A Few Concerns

nothappysofar

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Put the developer build on a machine and been messing around with it. I've seen mostly praise for this OS and I'm a very optimistic and usually easy to please person. I've been using Windows operating systems since DOS and have been partial to Windows, always defending.

My initial reaction to Windows 8 isn't a pleasant one. Now, I understand that this is a very early build, but I doubt most of my concerns will be changed much in the final build. I also understand that this is a tablet OS, so I'm not sure if this is how it will work on PCs as well? Is there a way to make the start button work like it has for so long?

There is no use for the tablet screen on a PC and I'm guessing you can turn that off?

Having to click Start > Control Panel > More Settings > System (after changing view type to avoid even more clicks) > Device Manager to get to device manager adds yet another click to get somewhere from Windows 7.

If they are going to have the tablet menu on a PC, then you should be able to scroll by bringing the mouse to the edge of the screen and not having to use scroll bars.

How do you close apps??? However it is done, it's unintuitive. The only thing I have been able to figure out is to ALT+TAB out to the desktop. Is that how it's going to be on a PC, or is that only on tablets? Or is it only on a PC if you're running a tablet app?

I don't know, so far, not a huge fan.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
I think unless they give the option to shut off this metro start button then Win8 is going to be another Vista.

BTW if you move your mouse to the bottom left corner pressing start seems to shut down the programs.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    me
    CPU
    i9
The Metro Start Screen is here to stay. And it works PERFECTLY on a desktop or a laptop with a keyboard and mouse. I know many people don't appreciate change, but I would ask you to keep your mind open. Take time to read about the new stuff -- you'll understand why it was created and how it increases productivity.

If you just have a closed mentality like some people initially had with the Office 2007 Ribbon, it won't help you to appreciate the newer, better method of doing things. Yes, it will take some time to get used to and learn all the new stuff -- but there's no need to hurry. You'll eventually not only get used to it, but actually start to love it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 SP1 x64

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
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    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
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    7.1 HDA
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    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
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    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
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    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
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    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
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    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
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    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
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    IE, FF, Chrome
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    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
If you just have a closed mentality like some people initially had with the Office 2007 Ribbon, it won't help you to appreciate the newer, better method of doing things.

A closed mentality? Why should I be 'open minded' about a new feature that is making me do extra clicks and such just to do what I could do in a couple of clicks on the old start menu? The tiles do absolutely nothing for me in a desktop environment. Sure for tablet users it's a great way of navigating.

If Microsoft have sense, they'll allow users to choose which method they want to use. It shouldn't be too hard.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
A closed mentality? Why should I be 'open minded' about a new feature that is making me do extra clicks and such just to do what I could do in a couple of clicks on the old start menu? The tiles do absolutely nothing for me in a desktop environment. Sure for tablet users it's a great way of navigating.

If Microsoft have sense, they'll allow users to choose which method they want to use. It shouldn't be too hard.

Can you explain what extra clicks you are having to encounter? Launching an application from the Start Menu list used to take quite a few clicks and a lot of hunting. But now you can just type 3/4 letters of the program name to launch any app.

For example, to launch the Calculator in the old fashioned way you have to click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Calculator. This not only involves quite a few clicks but also you need to hunt for the application.

With the Start Screen you can simple open the search box, and type "cal", and you'll have your Calculator app. It is faster, simpler and more efficient.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 SP1 x64
With the Start Screen you can simple open the search box, and type "cal", and you'll have your Calculator app. It is faster, simpler and more efficient.

You can do that in 7 too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64 SP1 Home Premium/Win 8.1 in VBox
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hewlett-Packard/G62 Notebook
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz
    Motherboard
    Hewlett-Packard 1425
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Builtin
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
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    250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    2TB Seagate GoFlex USB 2 Drive
    1TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive
    1.5TB Iomega Prestige USB 2 Drive (Samsung)
    1TB Iomega NAS.
    Mouse
    Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    20Mb/sec
Here's my Start Menu. No hunting around and everything how I want it. To shut down is just a couple of mouse clicks. Anything launched easily and quickly.

2wcqttt.jpg


However, there is a registry tweak to disable the Metro UI, which also brings about the usual Start Menu. As long as this remains in place, or Microsoft give the option to use either then I'll happily update to Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
Have been playing around with the preview last coupla hours. Quite disappointed. Its like a touch UI tacked on to good old win7. After disabling the UI with that reg trick, its the same.

Coupla interesting things though. Dont mind that explorer ribbon, you can actually toggle hidden files show or hide. Also in power options advanced settings found something called memory power management, trying to figure it out.

And what happened to modern pdf reader?
 

My Computer

:cry: :cry: What have they done to the recovery options??

Instead of the usual list of system restore, command prompt etc., now you get some moronic icons with one ominously titled advanced options- that lets you go into the command prompt which is reached after some sort of semi-boot. And they've locked up the good old Recovery folder, I needed to take ownership of the darn thing to take a peek inside! I think I'll move out the files and create my own..

PS- don't do the things i do, i can afford to wreck things. :mstickle:
 

My Computer

Have been playing around with the preview last coupla hours. Quite disappointed. Its like a touch UI tacked on to good old win7. After disabling the UI with that reg trick, its the same.

Give it time, there's a long way to go yet before the finished product. However, I'm glad if it doesn't deviate too much from the direction they were going in with Windows 7 as they did a damn good job on it. Be a bit silly to make it completely different.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64
If its not that different, I want a free (OK, cheap) upgrade. Of course its a wip but really theres no new thinking. Not that i'm not happy with win7.
 

