Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows 8.1?

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to Windows 8. It’s what the original Windows 8 should have been, with important improvements for both desktop and tablet users. So why are more people using Windows 8 than Windows 8.1?

It’s hard not to see this as a failure for Microsoft. Windows 8.1 is the first “new version” of Windows they’ve given out for free to existing users and most Windows 8 users aren’t biting.

Source

A Guy

 

[antspants]

It's really useful - :winkey: C tells you the time. It might do something else interesting but I've not figured it out yet.

Well, not exactly a "Power house" feature, that Charms bar, comes handy when looking for an unknown program or feature thou.

I have found that also. Sometimes though it just opens file explorer with no result. Im still trying to determine the dif between win+s & win+w and the advantages of each

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Yes, Charms are app specific and Start Screen being the main one. Sharing is a big feature of Charms. Let's say I'm reading the forums and I come across a couple of posts about two guys conversing about the use of Charms. I want to share this with someone, so I pull up Charms, push a name (favorites) or other medium to share a screenshot with. I use this feature more on my Lumia WP8.

Devices is another great feature, but that's for another day.



This is the screenshot I shared.

 

[adamf]

Well if I could click on link in the mail app (even to see this forum) then I would do it. I can't though so I don't use it. The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me - I'll have to stick with WLM.

 

[CountMike]

And there's also "Charms on Desktop.exe" program for desktop.
P.S.
What do you know "Share" from Charms bar works even without booting into MS account or being logged in my Hotmail account.

 

[alphanumeric]

Well if I could click on link in the mail app (even to see this forum) then I would do it. I can't though so I don't use it. The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me - I'll have to stick with WLM.

Not being able to click links would be deal breaker for me. I use Outlook for e-mail, I like to filter it with rules etc. It's not free so I can understand why many try the free alternatives.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Not understanding"The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me", Adam. Please expound.

I understand that some configure it to be solely a Desktop OS as close as possible. That's all well and fine, but the system will only truly beneficial to those that use it as it was created and intended. I think it's a real time saver.

Let's take a real live business scenario. Tom is my subcontractor that's out in the field framing a building that I'm overseeing and I'm 30 miles away. I called him the night before telling him that the architect made some revisions in the plans. Tom does not have a computer, but has an Android smart phone that receives email. I pull up the PDF plans in Reader, focus on the part of the plan he needs, and send him the screenshot. This sufficed until I was able to get there with the physical paper revised blueprints. Could I have performed this in the old round about way? Yes, but more time consuming and the whole PDF plan is a bear on a small phone screen. Time is money.

And to add; This system will get perfected with each new edition. No one can convince me that this system is not fit for enterprise. It will get better with time.

I'll just mention the feature of side loading customized apps tailored to a specific business. Look it up.

 

[alphanumeric]

I do believe what Adam was saying is he can't just click a link in an e-mail and have it open in Internet Explorer. When I get an e-mail notification of a forum post all I have to do is click the link in the e-mail. It sounds like the Mail App doesn't display a clickable link. Instead of this http://www.eightforums.com/showthread.php?t=42762&goto=newpost you get just text h ttp:// etc that you'd have to clip and past into IE. Other than booting to desktop I use 8.1 the way Microsoft designed it, no third party programs or modes other than the options they give you.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Thanks, Kerry. That explains it for me. This happens only within the system itself, not an outside source as shown below in the first snip. That link does indeed work and opens in the Modern/Metro submersive IE. I have not found a good reason why MS does it that way, but it is not a killer for me not to use the Mail app. I just copy and paste it, however it would be a time saver if linked.

What a great feature of this forum to send this notification.



Here's one of an article I sent myself via my Lumia (within the system) so as to have it on my tower to remind me. The link is not highlighted or parsed.

 

[jimbo45]

Not understanding"The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me", Adam. Please expound.

I understand that some configure it to be solely a Desktop OS as close as possible. That's all well and fine, but the system will only truly beneficial to those that use it as it was created and intended. I think it's a real time saver.

