Windows 8 Gains More Users as Windows 8.1 Launch Nears

Funny they mention people want better stability and more performance over 8 with 8.1. I'll be frank, I don't recall a single naysayer who ever complained about either of those two items.

pparks1 said:

Funny they mention people want better stability and more performance over 8 with 8.1. I'll be frank, I don't recall a single naysayer who ever complained about either of those two items.

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Agree. Seems an odd comment since these are two of it's stronger points.

I'd like to see the ability to launch windowed apps(or fullscreen if you prefer that) from desktop icons.

And when you close or suspend said apps that you launched from the desktop, it drops you back to the desktop. The 'Start Screen' can be for Surface Mini, or people who actually prefer that method of launching. Simply make it an option for workstations. That way I can simply have a folder for 'Apps' that I may want to run.

But if I want, I can select the option and never, ever leave the desktop.

Why they treat RT apps any different from applications that run from the desktop, when not working on tablets, is baffling to me. In essence, the desktop should have all the functionality of the Start Screen, with the option available to never leave it if on a workstation.

chrisa said:

And when you close or suspend said apps that you launched from the desktop, it drops you back to the desktop.

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Yes, Yes, Yes....x 1000. It pisses me off when i am on the classic desktop, and I open a PDF or something and it fires up the built-in viewer and then when I close that viewer by dragging it to the bottom, Windows 8 leaves me on the Start Screen. Dammit, why in the world would I want to be there, take me back to where i was. Seems obvious.

Chrisa
In essence, the desktop should have all the functionality of the Start Screen, with the option available to never leave it if on a workstation.

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Do you mean the desktop should have all the functionality it already has in 7 etc - with the added ability to run "apps" from there if desired?

I think that is what huge numbers have been saying all along.

If MS had done that in the first place, then 8 sales would not be as dismal as they are now.

They didn't, because their aim is to push the phone idea.

More revenue and control for MS , much worse for the users.

SIW2 said:

Chrisa
In essence, the desktop should have all the functionality of the Start Screen, with the option available to never leave it if on a workstation.

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Do you mean the desktop should have all the functionality it already has in 7 etc - with the added ability to run "apps" from there if desired?

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All the functionality in *8* - with the added ability to run "apps" from the desktop if desired. The 'Start Screen' isn't bad, and is ideal for some devices, but you should have the option not to use it and use the desktop to drive the interface instead. I also wouldn't mind if they simply provide the option to use the Start Button. Simply add the option as a checkbox to the properties of the taskbar /shrug. If you don't want to use it, turn it off. More customization, based on a user's need, isn't a bad thing.

And you can always kick to the start screen from the charms menu, if thats your cup of tea. All this is saying that nothing in 8 is really bad, all the new stuff can just be streamlined a lot better.

you should have the option not to use it and use the desktop to drive the interface instead

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Defeats the object.

MS want to push people to use the mobile interface as much as possible. That is the way they want to make the users go. That is the way MS will gain more revenue and control.

That is why they removed boot to desktop and the start menu.

ModernMix by Stardock 'nuff said. Best $5 I've spent in the past year, now if I could just get a better selection of worthwhile Win8 Apps.

SIW2 said:

you should have the option not to use it and use the desktop to drive the interface instead

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Defeats the object.

MS want to push people to use the mobile interface as much as possible. That is the way they want to make the users go. That is the way MS will gain more revenue and control.

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Doesn't seem to be working, now does it? All your statements were fine before Windows 8 release and before being 6 months in, and having actual sales data. They can *want* to do it this way all they want, if the customers vote with their money and refuse to buy-in, they need to change course. Their objective is first and foremost to make money, and screwing around with a bad idea not only costs them money, but time. Time in which the competition IS selling things people want to buy. The bad idea being forcing the user to bounce back and forth between desktop and tile world, the tile world is not a bad idea in and of itself, its actually a pretty good idea for mobile devices, of which the desktop is *NOT* a mobile device.

