Solved How's everyones Windows 8 experience going?

[alphanumeric]

Great, it's fast (even without ssd on a desktop with Athlon CPU) but with ssd, it's super fast, I like it

What I look for mostly in a OS is how it performs. Windows 8 blows Windows 7 out of the water in the performance department, in my opinion. Not only the boot times, but HDD access and response times are faster.

In my experience, Win8 is a bit snappier in some functions than Win7, but not in others. "Blows out of the water" is certainly not how I would put it.

+1 to that. I guess it depends on the hardware but Windows 8 wasn't that much faster on my rig than Windows 7 is.

 

[LovingWindows]

Great, it's fast (even without ssd on a desktop with Athlon CPU) but with ssd, it's super fast, I like it

What I look for mostly in a OS is how it performs. Windows 8 blows Windows 7 out of the water in the performance department, in my opinion. Not only the boot times, but HDD access and response times are faster.

In my experience, Win8 is a bit snappier in some functions than Win7, but not in others. "Blows out of the water" is certainly not how I would put it.

In the case of my hardware, W8 blows W7 out of the water. This was, of course, my opinion. Different hardware will perform differently.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Most here know I'm a faboi and have been since I first booted up 8 RP back in early June. I liked the idea, looks of the Start Screen, and the Live tiles for at-a-glance info rather than the Start Menu and desktop gadgets. I think it to be safer and more resource efficient.

It is definitely faster than 7 on my older Acer. No need to buy a new machine, although I will upgrade to a video card and a HDD along with a touch monitor, which has been long coming anyway. The onboard video on this machine has always been the lowest score. I will use my present monitor to dual monitor with, which will be a first for me.

I have always been a shortcut keys guy, so navigation speed in 8 is no different for me, in fact I think I get around faster. I just never took a liking to the mouse, not to say I don't use it at all. Shortcut keys to me is a saving grace for 8 on a desktop PC that's meant for other touch devices. I think the touch monitor will aid greatly.

All in all, I'm enjoying the experience greatly. Thanks for starting the thread, LovingWindows.

 

[LovingWindows]

Thanks for starting the thread, Kebero.

Not sure who Kebero is, since I'm the one that started this thread.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks for starting the thread, Kebero.

Not sure who Kebero is, since I'm the one that started this thread.

So sorry. My mistake. I was on my phone and I thought I was on the OP. Edited my post. Thanks for pointing that out.

That said, I will add this post with Alt/S since I'm now on my PC.

 

[symbiont]

I consider it a side-grade. There's nothing really that I am overly excited about. I upgraded, and quickly realized that for me personally there's no need for the start screen, it's pretty much a huge waste of space for the 10 seconds of "eye-candy" you get while launching an app. It's disabled and I'm in desktop full time, so I'd say it's just like Windows 7, without Aero visuals - and with a new taskmanager/filecopy window. Barely noticed a difference in boot times either. Was it worth $40? I don't know, to me it's borderline...but I've spent $40 on worse things.

 

[Frank1]

I've had 3 stages of experience with it. Stage 1: I hated it. Stage 2: I didn't mind it. Stage 3: I like it.

 

[Kat]

The OS itself, I love. Apart from the butchery MS has carried out on it.

But there's a LOT that I hate.

EUFI, secure-boot, the cloud, the arrogant way they pulled Aero and gadgets, and
the unacceptable activation hassles.

As does the direction it is trying to push me (subscription services, everything in the cloud and only
accessible after PAYING, removal of control, touch-screens etc).

And I simply won't go there. NOT gonna happen.

Best-case scenario....a hack to put Metro and the new file copy/move and task-manager into Win 7.

Likely scenario....Staying with 7 and brushing-up on my Linux skills.

I demand FULL access and control over MY OS, which is why I chose IBM/Windows over Apple
in the first place and now Microsoft IS taking that away.

That's OK, I'll simply take my patronage away.

