Solved Not sure I like the new interface. Any way to get rid of it?

bfollowell

New Member
Messages
6
For those of you that have used the Windows 8 RC for a while, what do you think of it? I've heard of many referring to it along the lines of Windows Vista 2. How do most of you feel about the new OS.

My main concern is Microsoft's insistence that every version look the same. The whole "tile" interface turns me off in a major way. If I had a Windows phone, tablet or a touch-screen laptop, I'm sure it would be cool. If you're using it on a "regular" desktop or laptop, I really fail to see the point and don't want to use it. Is there a way to totally disable this interface and get a more traditional Windows experience, ala Windows 7, with a Start button, Start menu, program groups, regular desktop, etc.?

I hate to miss out on the awesome upgrade price if I'm going to upgrade, and I've not missed a version of Windows since Windows 3.1 (even Vista) but if I can't turn off the tiled interface, I may skip this version.

I've also seen quite a few gaming videos showing Bioshock, or Bioshock 2, I can't recall which, refusing to run under Windows 8, along with several other "recent" top-shelf titles. I realize most of these were running on RC versions and things may well change before the final version hits the shelves later this month but, compatibility issues with relatively recent titles, coupled with the tiled interface doesn't leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about this new OS.

Someone out there help me out here. I want to like this new OS. I want to upgrade, but only if I can still continue to do things my way, not Microsoft's way.

Any good news for me?

Thanks to any willing to respond. Everyone have a great weekend.

- Byron Followell
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro
Unfortunately, for those of us who are not enamored with this new start screen and such, there isn't a way to disable it from Microsoft and get it back to the way that it was. As far as a start button goes, there are options for that, but they do involve third party tools. Check out this tutorial;
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8528-start-menu-restore-windows-8-a.html?ltr=S

It's a real mixed bag, some are just blown away and think the interface is refreshing, intuitive, stylish and uber cool, and there are others who dislike it enough that we plan to forgo the new features of the OS simply because we don't want to use it this way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
even i have never missed any windows version since windows 98, even loved the changes vista brought along with it.....
but this windows 8 thing, i am not sure which way it is headed , so i think i am just gonna hold a bit longer with windows 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS L702X
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2760QM
    Motherboard
    Intel HM67
    Memory
    Samsung 16GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 555M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    Samsung 1TB

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    AMD FX-8150
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
    Memory
    8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (9-9-9-28)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6570
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    PX2710MW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1x1TB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1 ATA Device Caviar Black -

    4 x 2TB Seagate ST32000542A -
    1 x 4TB Seagate External
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
    Internet Speed
    60meg cable
    Browser
    Cyberfox
    Antivirus
    AVG Security Suite
Thanks for the shell options and the links to the related thread guys. It definitely looks like there are options open to me if I still decide to upgrade that will allow me to have Windows 8 my way.

Well, if they get the compatibility issues taken care of then, I'll likely wait as long as I possibly can and then, assuming I don't see any other negatives I can't live with or work around, get in on the lower upgrade pricing at the last minute.

gulls777, I know exactly how you feel. Still, unless we want to go with Linux or switch to Mac, there aren't a whole lot of other options open to us. If Microsoft keeps heading down this route, like it or not, eventually we'll have to jump on board or get left at the station. Still, I'm seriously considering skipping this generation and holding out for the next. We have a few months left to decide before the great upgrade pricing goes away. Time will tell I guess.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

- Byron
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro
You know ... this may be heresy but ... you don't have to upgrade if you don't want to. Win7 is going to be supported for a long, long time and even when support ends (2020?) it won't just seize-up your machine!

Progress is fine but to a desktop user Win8 is not progress, IMHO. It is change for the sake of change. I'm sure there are some things about it that might be good (though I've spent a year playing with it and can't yet name one - but there must be something).

You are not tied to a tree! No one is pointing a gun at your head requiring that you upgrade. If the one you got works fine then why bother? Go spend the money on a trip to Disney World or something! Take a cruise. Get out on your bicycle and get in shape.

Revisit the issue if and when you reach a point where your existing solution doesn't do something you need it to do. Aside from just wanting something new is there something wrong with what you have?

Sorry for the rant. After 35 years of this I'm just reaching the point where I realize you don't have to upgrade just because some vendor comes out with a new version of a tool. I suspect there are many others beginning to develop a little bit of objectivity about this. The radical change that MS has done to Windows really brought this one to the front in my thinking.

If Win8 really has something you want or need, by all means get the thing. Otherwise ... relax!

-Max :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17R / Dell XPS 8300
    CPU
    Intel i5 (17R) / Intel i7 (XPS)
    Memory
    8GB / 8GB
Sadly - no one has yet figured out how to get rid of it.

MS knew people would want to.

