Windows 8.1 first look: Finally, Windows the way you want

With Windows 8.1 Microsoft finally recognizes that a big portion of the world actively dislikes the new "Modern" interface and Start screen, and lets people downplay it, bypass it, or make it work the way they like. It doesn't solve the basic problem of Windows 8 having dueling interfaces -- one for touch and tablets, and another for the desktop and mouse and keyboard -- but it gives desktop fans enough options to make the operating system much better to use.
Big changes include the ability to go directly to the desktop when you sign in, and a whole host of Start screen customizations that make it more useful for those who primarily use the desktop. There's also now a not-particularly useful Start button that doesn't come close to having the features offered by the old school Start button you've come to love in earlier Windows versions.
If you're like me, what you care about most about is the go-to-desktop option, and changes that make the Start screen easier to use. You would expect that you'd get to those changes from the Start screen somewhere...but if you expected that, you'd be wrong. Instead, head to the desktop, right-click the taskbar and select Properties to get to the Taskbar and Navigation properties screen. There's a new tab here called Navigation. This is essentially command central for the new features for customizing the Start screen and booting to the desktop. It's got two sections: Core navigation and Start screen.

The bottom line
Windows 8.1 is far more configurable than Windows 8, and those who primarily use the desktop will be especially pleased to be able to go directly to it when they sign in. Also useful are the new features for customizing the Start screen, particularly for using it as an app launcher. This new version of Windows 8 isn't perfect, but this newfound power to tweak and customize makes it a far better operating system than the one that shipped.
Note: I'll have a more in-depth look at Windows 8.1 on Computerworld in several days.

Windows 8.1 first look: Finally, Windows the way you want it | Computerworld Blogs

 

[goodintentions]

I know this is Microsoft's dream, but we are not going to give up without a fight. My prediction is their dream will more then likely turn into a nightmare.

Not all of us are Quislings.

Well, think about it this way. Where are you going to go if MS ultimately won't yield? Mac? Macs are beautiful pieces of machinery with little practical purposes. Most softwares, particularly those for businesses and honest to god real work (I'm not talking about brain dead blogging), are written for windows.

Linux? Your productivity will take a nose dive. Why? Because you will have to google for everything you want to do. I happen to know for a fact that Linux forums aren't that helpful either. They are full of 1337s that get annoyed at every question you ask. I've been told by these Linux 1337s that I'm stupid and should go kill myself.

May be you could go back to dos?

 

[labeeman]

I know this is Microsoft's dream, but we are not going to give up without a fight. My prediction is their dream will more then likely turn into a nightmare.

Not all of us are Quislings.

Well, think about it this way. Where are you going to go if MS ultimately won't yield? Mac? Macs are beautiful pieces of machinery with little practical purposes. Most softwares, particularly those for businesses and honest to god real work (I'm not talking about brain dead blogging), are written for windows.

Linux? Your productivity will take a nose dive. Why? Because you will have to google for everything you want to do. I happen to know for a fact that Linux forums aren't that helpful either. They are full of 1337s that get annoyed at every question you ask. I've been told by these Linux 1337s that I'm stupid and should go kill myself.

May be you could go back to dos?

M$ is having a hard time killing off XP they haven't killed there Vista flop how long do you think Windows 7 will last?

 

[PaulGo]

Microsoft's "dream" may turn out to be the desktop user's nightmare. But if Microsoft does not come to its senses their are other choices developing such as Linux.

 

[goodintentions]

I know this is Microsoft's dream, but we are not going to give up without a fight. My prediction is their dream will more then likely turn into a nightmare.

Not all of us are Quislings.

Well, think about it this way. Where are you going to go if MS ultimately won't yield? Mac? Macs are beautiful pieces of machinery with little practical purposes. Most softwares, particularly those for businesses and honest to god real work (I'm not talking about brain dead blogging), are written for windows.

Linux? Your productivity will take a nose dive. Why? Because you will have to google for everything you want to do. I happen to know for a fact that Linux forums aren't that helpful either. They are full of 1337s that get annoyed at every question you ask. I've been told by these Linux 1337s that I'm stupid and should go kill myself.

May be you could go back to dos?

M$ is having a hard time killing off XP they haven't killed there Vista flop how long do you think Windows 7 will last?

Oh, I've no doubt that windows 7 will last a very long time. What's your point?

Labeeman, I'm having trouble understanding your view. It seem to me like you keep holding onto this view of all or nothing. What's wrong with people holding onto old software? You have a choice as a consumer. You can use any OS you want. Heck, no one is stopping you from using dos if you really want to.

That's why all the whinings have been getting to me lately. People sound like someone is holding a gun to their head forcing them to use the evil metro start screen. It's simply not the case at all. People can use xp, vista, 7, dos, 95, etc. They can use anything they want.

 

[Rickkins]

That's one of the things I dislike about Win 8/8.1. Is it really that difficult to add the option to switch to a desktop with Win 7 functionality and appearance for those that prefer that look? If they did that one little thing I would switch to Win 8, and I assume many others would do the same. Why are they being buttheads and refusing to put it in Win 8 and 8.1?

That's what truly perplexes me. Why not just make the choice available..?? They would turn all this angst into positive feelings, positive reviews...
Wtf is wrong with these guys..?? What are they thinking..??
I really don't get it.

 

[labeeman]

Microsoft's "dream" may turn out to be the desktop user's nightmare. But if Microsoft does not come to its senses their are other choices developing such as Linux.

In the mobile market Android (Linux) is attempting to go desktop.

 

[goodintentions]

Microsoft's "dream" may turn out to be the desktop user's nightmare. But if Microsoft does not come to its senses their are other choices developing such as Linux.