MS has a potentially great OS here, but their attitude and direction SUCKS!

 

[sgage]

I consider it a side-grade. There's nothing really that I am overly excited about. I upgraded, and quickly realized that for me personally there's no need for the start screen, it's pretty much a huge waste of space for the 10 seconds of "eye-candy" you get while launching an app. It's disabled and I'm in desktop full time, so I'd say it's just like Windows 7, without Aero visuals - and with a new taskmanager/filecopy window. Barely noticed a difference in boot times either. Was it worth $40? I don't know, to me it's borderline...but I've spent $40 on worse things.

That's pretty much how I feel. Even though it was "only" $40, I still get a twinge of buyer's remorse once in a while. Silly me - it's not like I didn't know what I was getting into. I've used every version from the DP to the CP to the RP and even the free eval RTM version.

And once in a while I play around with it for a few days running, and it seems not so bad. I'm to the point now where if I could just do some decent theming on the desktop I'd be a lot happier, but the "flat" look is unpleasant to me.

I use StartIsBack, and never see even a flicker of Metro unless I want to, which is seldom (and only out of idle curiosity - I have found no app with any utility to me, unless you count Solitaire . I've tried to give it a chance, using tips from Coke Robot and a couple of other of the enthusiastic folks around here, but it's just too much a yank.

In any case, I'm still dual booting with Win7 for the time being... I have to believe that further tweakability will come to the desktop. It would be so easy for MS to facilitate, and make a lot of people very pleased.

 

[hdmi]

So far it seems fairly OK but I haven't played around with all of the important little details yet. I am using Classic Shell and I find myself trying to avoid Metro UI like the plague because it really IS counterproductive for the typical "non touch" type of user IMO, but that's pretty much old news by now I guess. Another major annoyance that simply shouldn't have been there IMO is the fact choosing a dark color for the taskbar and windows borders results in the user being forced into reading invisible text. Switching to high contrast theme resulted in most of my Metro tiles being replaced with empty solid white boxes. Bummer, eh?
One of the things I DO like is that Netlimiter Pro 3 appears to be capable of controlling traffic caused by Windows Printer and File Sharing, something which AFAIK is not possible in Windows 7.

EDIT: The problem with the blank Metro tiles in the (white) high contrast theme was apparently related to a theme that I had downloaded from another thread on this forum (and installed by simply unzipping the .deskthemepack file and then doubleclicking on it). When I deleted this theme from Windows, the problem went away.

 

[Hopachi]

All goes well here!
Still customizing the start screen, using AeroLite themes..., testing, installing...

Like it so far.

 

[LittleJay]

Slowly but surely I am getting use to the Metro start screen and although I can log out and switch to the Windows 7 classic start menu, I find myself doing it less and less all the time. I don't know if there is a sort of break in period for Windows 8, but it seams to boot up much faster now than it did when I first installed it. So far, I haven't had any serious glitches and my opinion of 8 is steadily getting better and better.

 

[Vince53]

I showed it off to an admiring neighbor today. The desktop easily does whatever I want, and I am steadily increasing my use of the Start Page.

 

[Coke Robot]

Loved it day one with the Developer Preview over a year ago, loved it more with the Consumer Preview, mildly curious at the Release Preview, love the RTM even though I was expecting some more UI changes on the Desktop; but continue to like it more and more.

Overall, it's a great OS. It has a new UI and a familiar UI that CAN and DO work together. I love using some of the apps, like Music Info. I'm liking the way how 8 uses much less system resource than 7, has built in anti-virus and has some more beefier protection. It's easier to repair an installation, and it empathizes with you when things go bad with the new BSOD . The new bootloader doesn't make me feel like I'm using a DOS dinosaur to blow up a nuclear facility anymore, and less superfluous recommending booting into Safe Mode because the battery died. Easier updating where updates don't really even feel like they happen, and never pester you unless vitally needed. Automatic Maintenance basically makes it idiot proof as EVERY Preview edition of Windows 8 I've ran has NEVER had progressively slower boot time, or any other traditionally related registry gunk that builds up and slows some crap down, like the Windows before. It has some refined backup methods with File History and Storage Spaces, which I'll be taking advantage of soon. It can be configured to pull out an umbrella to not have the cloud rain on you, or you can just dance in the rain...of the cloud. SkyDrive and other cloud services do a nice job of trickling data down to the OS and apps so seamless experiences occur, such as a Word document on a Windows Phone to Word 2013 and your SkyDrive folder.

