Windows 8.1 Review

I have 8.1 Pro.
I had to update several drivers to get it to work right.

After tweaking it a bit, I got it running in pretty good shape.

It takes getting used to.

I would suggest making a complete backup image of your present system using Macrium Reflect before upgrading to 8.1.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Then if you don't like 8.1 you can revert to your old system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
8.1 was the tipping point for me as far as running it on my desktop PC. I now have 8.1 on three of the four PC's here at home. The other one is running 8.0. It too will eventually run 8.1 just haven't gotten around to upgrading it. Up until the 8.1 release I always ended up going back to 7 on my desktop PC's. I run triple monitors on my main desktop PC and Metro/The modern UI wasn't very multi monitor friendly until the 8.1 release. I'd like to see some more improvements but at least its usable for what I do. There is an enterprise trial you can run for free to see if you actually want to run windows 8.1. Download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation It's a close equivalent to 8.1 Pro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I think once you get used to it, it is OK. There are several little tweak programs to make it more tenable.

I still run all of my work in Windows 7 and Linux Mint Mate. I do have Windows 8.1 in a virtual partition only to prepare myself for the day I get a Windows tablet. Right now I am still happy with my Nexus 7 Android tablet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Try it you'll like it.







^ I'm just kidding around a bit. I didn't like it much originally but after using it for a while I've come to like it. If you read though some of the earlier threads here you'll see that for every h8ter there was a g8ter. If you have the time walk into your local computer store and play around with a display model so you can get a feel for it. The desktop side of things is the same way it always was just minus the traditional start menu. The programs I use every day I have pined to my taskbar and launch them from there. Other frequently used programs and Metro apps are on my main Metro Start Screen. I don't use any third party programs to put the old traditional start menu back. Its easily done though if that's your cup of tie.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I am happy with 8, not happy with 8.1. I am very unhappy with the removal of all DVD playing and burning functions from the OS, I never realised how deep that went until tonight, they totally scraped out all DVD functionality except for reading DVDs, but you cant PLAY them at all unless you have Media Center or a 3rd party program.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
What type of DVD? Won't play in Media Player?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Well maybe some will get used to using Win8.1, but right now I use my old trusted Win7 everyday.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8
    Computer type
    Laptop
hi guys,
I've read a review about Windows 8.1 which seems to be saying that all in all win 8.1 is great especially for tablets but not for desktop. I'm interested to know what other users feel, because I'm thinking about upgrading or maybe even switch to linux!?
What do you think?

I still have 8.0 and am delaying in upgrading to 8.0. I want to give all the drivers, BIOS, and W8 a chance to get bugs worked out. The issue with Windows 8 is not that it is great for tablets, and I am not even sure that it is. The issue is the imposition of the Metro interface. The Metro apps are mickey mouse at best, and the screen where you find them next to useless for a desktop, keyboard, and mouse user. However, you can get around that, and once you get the Metro annoyance out of the way the application itself is fine. I have one problem that is not resolved, and it appears more related to the x64 operating system than W8 itself. The Twain driver for my scanner is gone, and I gather there are no x84 Twain drivers.

If you have Windows 7, I would not upgrade to 8 unless you have a real compelling reason. Not enough difference to make it worth your effort. If you do decide to upgrade make sure you go direct to 8.1, and bypass 8.0. With 8.1 you can virtually eliminate the Metro interface, and make it look like a real Windows application. See how at link below:

Metro Haters Guide to 8.1

Microsoft could have avoided all this negative publicity if they would just detect on installation whether or not you have a touch screen or mouse/keyboard. They could based on the hardware set it up much more appropriately, instead of leaving the user holding the bag to sort it out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
    Memory
    16 GB Viper 3 DDR3-2133
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS Radeon HD 7770
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA248Q
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1200
    Hard Drives
    128 GB 840 Pro Samsung SSD
    2 x 1TB Seagate Barracuda (Storage Space - Simple)
    PSU
    Antec 550
    Case
    Antec Sonata II
    Cooling
    CoolerMaster TPC 812
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Quickfire XT Brn - wired PS/2
    Mouse
    Roccat Lua - wired USB
    Internet Speed
    15
    Browser
    IE10
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
Once I got the problem of run away chip use solved, I find it as good as 8, which I liked just fine, albeit strictly in Desktop Mode, with the aid of Classic Shell....
 

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I like 8.1 and fortunately have not had any driver problems. As far as the start button is concerned, a friend of mine gave me a file that would install a start button pretty much like the one on Windows 7. I installed it and then after using it, I un-installed it because I'm so used to working without it, I really didn't need it. Actually, it just got in my way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7-120us Notebook
    Memory
    8 GIG
I love windows 8.1 im finding it be a lot faster then my computer that had vista on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy 700-414
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 4570 3.20ghz
    Memory
    12 gigabyte
    Graphics Card(s)
    INTEL HD 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Pavilion 22bw
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    2TB
    PSU
    460w
    Keyboard
    Hp Wireless cichlet style
    Mouse
    Logitech m 100
    Internet Speed
    Charter Cable Wireless
    Browser
    INTERNET EXPLORER 11
    Antivirus
    NORTON 360
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