What nightmare are you referring to? I am currently coding on an i7 machine with two 24-inch HD monitors running 8 pro. Works fine to me.

 

[goodintentions]

Microsoft's "dream" may turn out to be the desktop user's nightmare. But if Microsoft does not come to its senses their are other choices developing such as Linux.

In the mobile market Android (Linux) is attempting to go desktop.

Have you actually tried to use android for real serious work environment?

 

[labeeman]

Labeeman, I'm having trouble understanding your view. It seem to me like you keep holding onto this view of all or nothing. What's wrong with people holding onto old software? You have a choice as a consumer. You can use any OS you want. Heck, no one is stopping you from using dos if you really want to.

That's why all the whinings have been getting to me lately. People sound like someone is holding a gun to their head forcing them to use the evil metro start screen. It's simply not the case at all. People can use xp, vista, 7, dos, 95, etc. They can use anything they want.

My view is the same as M$ all or nothing I do not like being forced to there agenda when user choice is all that is needed.
M$ has spent quite a sum on adds due to no choice, word of mouth is hard to buy and they have not bought me off yet.

 

[labeeman]

Microsoft's "dream" may turn out to be the desktop user's nightmare. But if Microsoft does not come to its senses their are other choices developing such as Linux.

In the mobile market Android (Linux) is attempting to go desktop.

Have you actually tried to use android for real serious work environment?

I have no android devices but they are selling much better than RT.

 

[vrosa]

I use my Android tablet only for mail, photos, movies and music. I also installed the alpha version of "LibreOffice for Android" but can't imagine me working on that. I'm definitely a desktop guy !

 

[McRuff]

Linux? Your productivity will take a nose dive. Why? Because you will have to google for everything you want to do. I happen to know for a fact that Linux forums aren't that helpful either. They are full of 1337s that get annoyed at every question you ask. I've been told by these Linux 1337s that I'm stupid and should go kill myself.

If you pick the wrong distro then you can find them a bit elitist. If you choose something like Mint or Ubuntu the forums are a lot better.

But Linux is my fall back plan. I have several distros running under Virtualbox and play with them. It is a bit of a learning curve but google does work. I have managed to pretty quickly fix any issues I have had with Linux. I don't really find it any harder. You have to use the terminal more, but in Windows you have to deal with the registry to fix a lot of problems.

However I would rather stick to Windows, but only as in the Windows Desktop. The much inferior Metro and the walled garden are not for me.

If Windows continues to go down the toilet, I would get my copy of 8 off the virtual machine and onto my computer once Windows 7 is no longer supported. But it would only be used in Windows 7.5 mode using 3rd party fixes. Windows 8 is good to 2023 and maybe 8.1 until 2024

 

[Wenda]

Well, think about it this way. Where are you going to go if MS ultimately won't yield? Mac? Macs are beautiful pieces of machinery with little practical purposes. Most softwares, particularly those for businesses and honest to god real work (I'm not talking about brain dead blogging), are written for windows.

Linux? Your productivity will take a nose dive. Why? Because you will have to google for everything you want to do. I happen to know for a fact that Linux forums aren't that helpful either. They are full of 1337s that get annoyed at every question you ask. I've been told by these Linux 1337s that I'm stupid and should go kill myself.

May be you could go back to dos?

M$ is having a hard time killing off XP they haven't killed there Vista flop how long do you think Windows 7 will last?

Oh, I've no doubt that windows 7 will last a very long time. What's your point?

Labeeman, I'm having trouble understanding your view. It seem to me like you keep holding onto this view of all or nothing. What's wrong with people holding onto old software? You have a choice as a consumer. You can use any OS you want. Heck, no one is stopping you from using dos if you really want to.

That's why all the whinings have been getting to me lately. People sound like someone is holding a gun to their head forcing them to use the evil metro start screen. It's simply not the case at all. People can use xp, vista, 7, dos, 95, etc. They can use anything they want.

I use all of them, and quite a few more.

I have over 25 OSes in my collection, not all Windows, and not all even for the PC.



Wenda.

 

[Rickkins]

Don't get me wrong, I'm contributing to metro as we speak. Working like a dog to get an app ready for publication.

Hey, good luck with that... I wish you success..!!

 

[jeffrys]

Mystere:

"Metro will become the desktop.

If only that would be true......."

Jeff

 

[Mustang]

That's why all the whinings have been getting to me lately.

Better learn to suck it up and cop it sweet cos it ain't gonna stop! No point railing against the incoming tide. We won't be silenced.

Whining? Really! Who's whining! Check out the nearest mirror!

Well, think about it this way. Where are you going to go if MS ultimately won't yield? Mac?

W8 with StartIsBack and Modern turned off totally works fine for me. No need or desire for 8.1.

When Win7 & W8 are finally put out to pasture, if M$ haven't yielded by then, I'm sure another similar desktop OS will be on offer. Right now there are so many knocking on the door, it must eventually happen. And I'm not talking Linux, Mac or similar ... but a DIY type enthusiasts rig as well as a conventional desktop type setup for businesses.

Whichever way you look at it, time is on our side. We can wait.

 

[4wd]

Am starting to think this is what MS wants us to want. lol.

 

[SIW2]

That is too complicated. There are different shapes. MS wants all rectangles.

Still can't get 8.1 to go to sleep properly. Ubuntu manages it fine.

 

[Explorertml]

Great job! 4WD,

Hope that's not the new windows 9 tablet Mr Ballmer and his team are talking about that will be released in 2014?

LMAO Big Time

Good Job 4WD

 

[sajara]

Or, you can do like most people, and simply install "Classic Shell", and bring back the full, normal desktop experience....

Classic Shell.... free and easy....

Yep, I fail to understand why people keep moaning about...