First impressions

mocnarf

New Member
Messages
7
I upgrade on of my older lap tops to Windows 8. It's a pretty beefy computer. The upgrade went well. But I do not like this new version and will not upgrade any of my other computers until Microsoft fixes many small problems.

Problems I have encountered:

1) The shut down button was hard to find and in convenient. It needs to be put where you have easy access to it. Maybe on a right click menu.

2) Several times times Windows-8 has semi-locked up and the lower right corner context menu would not display. I ended up having to unplug and pull the battery out of my laptop to get Windows to shut down.

3) They need to fix the Windows-8 version of Skype. I use Skype as my primary phone and their Win-8 version makes a mess out of the way I use Skype.

4) I need/want a START MENU BAR. They need to add that back. I found third party solutions but I would prefer Microsoft fix the problem.

I am glad I upgraded one of my old computers and not a mission critical computer. My advise... if you want to play with Win-8 install it on a non mission critical machine. Windows 8 is not ready for prime time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I am glad I upgraded one of my old computers and not a mission critical computer. My advise... if you want to play with Win-8 install it on a non mission critical machine. Windows 8 is not ready for prime time.


Why...Windows 8 is very stable. Seems to me that you need to learn how to use it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
I am glad I upgraded one of my old computers and not a mission critical computer. My advise... if you want to play with Win-8 install it on a non mission critical machine. Windows 8 is not ready for prime time.


Why...Windows 8 is very stable. Seems to me that you need to learn how to use it.

Yes, that is why I installed it on a NON mission critical computer. I will play with it and see if the problems and aggravation go away. But it is not going on my mission critical machine any time soon. Microsoft needs to fix the problems I perceive.

One of the things Microsoft could do is provide a link to a video on how to use Windows-8. Problems and how to fix them. etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Microsoft has provided two different books for free that you can download. And there are literally dozens of videos online.

Beyond that. The shutdown button is where it has always been. On the front or side of your computer. You press it, and your computer shuts down. It's been that way since at least Windows 98. You don't have to move your mouse, and navigate any menus. Just press the button that's easily accessible no matter where you are or what you're doing.

Beyond that, there are half a dozen other ways to shut down Windows, many of them the same as previous versions. Lower-right corner, settings, power. Ctrl-alt-del mouse over the power button in the lower corner, WinKey+I, power button, command prompt + shutdown, etc.. etc.. etc.. One of those has got to be convenient.

The start menu is not coming back. At least not from Microsoft. They have many reasons for this, and it will not change. Their entire strategy is based on the new Start Page, and bringing back the start menu would kill that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
Problems I have encountered:

1) The shut down button was hard to find and in convenient. It needs to be put where you have easy access to it. Maybe on a right click menu.

From above Win+i works well enough. Win+I doesn't work for me.

2) Several times times Windows-8 has semi-locked up and the lower right corner context menu would not display. I ended up having to unplug and pull the battery out of my laptop to get Windows to shut down.
Haven't had the problem. I too installed on an older test machine. I've had essentially no problems.

3) They need to fix the Windows-8 version of Skype. I use Skype as my primary phone and their Win-8 version makes a mess out of the way I use Skype.
I haven't tried Skype yet.

4) I need/want a START MENU BAR. They need to add that back. I found third party solutions but I would prefer Microsoft fix the problem.

Get Stardock Start8 or Classic Shell.

I am glad I upgraded one of my old computers and not a mission critical computer. My advise... if you want to play with Win-8 install it on a non mission critical machine. Windows 8 is not ready for prime time.
I don't plan to use 8 on a serious computer unless perhaps I buy a new one. There is a lot I don't care too much for in 8, but I think it is ready enough for prime time. If I were serious about 8, I'd get Startdock Start8 and focus almost exclusively on the Desktop in 8, You might be interested in this forum thread: "On (Almost) Using Only the Desktop."
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
I am trying to give Win-8 a fair chance at making me fall in love with it but so far their is no spark just disappointment. Last night I tried their NetFlix app, there appears to be no way to do a browse or search for new titles. Am I missing it some how? I ended up with having to logon to NetFlix with a browser and find what I wanted and add it to my que then going back to the Metro Netflix app I could then find it in my que. Who designed these Metro app? They should be fired.

Hopefully, they will put some real programmers to work on these Metro Apps and send the interns back to school.

Will Metro Apps auto update when newer versions become available? Like the way Android apps auto update?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
in windows 8, the search is contextual. it's not in the app. it's in windows. depending on what app is open, the search knows to look within the app.

so for the netflix example, bring up the charms and then click/tap on the search button to perform your search. same thing for the wikipedia app. to search for a wiki article, you open the charms and select search. I know people keep looking for search within the app but the search function is now at the windows level.

if you're looking for new releases, just tap on the "new releases" button.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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