It's also more exciting too. I'm sorry, but the new Windows 8 PCs are more cooler and interesting the Windows 7 era ones.

 

[sgage]

Loved it day one with the Developer Preview over a year ago, loved it more with the Consumer Preview, mildly curious at the Release Preview, love the RTM even though I was expecting some more UI changes on the Desktop; but continue to like it more and more.

Overall, it's a great OS. It has a new UI and a familiar UI that CAN and DO work together. I love using some of the apps, like Music Info. I'm liking the way how 8 uses much less system resource than 7, has built in anti-virus and has some more beefier protection. It's easier to repair an installation, and it empathizes with you when things go bad with the new BSOD . The new bootloader doesn't make me feel like I'm using a DOS dinosaur to blow up a nuclear facility anymore, and less superfluous recommending booting into Safe Mode because the battery died. Easier updating where updates don't really even feel like they happen, and never pester you unless vitally needed. Automatic Maintenance basically makes it idiot proof as EVERY Preview edition of Windows 8 I've ran has NEVER had progressively slower boot time, or any other traditionally related registry gunk that builds up and slows some crap down, like the Windows before. It has some refined backup methods with File History and Storage Spaces, which I'll be taking advantage of soon. It can be configured to pull out an umbrella to not have the cloud rain on you, or you can just dance in the rain...of the cloud. SkyDrive and other cloud services do a nice job of trickling data down to the OS and apps so seamless experiences occur, such as a Word document on a Windows Phone to Word 2013 and your SkyDrive folder.

It's also more exciting too. I'm sorry, but the new Windows 8 PCs are more cooler and interesting the Windows 7 era ones.

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

 

[LovingWindows]

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

Please do not flame bait in my thread, thank you very much.

For your information, I use my computer to work and Windows 8 helps me do it even faster.

 

[Frank1]

Loved it day one with the Developer Preview over a year ago, loved it more with the Consumer Preview, mildly curious at the Release Preview, love the RTM even though I was expecting some more UI changes on the Desktop; but continue to like it more and more.

Overall, it's a great OS. It has a new UI and a familiar UI that CAN and DO work together. I love using some of the apps, like Music Info. I'm liking the way how 8 uses much less system resource than 7, has built in anti-virus and has some more beefier protection. It's easier to repair an installation, and it empathizes with you when things go bad with the new BSOD . The new bootloader doesn't make me feel like I'm using a DOS dinosaur to blow up a nuclear facility anymore, and less superfluous recommending booting into Safe Mode because the battery died. Easier updating where updates don't really even feel like they happen, and never pester you unless vitally needed. Automatic Maintenance basically makes it idiot proof as EVERY Preview edition of Windows 8 I've ran has NEVER had progressively slower boot time, or any other traditionally related registry gunk that builds up and slows some crap down, like the Windows before. It has some refined backup methods with File History and Storage Spaces, which I'll be taking advantage of soon. It can be configured to pull out an umbrella to not have the cloud rain on you, or you can just dance in the rain...of the cloud. SkyDrive and other cloud services do a nice job of trickling data down to the OS and apps so seamless experiences occur, such as a Word document on a Windows Phone to Word 2013 and your SkyDrive folder.

It's also more exciting too. I'm sorry, but the new Windows 8 PCs are more cooler and interesting the Windows 7 era ones.

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

Hey, Sgage--Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves. You should be more cooler when you read how another expresses how he/she feels about something. That would be real cool if you could do that.