My Computer

A few hours of messing around and I want to rip out the Start window with my fingers. Monstrous.
I did the gpedit change to not show it at startup but it doesn't work. I did notice that hitting the Win key toggles between Start and desktop as usual, but still...
Can you add your own items (programs, folders, files) to Start? Pinning hasn't worked so far.

Install was a bit quicker than Win7, but I bet that's just because it's a Preview version. I am quite happy with the square edges on everything, and the copy/move function is fun - efficiently managing multiple large files, with the option to pause or stop them individually. Hard to say anything else positive at this point. But no doubt much to discover later.

I haven't been able to find an easy way to save folder view for similar folders using the same template - in Win7 you could go to folder options from any folder and click Apply to all folders - can't find the shortcut in Win8.

I notice we have no choice but to use Home Group now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Debugged, unless you're hot about the metro UI, you can disable it with a reg tweak (you know about that, don't you? if not lemme know). After that the start menu behaves and i can pin unpin.

Looks like the darn thing created a homegroup on its own, but just go to control pane- homegroup and leave. worked for me.

I prefer workgroups but its a bit buggy yet.
 

My Computer

Thanks Bill - I tried a group policy change, obviously wrong. The reg tweak does get rid of the start window, but takes with it all the other new things I liked or wanted to experiment with, like the Explorer setup with folderband sort of merged into the titlebar, and the menu morphed into the ribbon, also the new copy/move features.
While I had Metro disabled, I was able to set up the folder views for all templates easily, as the access to folder options was back - not sure if it will hold or not... and I left Homegroup - I have several computers networked already w/o homegroup, so that would have been a pain.
So if there's a way to choose not to start from the Start screen, but still keep the other new features, I would like to know, or for MS to add it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Not really a concern but can someone please point the way to services so I can disable the usual suspects. For the life of me I cant find it and am sick of going back and two between the flippy screens.

Cheers......
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Poetry In Motion
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    i5 760 @4.2
    Motherboard
    GA-H55m-ud2
    Memory
    4gig Corsair @1600mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX560Ti soc
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    Xfi XtremeMusic
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    Acer 22" LCD Wide screen - Samsung 42 Plasma.n - 1080p HD.
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    1920-1080p.
    Hard Drives
    2x 2 Tb seagate
    1x 500 Seagate,
    1x 640WD Black,
    2x16 Gig sandisc flash drive,
    1x8Gig sandisc flash drive.
    PSU
    XigmaTek 700w dual 30amp
    Case
    Venus Gaming Case with digital fan control
    Cooling
    Arctic Pro 7v2
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15-v2 Gaming.
    Mouse
    Microsoft Sidewinder X8
    Internet Speed
    50mb
    Other Info
    Xbox 360 wireless controller and headset...

    Logitech Quick cam pro 9000...
I'd just like to say that I do like Windows 8.
The panel works well for me on my desktop.
I never used the start menu on 7 unless I was trying to open a less used program, as I pinned all my all my icons to my task bar.
The start menu for me was cluttered, and there was too many crap entries in it.
A quick press of the Windows button on my keyboard then opening up an app works great, and the integration of all the mobile type app's like the facebook/rss feed app seems like a step in the right direction.
I know it's hard to accept change from the style windows has been since 95 but just breathe.

Two different versions of the control panel is definitely not needed, and lack of options to customise the start menu is killing me too, I want to try adding some other programs onto the menu, and maybe customise the icons other than just smaller/larger. A guide when starting using the OS for the first time would definitely be handy like the mini gesture guide in Lion.

I can't see a reason why people would lose productivity in the new start menu other than the initial learning curve. If you customise it well, i'm sure it'll work wonders for most people.

EDIT: Start using your windows button if you have one. Rather then dragging your mouse to the bottom left hand corner. Also add "My Computer" as a tile, helps me out alot.

EDIT 2: I was thinking of turning my pc into a hackintosh due to how stale windows was getting for me, this might of changed my mind :).
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Dev / OSX Lion
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ?!?!
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6980
    Sound Card
    Speakers (SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 22" Pebble Display
    Screen Resolution
    1650x1050
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Standard Dell
    Mouse
    Razer Abyssus
    Internet Speed
    30 Mb/s
Not really a concern but can someone please point the way to services so I can disable the usual suspects. For the life of me I cant find it and am sick of going back and two between the flippy screens.

Cheers......
Press win key + R, that'll bring up the Run box, type services.msc, hit Enter.
 

My Computer

The double arrow next to the Action Center flag will give some more options like the Win7 start menu.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64/ Windows 7 Ult x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    76~2.0
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE GA-Z77X UD3H f18
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 CORSAIR Vengeance CL8 1.5v
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X 1GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Onboard VIA VT2021
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LCD Dell SP2208WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samaung 840Pro 128GB, Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb, Seagate 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb,
    PSU
    Corsair HX650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Storm Scout
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 w/Noctua NF P12 12cm fan, case fans 2X14cm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    CM Sentinel
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    Abysmal
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    Opera Next
    Other Info
    Dell Venue 8Pro: Baytrail Z3740D, 2GB Ram, 64GB HDD, 8" IPS Display 1280 x 800, Active Stylus.
    Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
    Desktop: eSATA ports,
    External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
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