What do normal people think of new Windows 8 PCs?

One thing that’s fascinating about HSN is that it’s a community made up of people who are very different from the tech bloggers and gadget addicts that tend to hang around places like this.

Hipsters and techies might scoff at HSN, whose habitués are about as far as you can get from Silicon Valley and Williamsburg when it comes to tech and design sophistication, but HSN shoppers buy a lot of technology. And because they’re a community, they love to leave reviews. It is no accident that every HSN listing for a Windows 8 PC has a Pinterest button alongside the Facebook Like and Tweet This buttons.

So I was particularly eager to read the first reactions to these new devices from, for lack of a better word, normal people.

Source

Do any normal people post here?

A Guy

 

[R0bR]

I am waiting for Android to appear on the laptop scene. The new ARM processors are certainly suitable for a PC environment. I wonder whether Google is working on that.

There is an Android X86 version out, but that is probably a bad compromize.

They already exist and are called Chromebooks.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Hello, DelleMonty. Welcome to Windows EightForums. I agree with Bil and share Cokies excitement. That is rather an excellent post!

 

[DelleMonty]

Thank you for the encouragement, Gypsie (and Bil & Coke)! It's always somewhat hard to take that first step into a new forum. Doubly so for me here, as I'm just so technologically backwards and the majority here are most definitely NOT.

I do have many questions, yet am leary of repeating those that have certainly already been asked adnauseum.

In the meantime, if you do have a "pathetic beginners" thread around here somewhere, I would very much appreciate a nod in its direction.... if only just to get a gist of the vocabulary!

 

[whs]

Actual subpar normal here... meaning I've no experience with an Ipad, Smartphone, or any other app-based gadgetry. My phone makes phonecalls and can now (SUPER recent upgrade) supposedly take pictures (tho I don't yet know how).

I had a short fling with Vista a few years ago, but broke up and went back to my X(p) after I couldn't take it anymore.

I've never even seen W7 in action.

Which basically means that none of this is familiar at all, and I'm coming from a place that's very very far away.

Having received my new laptop on December 8th, I subsequently spent the remainder of the month (including my entire 2 weeks of Christmas holidays) just trying to make friends. At first, no amount of alcohol seemed to help. We were ugly strangers to each other and apparently destined to stay that way. My X(p) was looking awful appealing again.


But then it happened.

I stumbled in here and opened threads one by one. Still clueless enough not to even know how to formulate a question that might reveal a hint of a clue to something helpful, I just decided to read EVERYTHING.

And one-thing-at-a-time, blemishes were erased, mysteries solved, glories revealed. I slowly began to realize that behind the too-cute and seemingly useless exterior actually lay something quite intelligent and fun. I was learning how to speak 8!!

And frankly I'm now quite delighted with each new command I learn.........


Thanks so much to YOU!!!

That is a cute story. Although even after experimenting with /8 for nearly 1 year, I am still not convinced. I like, however, if others found their ultimate system.

 

[Coke Robot]

I think this question should be asked in six months.

So far, some of the second gen Windows PCs from OEMs that are being announced at CES this week are just WHOA! Windows 8 is the key that has unlocked just a MASSIVE amount of PC innovation I don't think has been seen in years. What a PC is definitely being redefined. Also, some OEMs have new PCs that are touch enabled, like their laptops, at MUCH lower costs. More like around 7-800 versus 9-1,200 dollars.

 

[DooRules]

Windows 8 unlocked a massive amount of pc innovation...

Dam near spit my coffee on my monitor, you know the one I couldn't reach to touch to save my life.

 

[Dave76]

Thank you for the encouragement, Gypsie (and Bil & Coke)! It's always somewhat hard to take that first step into a new forum. Doubly so for me here, as I'm just so technologically backwards and the majority here are most definitely NOT.

I do have many questions, yet am leary of repeating those that have certainly already been asked adnauseum.

In the meantime, if you do have a "pathetic beginners" thread around here somewhere, I would very much appreciate a nod in its direction.... if only just to get a gist of the vocabulary!

Welcome to Eight Forums DelleMonty.

Great tale of perseverance.

Try looking around the extensive tutorial forum, there is a lot to digest.
Windows Eight Tutorials

Search for the terms you don't know, Wikipedia is a good source of information. What you can't find just ask.

 

[Joan Archer]

As the others have said good post, also as Dave says if there's something you're not sure of just ask there is always somebody here willing to help.
Oh and nearly forgot Welcome to the forum DelleMonty.

 

[pparks1]

I am waiting for Android to appear on the laptop scene. The new ARM processors are certainly suitable for a PC environment. I wonder whether Google is working on that.

There is an Android X86 version out, but that is probably a bad compromize.

They already exist and are called Chromebooks.

Yes, the Chromebook. I have been working with one now for nearly 2 months. It's low powered, and doesn't blow you away with it's awesomness....but for what it is and the fact that it was $249, makes it one of my favorite day to day use devices.

It's light, small, wakes instantly, boots in less than 8 seconds, can be reset to factory in just a few seconds, lasts 6-8 hours on a charge, has a full keyboard, has a touchpad, has USB 3.0, has a memory card reader, etc. It's only $249.

Sure, it doesn't run installed software...but that's not what I do with the device. I do facebook, gmail, forums, shopping, online porn, etc. It's got a real keyboard, which is great for those of us who spend far more of our time typing.

 

[whs]

Patrick, do these chromebooks have access to the apps markets (Google and Amazon) ??

 

[SIW2]

Hi Wolfgang - you may not have noticed the Amazon Germany bestseller

Asus is number 1.

Check out the o/s it is running :shock:




Amazon.de Bestseller: Die beliebtesten Artikel in Notebooks

 

[whs]

Running on DOS ?? That must be a mistake.

 

[pparks1]

Patrick, do these chromebooks have access to the apps markets (Google and Amazon) ??

No, they run apps from the Chrome web store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/home?hl=en-US&utm_source=chrome-ntp-launcher

I've not put on a single app on the device, I simply run everything that I want from the web with this device.

 

[whs]

Thanks for the info. I guess I prefer my Nexus that I can use as navigation system or I can make free phone calls, can run an office system with Word, Powerpoint and Excel equivalents, etc. I have a Motorola bluetooth keyboard with trackpad which works very well.

 

[pparks1]

Thanks for the info. I guess I prefer my Nexus that I can use as navigation system or I can make free phone calls, can run an office system with Word, Powerpoint and Excel equivalents, etc. I have a Motorola bluetooth keyboard with trackpad which works very well.

Yeah, we all have differing needs. I'm mostly just surfing the web and goofing around on forum sites such as this one in the evening. The $249 Chromebook is excellent for this, for me personally. When I need to run Word, PowerPoint or Excel, I always have my laptop or desktop. But I could run the Office web apps in a pinch on the Chromebook...they do work fine.

 

[A Guy]

[video=youtube;G3xnq8d_Tdw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3xnq8d_Tdw[/video]

A Guy

 

[whs]

This video is really cute. I am sure the kids will love Windows 8. They have very different needs than an old system guy like me.

 

[A Guy]

You like old systems Wolfgang?

A Guy