Future For Windows 8.1

[David Bailey]

Perhaps that's it > The grass is greener down state?

Don't like the Start Screen? Then boot to the desktop and plaster all the icons on the Taskbar and desktop as the majority were doing all along. Using the Start Menu my arse!

My tower PC has been down for the count and I've been using my daughter's and son-in-law's W7 laptop. Here's a snip of one of the desktops. The other one is basically the same. This is typical of what the commoners do instead of using the Start Menu. I've seen many a desktop such as this, including on business office desks. Then some wonder why MS introduced the Start Screen? Let's be real.


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A picture---

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Like I used to say building some houses that I thought were ugly. I wouldn't own it and once I got into the truck and down the road I didn't have to look at it anymore. I'm going to my subscription page now.

 

[Wynona]

Williamsjesse17, they have released Microsoft Office for iOS & Android over a year ago. They are just now catching up to bringing Android into the Windows OS

There is only a watered down version (Mobile) Microsoft Office for Android phones, but not for tablets. If there were, I would have it on my HP Slate.

 

[Wynona]

Williamsjesse17, they have released Microsoft Office for iOS & Android over a year ago. They are just now catching up to bringing Android into the Windows OS.

Is there something in the drinking water down state that's affecting your thinking, or was it working for the state all those years that has made you delusional?

Please reference at least some articles as to where you get this crap from.

Good morning, Hippsie:

I just went to the Office.Microsoft.com site and looked at what's available for Android. The watered down (Mobile) Microsoft Office is available for Android Phones, but not for Android tablets. It's also available for the iPad (could be full version O365), iPhone and Windows Phone. Although the Surface Pro isn't listed, I am reasonably sure that the full version of Office 365 is available for it.

 

[Wynona]

With the mention of Android coming to Windows, is this the rumour that android apps would be coming to windows phone? , not seen this mentioned for a while now.

Paul go to office.microsoft.com/android to see what's available office-wise to [mostly] phones, although Office 365 full version seems to be available for iPad and Surface Pro (not listed at the site, but I know folks who are using it).

MS are making their apps available on all platforms now, this should hopefully drive up the usage of the MS eco system, which could potentially bring more people to windows phone

Not fast enough for me to have it on my HP Slate tablet!

As to Windows 8, thinking more on this, is there really anywhere else the 8 series can go, it has been slowly converting over to a more desktop OS with the release of update 1, and 10 just makes this more so (or Win 8.2 if you prefer)

Y'know, Paul, I think that probably 75% to 85% (off the top of my head) of Windows users still use a mouse to "touch" their Windows system; thus, most likely want the start button rather than the tiles. I know the mouse is my preference and I will most likely never own a touch computer. To me, I cannot see reaching out and putting fingerprints all over my screen when my mouse leaves no tracks unless I choose.

I still prefer the way 8 works to the current 10, but am hopeful that when the consumer preview comes out there will be options to make it work similar to 8, making it work for people who like the different ways of working, 7 style or 8 style (or a mixture of the two)

And I, on the other hand, absolutely believe that Microsoft is heading in the correct direction with Windows 10. Further, I cannot see why everyone thinks that having a start button reverts back to Windows 7. Instead, what I see is that Microsoft has finally listened and is once again giving us choices in that we can have either tiles or the start button. What's wrong with that?

I just hope MS listens to all feedback and not just that of the majority that want 10 to be a clone of 7

As do I, Paul, as do I. FWIW, you can please all of the people some of the time, you can please some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time. Welcome to the world of Windows!

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Hi, Wyn.

Yes, they are "watered down" or "limited" versions of Office, even on Windows phone. Limited in the fact of one template, fonts, colors, etc., but Office none the less.

I have Office 2013 Pro on my tower, but is down for the count. Using the W7 lappy with no Office I simply go to my Outlook account online and use Office online in the mean time. Files get saved to OneDrive to open on my phone or vica versa. Very convenient indeed.

 

[Wynona]

Don't like the Start Screen? Then boot to the desktop and plaster all the icons on the Taskbar and desktop as the majority were doing all along. Using the Start Menu my arse!

A picture---

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Good Grief, David! That would absolutely run me bonkers! I like a nice clean screen with a QuickLaunch bar to hold icons of my most used apps and files! I don't like my screen filled up with icons or tiles! If I'm going to have a picture on my monitor, I don't want it marred by all that stuff!

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Well, in all honesty I must admit there is one part of the screen that was somewhat interesting, but then again I'm a man.

 

[Wynona]

Well, in all honesty I must admit there is one part of the screen that was somewhat interesting, but then again I'm a man.

hehehe, and I never even saw that until my reply to your post appeared!

 

[David Bailey]

Blind Hog--{Microsoft}

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Like I used to say building some houses that I thought were ugly. I wouldn't own it and once I got into the truck and down the road I didn't have to look at it anymore. I'm going to my subscription page now.

Yep.
I've been on similar jobs.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I've got 8.1 to behave like XP.
I don't really go for looks, but functionality.
Although I do like different colors than MS provides.

I use WindowBlinds8.
MS should provide the ability to skin your OS, instead of having to buy 3rd party programs.
I abhor the gray scrollbars.



This thread is about the future of Windows 8.1.

They could continue Windows Updates with new features before &or after 10 comes out.
They are rich enough so they will do as they please.
Who knows what they will do.
Even a blind hog can find an acorn once in a while.

