix isn't an issue as it's not available (unless you go via a proxy) -- but there are plenty of other equivalent services.

Lack of "applications" on Win 8 isn't really an issue - although you have to hunt them down and install them yourself.


Now :
For developers

Visual studio rel 10 and above works a treat in W8 -- I don't do much (if any) "OS" or Kernel stuff but for the rest of things you might want to develop Visual Studio works an absolute treat - especially the full version with VB, C++ etc etc.

You've got all the various bits and pieces such as debugging tools, code inspection etc etc. Works fine.

I'd imagine other typical "Developer" tools would work perfectly too.

For Metro stuff I'm sure there will be some standard developer API's available sooner or later. (I'm not a fan at all of metro - especially the way I use a computer - very rarely if ever in "Non Windowed full screen mode- about the only time is if I'm travelling and watching a movie on my laptop while sitting in the train / plane etc).

My take on all this metro stuff is that Smart phones / tablets were invented to use those -- not "Proper" computers - but other people have other ways of using their machines.

I'd say for developers Windows 8 is definitely a "runner" and fit for purpose.

The REAL question here perhaps should be how many people will actually USE W8 so the potential volume of sales on anything you develop on W8 might be fairly small compared to W7 / XP combinations. However that's totally another issue.

cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
The REAL question here perhaps should be how many people will actually USE W8 so the potential volume of sales on anything you develop on W8 might be fairly small compared to W7 / XP combinations. However that's totally another issue.

We can always count on college students getting their new laptops and PCs each year. Unfortunately many will already have theirs by the consumer release of the OS in mid October.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS
I appreciate your feedback guys.

Unless you're all Microsoft shills (lol) it seems it's relatively decent.

I'll try it out later.

(omg this is gonna be lots of work! I was hoping you'd say it sucked).

:D

Thanks again, will give feedback & additional comments once I get it running. (someday)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
I suggest you dual boot 8 with 7, learn the new things with 8 and learn some tips to make it.... GR8. As I can appreci8, and you shouldn't h8, for I cannot W8 for 8!! :D


Hmm, you really got many 8s there.


As For the topic

I used dual boot with window7, everything is fine and better in fact I ran many games like GTA SAN ,VC , NFS and many other.
Experience with the games was fine, the one good thing I must say was It was easy for me to multitask I was running around 7 apps ,2 download and 4 FB games at one but there was no sign of lagging.

Anyway I installed W8 2 days ago only so, I will advice you to test W8 first. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7 & W8 (Dual Boot)
PS: I got a copy of Microsoft Office 2010 from my work about a year ago. I've installed it on 2 of my machines, but have installed it 3 times total. I think I was experimenting and it failed on a fourth install (lol).

What is your advice on getting this baby installed on my new Windows 8 build?

I have decided that I'm going to do a clean install, so will have to reinstall it. Is it possible to get it installed or am I screwed?

In the past I was able to call Microsoft automated system to verify a product, but I don't think that was an option last time I tried with this office 10 license.

(I intend on calling Microsoft (not the automated system, a real human) to ask regardless of what happens, but was curious if you guys can offer advice).

In any event, I appreciate your invaluable time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
Hmm, you really got many 8s there.


As For the topic

I used dual boot with window7, everything is fine and better in fact I ran many games like GTA SAN ,VC , NFS and many other.
Experience with the games was fine, the one good thing I must say was It was easy for me to multitask I was running around 7 apps ,2 download and 4 FB games at one but there was no sign of lagging.

Anyway I installed W8 2 days ago only so, I will advice you to test W8 first. :)

I suggest you dual boot 8 with 7, learn the new things with 8 and learn some tips to make it.... GR8. As I can appreci8, and you shouldn't h8, for I cannot W8 for 8!! :D

Yep, what I will probably do is acquire a totally separate hard drive for my windows 8 build.

I am transferring the latest W8 build to a USB stick now, and will first test it on an old laptop before i even proceed with anything else.

Thanks for your comments guys
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
Hmm, you really got many 8s there.


As For the topic

I used dual boot with window7, everything is fine and better in fact I ran many games like GTA SAN ,VC , NFS and many other.
Experience with the games was fine, the one good thing I must say was It was easy for me to multitask I was running around 7 apps ,2 download and 4 FB games at one but there was no sign of lagging.

Anyway I installed W8 2 days ago only so, I will advice you to test W8 first. :)

I suggest you dual boot 8 with 7, learn the new things with 8 and learn some tips to make it.... GR8. As I can appreci8, and you shouldn't h8, for I cannot W8 for 8!! :D

Yep, what I will probably do is acquire a totally separate hard drive for my windows 8 build.