 

[Coke Robot]

Loved it day one with the Developer Preview over a year ago, loved it more with the Consumer Preview, mildly curious at the Release Preview, love the RTM even though I was expecting some more UI changes on the Desktop; but continue to like it more and more.

Overall, it's a great OS. It has a new UI and a familiar UI that CAN and DO work together. I love using some of the apps, like Music Info. I'm liking the way how 8 uses much less system resource than 7, has built in anti-virus and has some more beefier protection. It's easier to repair an installation, and it empathizes with you when things go bad with the new BSOD . The new bootloader doesn't make me feel like I'm using a DOS dinosaur to blow up a nuclear facility anymore, and less superfluous recommending booting into Safe Mode because the battery died. Easier updating where updates don't really even feel like they happen, and never pester you unless vitally needed. Automatic Maintenance basically makes it idiot proof as EVERY Preview edition of Windows 8 I've ran has NEVER had progressively slower boot time, or any other traditionally related registry gunk that builds up and slows some crap down, like the Windows before. It has some refined backup methods with File History and Storage Spaces, which I'll be taking advantage of soon. It can be configured to pull out an umbrella to not have the cloud rain on you, or you can just dance in the rain...of the cloud. SkyDrive and other cloud services do a nice job of trickling data down to the OS and apps so seamless experiences occur, such as a Word document on a Windows Phone to Word 2013 and your SkyDrive folder.

It's also more exciting too. I'm sorry, but the new Windows 8 PCs are more cooler and interesting the Windows 7 era ones.

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

Some of us just enjoy the finer things in life I guess.

 

[sgage]

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

Please do not flame bait in my thread, thank you very much.

For your information, I use my computer to work and Windows 8 helps me do it even faster.

In what way was my post flame bait? It's OK to gush over how much you love Win8 without any real world push back? My godz, Coke Robot is an over the top fanboi! And good for him, but holy crap, let's call a spade a spade.

 

[sgage]

Loved it day one with the Developer Preview over a year ago, loved it more with the Consumer Preview, mildly curious at the Release Preview, love the RTM even though I was expecting some more UI changes on the Desktop; but continue to like it more and more.

Overall, it's a great OS. It has a new UI and a familiar UI that CAN and DO work together. I love using some of the apps, like Music Info. I'm liking the way how 8 uses much less system resource than 7, has built in anti-virus and has some more beefier protection. It's easier to repair an installation, and it empathizes with you when things go bad with the new BSOD . The new bootloader doesn't make me feel like I'm using a DOS dinosaur to blow up a nuclear facility anymore, and less superfluous recommending booting into Safe Mode because the battery died. Easier updating where updates don't really even feel like they happen, and never pester you unless vitally needed. Automatic Maintenance basically makes it idiot proof as EVERY Preview edition of Windows 8 I've ran has NEVER had progressively slower boot time, or any other traditionally related registry gunk that builds up and slows some crap down, like the Windows before. It has some refined backup methods with File History and Storage Spaces, which I'll be taking advantage of soon. It can be configured to pull out an umbrella to not have the cloud rain on you, or you can just dance in the rain...of the cloud. SkyDrive and other cloud services do a nice job of trickling data down to the OS and apps so seamless experiences occur, such as a Word document on a Windows Phone to Word 2013 and your SkyDrive folder.

It's also more exciting too. I'm sorry, but the new Windows 8 PCs are more cooler and interesting the Windows 7 era ones.

You really are something, Cokie. More cooler? Holy crap, it's just computers, which some of us use to get work done. Not fashion statements, but tools. I'm sorry, but get a grip!

Hey, Sgage--Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves. You should be more cooler when you read how another expresses how he/she feels about something. That would be real cool if you could do that.

Yes, just so long as it's over the top fan-boi-ism for Win8. It would be so cool if you could roll with how I express myself, but I guess if you're not on board, screw you.