Living with Windows 8: On the desktop, it's just a better Windows 7

You only really get to know an OS by living with it. After using Windows 8 for over a year, I've seen it evolve, and found that - on the desktop at least - some fears are exaggerated.

It's been over a year since I first installed a build of Windows 8 on a test machine. Since then, I've run it on a wide range of hardware, including slate-format tablets, hybrid touch/pen/keyboard tablet PCs, traditional laptops and multi-monitor desktop PCs – hardware that mixes the old (with Vista and XP-era devices) and the new (a recently upgraded Core i5 desktop system). It's been on Intel processors, on AMD, on physical, on virtual: on pretty much every machine I could find in the office.

Testing and benchmarking is all very well, but you only really get to know an OS by living with it, using it every day to do everyday tasks on your everyday PC. For me, that means the good old-fashioned desktop PC.

Most of my time is spent in front of a multi-monitor desktop machine, exactly the configuration that many people have worried about in comments to various Windows 8 posts. While desktop users may soon be in the minority, there are still plenty of us around. I rely on tools like Office and Adobe Lightroom and they rely on the desktop – and that’s unlikely to change until the tools change. So for my desktop PC, there’s very little change between 7 and 8 in the way I work.
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Read more at source:
Living with Windows 8: On the desktop, it's just a better Windows 7 | ZDNet
 
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It is better in some ways with a new touch based version but in terms of the desktop experience it's gotten a bit worse but I agree that it overall is a better windows 7 minus the changes on the desktop that weren't actually helpful or useful. I'm wondering though if the better performance is simply windows 8 being stripped of the effects and aero of windows 7 or if it would all be just as fast if they had all the same gloss and aero effects on. Supposedly(though I haven't tried) it boots up just as fast as windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

I found that Windows 8 is faster in basic OS functions - file transfer, for example (on my dual-boot machine if I need to copy large files I go to Windows 8, it's faster than 7, and 7 is installed on a SSD, while 8 on a HDD).

On the other hand, I never understood why anyone wants to run a program full screen, unless it's a monster that has its own internal window structure or if the screen is too small. But even on my laptop, the only time I ever did run my browser full screen, was when I used it to display instructions while building my new rig. This is to say that I see no point in "Metro Apps", at least not on my desktop with 24'' monitor, which is not the biggest monitor by any measure. Maybe on a 7'' tablet Metro looks good, but what do I care?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 64-bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530
    CPU
    Q6600
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
Having used Windows 8 in a production environment as an enterprise desktop support technician with dual 24" widescreen displays, I can say that the snap feature is your friend. My secondary display was portrait with Outlook and SCSM. My primary display was my active workspace, where I could swith between Modern and Desktop UI or snap OneNote or Bing search results while having plenty of space for desktop applications.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 Standard w/Hyper-V
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 4430s
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-2310M
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 SSD
    500GB Samsung Momentus
As Unifex said, that's the Metro Apps part which is tricky because they are non-Windows apps.
Bringing non-Windows apps in a Windows environement is non-sens.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w9x
Fredledingue said:
As Unifex said, that's the Metro Apps part which is tricky because they are non-Windows apps.
Bringing non-Windows apps in a Windows environement is non-sens.
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If you were referring to my post, please re-read it. I clearly addressed how I dealt with the Modern UI applications (which, by the way, include Bing Search and OneNote).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 Standard w/Hyper-V
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 4430s
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-2310M
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 SSD
    500GB Samsung Momentus
it's just a better Windows 7
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Exactly what I have been telling everyone. :thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7 3820 @ 4.68GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Rampage IV Extreme RoG BF3
    Memory
    F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL (32GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 480 SLI
    Sound Card
    Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony 32V5500
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    LSI MR9260-4i (RAID10):
    Toshiba DT01ACA300 x 4
    iaStorA:
    OCZ Vertex Enterprise 120GB
    ST3500320AS 500GB
    Intel 520 Series 120GB
    PSU
    OCZ ZX 1250W
    Case
    HAF X
    Cooling
    H80
    Keyboard
    Cyborg V.7
    Mouse
    Razer Lachesis 3.5G 5600dpi
    Internet Speed
    23296kbps ds / 812kbps us ADSL2+
    Browser
    Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.2; Win64; x64; rv:23.0) Gecko/20130415 Firefox/23.0
    Other Info
    AverMedia C127 Game Broadcaster HD
I'm going to say what's on everyone's mind about this: of course it is!! :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
With the addition of classic shell, 8 is just fine fore the desktop environment. Rock solid, in fact.
 

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
I work from the desktop and I use Start8 which gives me everything I need. I love Windows 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    tw33k
    CPU
    Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Formula
    Memory
    8gb (2x4GB) Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 7950
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Acer B273HU
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    WD Black 2TB
    Samsung F3 1TB
    WD 1TB USB 2.0
    WD 3TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Corsair AX-750
    Case
    Corsair 800DW
    Cooling
    H100
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Internet Speed
    5mb/s
MrStyles said:
Rickkins said:
With the addition of classic shell, 8 is just fine fore the desktop environment. Rock solid, in fact.
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What is the classic shell?
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Classic shell is a small, free download that allows one to use win 8 without the metro nonsense, bypassing it completely and going direct to the familiar desktop, complete with start menu and start button. This allows the user to benefit from all the 'under the hood' improvements while not being burdened with the metro nonsense.

There are many of these types of addons, classic shell is the one i use....and the most popular. It is also free.

Welcome to 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
Rickkins said:
With the addition of classic shell, 8 is just fine fore the desktop environment. Rock solid, in fact.
Click to expand...

I heard about Classic Shell and I was going to install it myself having read all the negatives and positives about the new Star screen/metro interface. I am glad I didn't, 90% of the time I'm on my desktop with the apps I need. And I do love the metro, it just flows and works for me. No point in going backward. I decided to go forward.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Eight
I'm running W8 Pro OEM Builder for personal use, loaded from an installation disk boughr from a computer shop @ $149. I have 'Metro' switched off totally by using Ex7ForW8 hacked Orb start menu, which is imported from files off the W7 installation disk when installing the hack program.

It can run in two modes: Explorer 7 which Orb start menu. Or Explorer 8 with 'Metro' start screen. They cannot be run simultaneously, and since I don't use 'Metro' at all, I leave it permanently in Explorer 7 mode. It is the equivalent of running W7 desktop with all the advantages of W8 improvements in OS kernel, etc.

Works fine for me that way. Office 2010 Excel and Word take 12 seconds to open in W7 compared to literally about half a second in W8. And since I use these programs a lot for tax and other work, it is significant enough to justify me buying it. It's a similar, but not quite as big a difference for WinLiveMail and Nero, and a few others. Boot time is quicker which is handy when loading new programs or updates which require re-boot.

And those differences are in PCs which both have SSD SATA3 HDs and plenty of RAM. One has high end i5 CPU and the other i7. And W7 is actually running on the i7/6 core, 12 thread CPU with 12GB RAM. So go figure?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
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