 

[paulsalter]

Thanks for info on the office site, I haven't looked at that because I read it was not available on Android tablets so didn't look into that further

I agree that the majority of people using windows use a mouse (I am using one now), I don't agree that the tiles interface is for touch only, I use it with my mouse and much prefer it to the start menu, I find it much easier to navigate, when I am using my laptop as portable in my lap I prefer to use the touch side, and for me I would like the same experience whichever I am using, not one interface when using the mouse and a different one when using touch.
I was a Apple user until 18 months ago, it was windows 8 that brought me back to MS as I liked the new direction and changes made to the UI

I need to see more of how Win 10 is going to progress before knowing fully if they are going in the right direction (for me), so far they have gone backwards, new start menu, everything runs on the desktop, this is closer to how 7 works than 8, which is not the direction I want to see

I don't see MS as giving choice (yet), they are making Win 10 to operate more like Windows 7, they have removed the options so it can work similar to 8, a choice of start screen or menu does not make it work like 8

Full Screen apps as default and when closing return to the start screen
Charms Bar
App swither in top left
Toolbar and Top bar gone from any modern app

Give me these options and I will be happy with 10

I know it is early days so hopefully things will change, but so far for me 10 is to much a change back to the desktop being the central point of the OS, I only ever want to see the desktop if I run a desktop program or click the desktop tile

 

[HippsieGypsie]

If this is what you were referring to, broe, so be it. It's still a Windows system. Good move on MS's part!

Windows 10 Includes a Linux Style Package Manager

I see it made Parks who works IT very happy to hear. I bet others as well. Any convenient tool to make our job easier in the building industry was/is always welcomed.

 

[strollin]

Except that the system requirements for Windows haven't changed since Vista. So any computer capable of running Vista is capable of running 10. ...

I don't think that's quite right. Some people ran into problems upgrading to Win 8.1 because MS added new hardware requirements which prevented some from installing the update. Win 8.1 required that the processor support CMPXCHG16b which was not previously required.

I'm not sure if they removed this requirement in Win 10.

 

[David Bailey]

Well, in all honesty I must admit there is one part of the screen that was somewhat interesting, but then again I'm a man.

The text box is on the lower part of the screen for a reason.

 

[David Bailey]

Don't like the Start Screen? Then boot to the desktop and plaster all the icons on the Taskbar and desktop as the majority were doing all along. Using the Start Menu my arse!

A picture---

View attachment 53055

Good Grief, David! That would absolutely run me bonkers! I like a nice clean screen with a QuickLaunch bar to hold icons of my most used apps and files! I don't like my screen filled up with icons or tiles! If I'm going to have a picture on my monitor, I don't want it marred by all that stuff![/QUOTE]

Sorry to run you bonkers.

I have my own style.

edit--- As you can see, the image of Lara Croft isn't covered by icons.

 

[Wynona]

Except that the system requirements for Windows haven't changed since Vista. So any computer capable of running Vista is capable of running 10. ...

I don't think that's quite right. Some people ran into problems upgrading to Win 8.1 because MS added new hardware requirements which prevented some from installing the update. Win 8.1 required that the processor support CMPXCHG16b which was not previously required.

I'm not sure if they removed this requirement in Win 10.

Yeppers and I was one of those who had to drop back to Windows 8 32 bit from 64 bit! That was a smack in the head.

And when I go back to Windows ME, I remember that my current hardware (in total) worked fine, but when I upgraded some of it, Windows ME was totally unstable. Which has nothing to do with this conversation.

And although Microsoft says it should work, doesn't always mean it will work.

 

[Itaregid]

Except that the system requirements for Windows haven't changed since Vista. So any computer capable of running Vista is capable of running 10. ...

I don't think that's quite right.

It is not right at all. System requirements deal only with things like "amount" of RAM, CPU clock speeds, disk space and things like that. It, IN NO WAY, means a piece of hardware from the Vista era using Vista drivers will work with W7, W8.x or W10.

And although Microsoft says it should work, doesn't always mean it will work.

Very true but let's make sure we put the onus where it belongs. It is not up to the OS maker (MS in this case) to ensure legacy hardware works with current operating systems. It is up to the hardware maker to ensure compatibility with current standards, to include the necessary driver development.

 

[Wynona]

And although Microsoft says it should work, doesn't always mean it will work.

Very true but let's make sure we put the onus where it belongs. It is not up to the OS maker (MS in this case) to ensure legacy hardware works with current operating systems. It is up to the hardware maker to ensure compatibility with current standards, to include the necessary driver development.

I was referring particularly to my case Intaregid; Windows 8 64 bit installed correctly and there were no problems; however, when I attempted to install Windows 8.1 64 bit, Microsoft had changed the hardware requirements for Windows 8.1 64 bit; thus, my only choice was to drop back to Windows 8 32 bit in order to install Windows 8.1 in the only configuration Microsoft allowed for that particular hardware.

So, in this particular case, looks to me like the onus was and is on Microsoft.

 

[Itaregid]

But it is STILL up to the HW makers to develop and release updated drivers. And the HW makers had time with beta 8.1 to do so.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Williamsjesse17, they have released Microsoft Office for iOS & Android over a year ago. They are just now catching up to bringing Android into the Windows OS

There is only a watered down version (Mobile) Microsoft Office for Android phones, but not for tablets. If there were, I would have it on my HP Slate.

Yes, I've seen it advertising on my iPhone. I didn't want it to install it, because it uses a lot of storage. I've already got Office on my Laptop, so I really don't need it.