They have deliberately removed functions from explorer.exe and shell32.dll to try and prevent us from removing the unwanted metro .

That is the one thing that made me dislike it so much.

I would be ok with the stripping down and boring looks - I would also be ok with including some sort of metro type program if you wish to access their online services.

I am not OK with what MS have done - you can only do the little things MS deigns to allow you to do.

It is no longer "Your PC".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You know ... this may be heresy but ... you don't have to upgrade if you don't want to. Win7 is going to be supported for a long, long time and even when support ends (2020?) it won't just seize-up your machine!

Progress is fine but to a desktop user Win8 is not progress, IMHO. It is change for the sake of change. I'm sure there are some things about it that might be good (though I've spent a year playing with it and can't yet name one - but there must be something).

You are not tied to a tree! No one is pointing a gun at your head requiring that you upgrade. If the one you got works fine then why bother? Go spend the money on a trip to Disney World or something! Take a cruise. Get out on your bicycle and get in shape.

Revisit the issue if and when you reach a point where your existing solution doesn't do something you need it to do. Aside from just wanting something new is there something wrong with what you have?

Sorry for the rant. After 35 years of this I'm just reaching the point where I realize you don't have to upgrade just because some vendor comes out with a new version of a tool. I suspect there are many others beginning to develop a little bit of objectivity about this. The radical change that MS has done to Windows really brought this one to the front in my thinking.

If Win8 really has something you want or need, by all means get the thing. Otherwise ... relax!

-Max :cool:
10 on 10
I don't see why one have to upgrade... only because there is "8" on box???
Windows 7 is a great OS and i will use it till windows 9 comes out, if windows 9 comes good then i 'll upgrade and if it doesn't , well that i 'll see when time comes :)
I can't digest that microsoft took all the good looks from the windows so that it will be light and run good on low power tablets, and completely forgot about majority of desktop users. And on top of that they forced everybody to metro interface instead of making it optional....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS L702X
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2760QM
    Motherboard
    Intel HM67
    Memory
    Samsung 16GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 555M
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    Samsung 1TB
You are not "forced " to use Metro. It is still a first option. But the legacy desktop is one click away and only needs a quick third party install to regain the lost start menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
You are not "forced " to use Metro. It is still a first option. But the legacy desktop is one click away and only needs a quick third party install to regain the lost start menu.
But unless you find value in the new features, why spent dollars upgrading your box, to then add third party or perhaps other software to make it run like you want. If you have Windows 7 and are generally happy, I say stay put.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
All true points of view. I have a lot to think about. As should be obvious from my original post, and having nothing whatsoever to do with Max Peck's more militant and forceful opinion, I too am considering skipping this version. While I haven't completely made my mind up one way or the other, there's a good chance that I will skip this version, and maybe others as long as I can continue to run the latest software that I want to run.

In a word, Windows 8 is ugly, at least to me, and let's face it, in my house and on my equipment, I'm all that matters.

- Byron
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro
Thanks for the shell options and the links to the related thread guys. It definitely looks like there are options open to me if I still decide to upgrade that will allow me to have Windows 8 my way.

Well, if they get the compatibility issues taken care of then, I'll likely wait as long as I possibly can and then, assuming I don't see any other negatives I can't live with or work around, get in on the lower upgrade pricing at the last minute.

gulls777, I know exactly how you feel. Still, unless we want to go with Linux or switch to Mac, there aren't a whole lot of other options open to us. If Microsoft keeps heading down this route, like it or not, eventually we'll have to jump on board or get left at the station. Still, I'm seriously considering skipping this generation and holding out for the next. We have a few months left to decide before the great upgrade pricing goes away. Time will tell I guess.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

- Byron

Hi there

you won't have to give up W7 for a while yet.

I'm still using a version of Windows 2003 server customized for a desktop ( it actually allows > 4GB even in it's 32 bit version) and run W7 x-64 as a virtual OS on the Windows 2003 system -- note that with VMware there is NO problem running a 64 bit OS as a virtual machine from a 32 bit HOST OS.

No problems -- just do the update.
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)
All true points of view. I have a lot to think about. As should be obvious from my original post, and having nothing whatsoever to do with Max Peck's more militant and forceful opinion, I too am considering skipping this version. While I haven't completely made my mind up one way or the other, there's a good chance that I will skip this version, and maybe others as long as I can continue to run the latest software that I want to run.

In a word, Windows 8 is ugly, at least to me, and let's face it, in my house and on my equipment, I'm all that matters.

- Byron

I guess you could call it "forceful" ... but militant? Oh yeah, I mentioned a gun!

-Max ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 17R / Dell XPS 8300
    CPU
    Intel i5 (17R) / Intel i7 (XPS)
    Memory
    8GB / 8GB
Back
Top