Let's take a real live business scenario. Tom is my subcontractor that's out in the field framing a building that I'm overseeing and I'm 30 miles away. I called him the night before telling him that the architect made some revisions in the plans. Tom does not have a computer, but has an Android smart phone that receives email. I pull up the PDF plans in Reader, focus on the part of the plan he needs, and send him the screenshot. This sufficed until I was able to get there with the physical paper revised blueprints. Could I have performed this in the old round about way? Yes, but more time consuming and the whole PDF plan is a bear on a small phone screen. Time is money.

And to add; This system will get perfected with each new edition. No one can convince me that this system is not fit for enterprise. It will get better with time.

I'll just mention the feature of side loading customized apps tailored to a specific business. Look it up.

Hi there
Have to disagree with the scenario -- I would have just on the "Old" way snipped of the part of the drawing I wanted to send (with the snipping tool I could have also marked any comments / emphasized changes etc (drawing tool) and then simply sent inline via outlook from computer. Remote subcontractor with Android simply Views the attachments / picture via built in viewer --"Seemples".

I really don't think the current W8.1 is fit for enterprise use unless the desktop is always the DEFAULT OS.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Wynona]

So, the best thing that could happen is to program the Charms bar to only come out of its box when I want it to! Windows Key + C is good.

Now, if someone tells me I can get rid of the Charms bar that would be icing on the cake and egg on my face!

​The only thing I've been able to accomplish is disabling the Charms Hint and the top right corner... links to follow...

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15538-charms-bar-hint-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

View attachment 40571

Thank you, Edwin! I missed your post, but I don't know how I did, since I get notified every time a new post is made in any thread I've even just looked at. Anyway, thank you very much!

 

[Wynona]

I don't think Microsoft will allow us to take down that horrible thing that pops out of the side of my monitor.

Hi Wynona

I think you missed some posts. Microsoft actually does allow us to disable the charms bar. Look at post no. 109 of this thread.

Here is the link below:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...not-upgraded-windows-8-1-a-11.html#post363117

Indeed I did miss that message! So now I have my icing on the cake and egg on my face.

Thank you very much, Arpan! Since I have my teeny tiny window in the left corner, hopefully, I'm all set. No more Charms bar when I try to close a program, app or file! Sweet!

 

[Wynona]

​The only thing I've been able to accomplish is disabling the Charms Hint and the top right corner... links to follow...

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15538-charms-bar-hint-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

View attachment 40571

Edwin, I wanted to give you a Rep for this post, but it seems we can't do that in Windows 8 News. Add a Rep to your count, because you saved my sanity!

 

[Wynona]

I think you missed some posts. Microsoft actually does allow us to disable the charms bar. Look at post no. 109 of this thread.

Here is the link below:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...not-upgraded-windows-8-1-a-11.html#post363117

I wanted to give you a Rep, Arpan, but it seems Windows 8 News doesn't allow that, so consider that you have one more than the count so far.

Thanks again for the help; it's much appreciated.

 

[Wynona]

It's really useful - :winkey: C tells you the time. It might do something else interesting but I've not figured it out yet.

Well, not exactly a "Power house" feature, that Charms bar, comes handy when looking for an unknown program or feature thou.

Exactly, Count Mike. And that's why I like the little window 8.1 gave us. I can use it when I need to, but it doesn't intrude when I don't need it.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Not understanding"The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me", Adam. Please expound.

I understand that some configure it to be solely a Desktop OS as close as possible. That's all well and fine, but the system will only truly beneficial to those that use it as it was created and intended. I think it's a real time saver.

Let's take a real live business scenario. Tom is my subcontractor that's out in the field framing a building that I'm overseeing and I'm 30 miles away. I called him the night before telling him that the architect made some revisions in the plans. Tom does not have a computer, but has an Android smart phone that receives email. I pull up the PDF plans in Reader, focus on the part of the plan he needs, and send him the screenshot. This sufficed until I was able to get there with the physical paper revised blueprints. Could I have performed this in the old round about way? Yes, but more time consuming and the whole PDF plan is a bear on a small phone screen. Time is money.

And to add; This system will get perfected with each new edition. No one can convince me that this system is not fit for enterprise. It will get better with time.

I'll just mention the feature of side loading customized apps tailored to a specific business. Look it up.

