No gadgets?

No, Gadgets don't exist for Windows 8, and there was even an update to disable them in Windows 7 - there's a gigantic security risk in running them, and the start screen has live tiles. There are ways to put them back however, if you want them - if you search the forums, you will find posts on how to do it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
Aaaah, gadgets! I installed eight that I like. Long ago, I had read that Windows 7 gadgets will run on 8, but 8 gadgets will not run on 7. That was one of my big selling points for 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Maybe it's my overall dislike for gadgets in general which turn me off to the live tile concept. I especially dislike tiles that elect to show pictures as the tiles all start to look the same to me..especially when they pull my own pictures and then the People app looks just like the photo app.
 

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.
Gadgets were taken out for a security reason Microsoft says, for both 7 and 8. Also, they just look tacky after using Windows 8 for a long time now. And, they take up quite a bit of RAM just to have to manually refresh certain gadgets to get updated info. Live tiles on the other hand, serve the same purpose (to an extent) as gadgets and don't use extra RAM or other system resource. Plus, those apps with live tiles can have notifications on the lock screen, something Windows 7 or gadgets can never do.
 

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 miss gadgets. they're the best way to see things instantly without having to bring up huge things like the task manager and performance monitors.

For example, I had a gadget that showed the top 3 (arbitrarily set at 3 by me) processes all the time in real time. So if my machine was becoming unresponsive, I could flick my eyes over and immediately see what processes were active. What drove me crazy about the task manager back then was, my system would get unresponsive and then I would open the task manager and then things would calm down. I'd close the task manager and my CPU usage would go back up. Making me think that the hackers were getting clever and dying down processor access whenever the task manager was brought up.

Live Tiles are great for a lot of things but not immediate, instant updates. I think that's why the clock apps fail. The Live Tile cannot update second by second. So the clock live tile will be correct, then fall behind by a couple of minutes, and then be updated to the most recent time and be correct, and then fall behind, etc.

Which brings me to a side point. why the heck did Microsoft not include some time/date function on the start screen? if we're to spend a lot of time on that screen, show the time! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
You many not be able to run "windows" gadgets on windows 8, at least without a kludge to the OS, but there are 3rd party gadget-like apps that provide some of the same functionality. Personally I'm using software from Winstep which allows me to have small windows on the edge of my screen displaying CPU status, including the top 4 processes, RAM status, Network status, and local weather.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
I miss gadgets. they're the best way to see things instantly without having to bring up huge things like the task manager and performance monitors.

For example, I had a gadget that showed the top 3 (arbitrarily set at 3 by me) processes all the time in real time. So if my machine was becoming unresponsive, I could flick my eyes over and immediately see what processes were active. What drove me crazy about the task manager back then was, my system would get unresponsive and then I would open the task manager and then things would calm down. I'd close the task manager and my CPU usage would go back up. Making me think that the hackers were getting clever and dying down processor access whenever the task manager was brought up.

Live Tiles are great for a lot of things but not immediate, instant updates. I think that's why the clock apps fail. The Live Tile cannot update second by second. So the clock live tile will be correct, then fall behind by a couple of minutes, and then be updated to the most recent time and be correct, and then fall behind, etc.

Which brings me to a side point. why the heck did Microsoft not include some time/date function on the start screen? if we're to spend a lot of time on that screen, show the time! :)

If you play around with the new Task Manager, you can actually get it into a gadget of sorts. You can't see the actual processes but you can see if something is really tasking the system. Just open Task Manager, show more details, hit the Performance tab, and size the window down. You might want to have it be visible at all times if you please.

The time does get shown, Start+C, or pulling up the Charms, will do it. The rationale behind this is that there are certain things you see and certain things you don't always need to see. The time for example, is one of them. If you need to see it, hit Start and C and tap those two again, you're done. :)
 

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
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