Anyone using Windows 8 as Primary OS?

[BlueMasterFX]

I am using it as my primary on both of my laptops. The real downside is that it is exceptionally slow loading web pages. I am thinking of installing Waterfox.

Yeah same here. IE 10 seems to be buggy because for some reason I have problems loading Google search results. As usual I'll install an alternative browser but I've been interested in installing Waterfox and testing its 64-bit capabilities. I also want Microsoft to allow 3rd party metro browsers because IE just isn't as fast as other browsers.

 

[crazycolaist]

Just using windows 8 nothing else. was on hackintosh but got bored of it too quickly lol

 

[bitmodule]

I am running it as my primary OS as I used the Windows update utility because the I tried to do a VM with it and it didn't work

 

[sgage]

After a couple of false starts, I have been using Windows 8 as my main OS for a few days now. Sort of...

I am booting directly to the Desktop, where I use Classic Shell/Start. It is really quite a nice new Windows this way. I have no use for Metro, with its full screen, near-useless apps. It's probably nice enough on a small touch-screen tablet or something, but I find it absurd in a real desktop situation. And before the fanbois jump down my throat... No, I'm not afraid of change. I explored several of the apps in some depth. Using a standard mouse/keyboard/decent-sized-monitor setup, I found them completely useless.

But I find the Windows 8 desktop to be fast, stable, and all-around pleasant, and will probably fork over the $40 for the upgrade in October...

 

[Tully]

Sgage:

I use Win7 full time now, getting to know it's quirks!

I find the Apps "Dodgy". I use them for the news all the time. Some times when I click on a news item, it comes up, sometimes it just goes back to the "Metro" screen.



Tully

 

[Paul V]

I am using windows 8 only on a fairly new computer, it is the hp g72 b01 sa, p6100 processor, wont allow dual boot, I have to admit I am not quite ready to give up on it yet, but yes they really should have delayed it further and worked out the issues, finally got net framework 3.5 to work by simply reinstalling windows 8 from a copy I put on disc, still cant get media player 12 to work.

but if it does not get better then I too will switch back, problem with that is windows 8 has changed the validation key and I can no longer put windows 7 back on

 

[burtie]

I've been using the RP as my main OS since I installed it...I now have a triple boot system: W7, W8 RP and installed W8 Enterprise a few days ago but I only really use W8RP. I have not even booted in to W7 for quite some time now...and I don't really miss it that much.

 

[SIW2]

@Paul,

Have you tried reinstalling win7?

Dell machines reinstall media used to reinstall fine using their supplied media - or if you ran offf their restore discs.

If you don't have Dell media - you can d/l a win7 .iso from mydigital life, and use the product key off the sticker on your machine - may be on the side of the machine - or maybe the sticker is under the battery.

I am using windows 8 only on a fairly new computer, it is the hp g72 b01 sa, p6100 processor, wont allow dual boot, I have to admit I am not quite ready to give up on it yet, but yes they really should have delayed it further and worked out the issues, finally got net framework 3.5 to work by simply reinstalling windows 8 from a copy I put on disc, still cant get media player 12 to work.

but if it does not get better then I too will switch back, problem with that is windows 8 has changed the validation key and I can no longer put windows 7 back on

 

[DavidE]

Has anyone been using Win 8 as a HTPC OS?

I'm running Win 8 as a VM on my test box so i can't really test that.
Internal TV cards aren't usable, and video is done via a GPU emulator.
I also don't have a BD drive on this PC.
Metro Touch screen won't work for me sitting 10 ft. away!

 

[Tully]

Please stop using Initials & spell out the words!

Some of don't understand the "Computer Jargon" or are you just showing off!

If you are sitting 10 feet away! Do you hate your computer?

What do you mean by a TV card?

Do you mean a card with a TV tuner?

Tully

 

[DavidE]

Sorry for the confusion!

I'm not trying to show off - i KNOW how little i know !

PC = Personal Computer
HTPC = Home Theater PC
STB = Set Top Box (device provided by Cable company to watch TV)
USB, PCI, and PCIe - google it or look in wikipedia

TV Cards are add in cards that allow viewing (and recording) directly on a PC.
They support connecting antennae, cable STB, VCR, or just about any video input device.
These cards are installed in slots in the PC available on the motherboard (MB).

I add PCI and PCIe TV cards to my primary PC as my needs evolve.
I also may add USB media devices if and when i want them.

If you are sitting 10 feet away! Do you hate your computer?

Nope.
I'm 62 years old and my eyesight is not what it was when i was 20.
I can't sit 2 ft away from large screen LCD's (TV's) and work well.
And i don't want to sit 2 ft. from a large screen!

 

[Paul V]

lol 10 feet away can you even see the computer let alone what's on the screen or the screen itself, I know I cant but then I am 47 and not got the eye sight or in this case eye site ( well was worth a try ) I once had, blame it on Frankie howard his sense of humour has a lot to answer for ( up pompei ), might be the wrong but you know the bloke I am talking about

 

[DavidE]

lol , i can see 10 ft., i can't view a large screen from 2 ft. for very long.

 

[gizbug]

Getting ready to format my main PC with Windows 7, and put on Windows 8 Enterprise x64. Will run that til it's released, then buy and get a legit key.
I've run the Win 8 Ent on VM, and see no real issues with it.

 

[FSeal]

Would seriously suggest not wiping over your windows 7 install if you can help it...

At least do a full image backup of your OS drive so you can restore it just in case!

 

[cluberti]

Getting ready to format my main PC with Windows 7, and put on Windows 8 Enterprise x64. Will run that til it's released, then buy and get a legit key.
I've run the Win 8 Ent on VM, and see no real issues with it.

Be careful - Windows 8 Enterprise is only available to customers with an enterprise-level software assurance agreement and will only activate with a volume-license KMS or MAK key. If you want to get the same features and use a retail key, you'll need Windows 8 Professional, not enterprise. You'll gain the ability to run Media Center, but you won't be able to do Windows to Go or DirectAccess, which for a home user shouldn't be an issue. Enterprise is only available legally to SA customers, though, so if you're a home user, don't download or install Enterprise on a home-use machine!

 

[gizbug]

Been 24 hours and no activation reminders for enterprise edition. THe pro edition requires activation.

 

[jamster440]

not worth it i wanna go back to xp, i never use metro at all

 

[gizbug]

XP? That is so like 8 years ago...

 

[javry]

I don't have Win 8 yet but I plan to have it as soon as I get back to the states. In general, I think MS needs to let go of Windows and go forward with Metro. It may end up as a re-branding of Windows but believe it or not, compared to Apple and Android, Windows is starting to come off as fuddy -duddy and way too long in the tooth. Metro would be a good break into the future and a way for MS to take on a younger face. I have not tried it out yet but I plan to go all the way with it once I do.