I am transferring the latest W8 build to a USB stick now, and will first test it on an old laptop before i even proceed with anything else.

Thanks for your comments guys

Just make sure that Lap meets the requirements, :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7 & W8 (Dual Boot)
@Doubts,

There are a few people in love with win8.

They take every opportunity to pour forth their undying adoration.

There are plenty who can see beyond the "new look" at what is going on here. They do not like the direction MS is pushing the users in - and even less the way they are going about it.

Many are somewhat in the middle. They work around or ignore the annoying bits, and make the best of it they can.
Hobson's choice.

I don't think it is wise to take the comments of two or three as gospel. ;)

I appreciate your feedback guys.

Unless you're all Microsoft shills (lol) it seems it's relatively decent.

I'll try it out later.

(omg this is gonna be lots of work! I was hoping you'd say it sucked).

:D

Thanks again, will give feedback & additional comments once I get it running. (someday)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Good advice.

;)

I'll proceed with caution
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
There are a few people in love with win8.

They take every opportunity to pour forth their undying adoration.

Doubts asked for feedback, specifically how it worked with certain applications and within a software developer's context. I shared my experiences thus far, as have others. I have seen more than my share of complaints regarding the UI's colors or the centered text in title bars but nothing significantly deeper than that.

SIW2, I see that you're a member of the forum's team and that you've earned Microsoft's recognition. I hope you can understand that Doubts would benefit more from hearing your negative experiences/concerns/foresight with the OS rather than warning him of folks such as myself that actually aren't having any problems with it (I even got my 1080p HDMI connection full-screen again, sooo happy).

I respect that for every happy user there will be one that hasn't found Windows 8 to be what they need, but I would appreciate hearing why those users aren't happy so that we can do our best to help them either stay with or go back to Windows XP, 7, etc. or fix their Windows 8 problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 RTM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS
I appreciate everyone's input guys!

I'm not going to take any sides, just heed everyone's advice! (I will see for myself when I test it, but I just wanted to see if I would even PROCEED with a test).

(I understand why many people are taking the new Windows very personal, afterall, we're all computer nerds).

Thanks again!

;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 pro 64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    Altheimers
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual ATI
I appreciate everyone's input guys!

I'm not going to take any sides, just heed everyone's advice! (I will see for myself when I test it, but I just wanted to see if I would even PROCEED with a test).

(I understand why many people are taking the new Windows very personal, afterall, we're all computer nerds).

Thanks again!

;)


that's an interesting choice of words, (taking the new Windows very personal). And probably one of my complaints about it is the lack of personalisation choices. granted it's the beta but i expected more choices than what is there.

users spend a lot of time changing small things to suit them in different ways so it is a very personal environment.

Is it a good os? without a doubt, the strengths are all there and the one weekness it has is the user interface, maybe to much change isn't a good idea but the metro start is too clunky and unfriendly it feels ungainly and lanky on a desktop. laptop and tablet it works great just not on a desktop.

apps, one of my biggest hates about the entire thing, i don't want to see windows populated by half assed horrible apps that don't work or barely perform the function they were designed for. it won't be long before we see some crappy app version of a photo editor with lacking some of the base functions many will be used to. apps...again great on tablets and phones...absolutely pointless on a desktop, why rock a quad core or better cpu and high end graphics card with 16gb of ram to use an app that your phone can run? see the problem? all i see is a waste.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
    System Manufacturer/Model
    .
    CPU
    .
    Motherboard
    .
    Memory
    .
    Graphics Card(s)
    .
    Monitor(s) Displays
    .
    Hard Drives
    .
    PSU
    .
    Case
    .
    Cooling
    .
    Keyboard
    .
    Mouse
    .
    Internet Speed
    .
Honestly, after working with the RTM for a week or two as a poweruser, the desktop side is a dream come true. Advanced Task Manager, native ISO mounting, native PDF support (though it's through a metro app), lower memory consumption, better folders (with the office ribbon interface).

What it comes down to is that metro hasn't proved itself a viable replacement for the start menu, at least to me. There is simply no better way to organize your files, folders, applications, settings and menus than through the start menu. I constantly find myself trying to come up with workarounds to be as productive as I was in 7. Pinning folders as toolbars (since you can't pin more than one folder to the taskbar without it just pinning in the right-click menu of the first folder). I don't want to use my desktop, as it's a pain to constantly minimize/maximize. The easiest way to do things is go to the start screen, start typing, but even then, it automatically does the search in "Apps", so you'll have to change the category half the time to find what you're looking for.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP E9120F
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 910
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6670
Back
Top