Hi there
Have to disagree with the scenario -- I would have just on the "Old" way snipped of the part of the drawing I wanted to send (with the snipping tool I could have also marked any comments / emphasized changes etc (drawing tool) and then simply sent inline via outlook from computer. Remote subcontractor with Android simply Views the attachments / picture via built in viewer --"Seemples".

I really don't think the current W8.1 is fit for enterprise use unless the desktop is always the DEFAULT OS.

Cheers
jimbo

Jim, I think you were being sly in that you added to this scenario to prove the "old desktop" system. Yes, had I had to modify the pic, I would've had to use an app or application to do so, but the fact in this case I didn't need to so this present system is quicker. No need to take the screenshot, open an email client, find the contact, find the pic to attach, then send. I performed it in all a matter of seconds via Charms in the Reader app, which opened the Mail app automatically with the screenshot attached. I did, however, have to type a few letters in the send-to box to find the contact, but again, it finds it automatically. It also starts to collect and show recent or favorites so no need to perform that either. This is how the MS apps work in conjunction of one another.

Now, let's say in future editions we're able to modify the pic straightway before sending. That's what I'm speaking of when I say that the system will be perfected.

At the present moment I/we can send information via Share quicker than you can get the gun out of the holster.

 

[Wynona]

On my system "That terrible thing" pops up only when I hover pointer in the right bottom corner for more than a second and the hot spot for it is 1/500 of the monitor screen.

Stupid thing pops up immediately when I "land" down there. Luckily, there's nothing in the lower right corner I need to travel there for, so it's OK.

I'm a happy camper since Edward showed me how to get rid of the Charms bar intrusion.

 

[Wynona]

Well if I could click on link in the mail app (even to see this forum) then I would do it. I can't though so I don't use it. The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me - I'll have to stick with WLM.

Not being able to click links would be deal breaker for me. I use Outlook for e-mail, I like to filter it with rules etc. It's not free so I can understand why many try the free alternatives.

Does Outlook no longer come with Microsoft Office, Alpha? Seems I might have heard it comes only with the Pro version now?

 

[Arpan]

I think you missed some posts. Microsoft actually does allow us to disable the charms bar. Look at post no. 109 of this thread.

Here is the link below:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...not-upgraded-windows-8-1-a-11.html#post363117

I wanted to give you a Rep, Arpan, but it seems Windows 8 News doesn't allow that, so consider that you have one more than the count so far.

Thanks again for the help; it's much appreciated.

No big deal, I'm glad I could help. You are welcome.

 

[alphanumeric]

Well if I could click on link in the mail app (even to see this forum) then I would do it. I can't though so I don't use it. The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me - I'll have to stick with WLM.

Not being able to click links would be deal breaker for me. I use Outlook for e-mail, I like to filter it with rules etc. It's not free so I can understand why many try the free alternatives.

Does Outlook no longer come with Microsoft Office, Alpha? Seems I might have heard it comes only with the Pro version now?

Yes, you need the higher more expensive version to get Outlook. The cheaper versions like Home and Student don't have it. It's a bit of overkill for my pop3 e-mail but it has features I like and use. I do a lot of filtering so forum e-mails from 7,8 and 9 forums all go into one folder. All my Microsoft MVP stuff is filtered into another folder. One quick glance and I can tell if I have mail and from who. It's all stored on my PC too, not on my ISP's web server. Well actually its stored in both places so it syncs with my laptop. It's really meant for use with an exchange server in a business type setup but works just as well with pop3 etc. Its all in how you set it up. It's what I used at work and got used to. I've been using it for so long that I have no desire to even try something else. It works.

 

[pparks1]

Well if I could click on link in the mail app (even to see this forum) then I would do it. I can't though so I don't use it. The fact it doesn't parse links makes it pointless for me - I'll have to stick with WLM.

Not being able to click links would be deal breaker for me. I use Outlook for e-mail, I like to filter it with rules etc. It's not free so I can understand why many try the free alternatives.

Does Outlook no longer come with Microsoft Office, Alpha? Seems I might have heard it comes only with the Pro version now?

It has never been included in the cheaper home and student editions. You need at least the business edition to get outlook.