There is simply no reason they can't extend the desktop to give it the ability to drive and manage the apps in its own way. Once again, TileWorld is equally valid, and a click off the charms menu away, and would be optimal for smaller devices. But if you want to go desktop, you should be able to leave TileWorld behind and simply run the apps as if they were applications.

pparks1 said:

chrisa said:

And when you close or suspend said apps that you launched from the desktop, it drops you back to the desktop.

Click to expand...

Yes, Yes, Yes....x 1000. It pisses me off when i am on the classic desktop, and I open a PDF or something and it fires up the built-in viewer and then when I close that viewer by dragging it to the bottom, Windows 8 leaves me on the Start Screen. Dammit, why in the world would I want to be there, take me back to where i was. Seems obvious.

Click to expand...

Then......just use a Desktop based pdf reader.....

Or fire up Reader and go and open a pdf file.....

Seems kind of obvious.

I wouldn't be surprised after Windows 8.1 releases and people pick that up more. Some people wait until that OS's SP1 release for stability or to make sure the kinks are worked out. Hopefully, OEMs have their poop in a group for proper PCs for such.

Coke Robot said:

pparks1 said:

chrisa said:

And when you close or suspend said apps that you launched from the desktop, it drops you back to the desktop.

Click to expand...

Yes, Yes, Yes....x 1000. It pisses me off when i am on the classic desktop, and I open a PDF or something and it fires up the built-in viewer and then when I close that viewer by dragging it to the bottom, Windows 8 leaves me on the Start Screen. Dammit, why in the world would I want to be there, take me back to where i was. Seems obvious.

Click to expand...

Then......just use a Desktop based pdf reader.....

Or fire up Reader and go and open a pdf file.....

Seems kind of obvious.

Click to expand...

On my own computer, yes I have installed a desktop based PDF reader. (Sumatra PDF). However, on new installs, or VM's, or another persons computer, it could be a different story.

Obviously there are workarounds, but it seems like you have settled for a workaround. I don't see any reason why if I am in the classic desktop and I fire up a PDF, that when I close the reader, I am NOT put back in the classic desktop where I came from but rather left on the new Start Screen. WTF.

Would you expect if you were on Windows 7, or Vista, or XP, or 2000, or 95 that if you launched an application (say Photoshop) that when you closed it, that Microsoft threw you into the start menu automatically. I sure wouldn't.

pparks1 said:

Coke Robot said:

pparks1 said:

Yes, Yes, Yes....x 1000. It pisses me off when i am on the classic desktop, and I open a PDF or something and it fires up the built-in viewer and then when I close that viewer by dragging it to the bottom, Windows 8 leaves me on the Start Screen. Dammit, why in the world would I want to be there, take me back to where i was. Seems obvious.

Click to expand...

Then......just use a Desktop based pdf reader.....

Or fire up Reader and go and open a pdf file.....

Seems kind of obvious.

Click to expand...

On my own computer, yes I have installed a desktop based PDF reader. (Sumatra PDF). However, on new installs, or VM's, or another persons computer, it could be a different story.

Obviously there are workarounds, but it seems like you have settled for a workaround. I don't see any reason why if I am in the classic desktop and I fire up a PDF, that when I close the reader, I am NOT put back in the classic desktop where I came from but rather left on the new Start Screen. WTF.

Would you expect if you were on Windows 7, or Vista, or XP, or 2000, or 95 that if you launched an application (say Photoshop) that when you closed it, that Microsoft threw you into the start menu automatically. I sure wouldn't.

Click to expand...

I actually use Reader over Adobe Reader for pdfs... I don't use it as much though as I don't have many pdfs. Even then, I just swipe back to the Desktop after closing an app, or just hit the Desktop tile. I'm not that anal about a detail like that. But then again, that could easily be changed in Blue, who knows? But then again, that is a WinRT app and not a Win32 app. In Windows 8, there is that segregation between old and new. You can configure it however you want or use whatever solution you want. Microsoft or anyone literally are not forcing you to use that, as that's why there is a thing in the Control Panel called, wait for it.............. Default Programs. Even myself, I personally have apps to open when I want them to, I use Desktop IE to open a link from Outlook or Word. I use immersive IE for the rest. I have VLC as my media player on the Desktop, Music Info for general musical listening. If I need to listen to a media file on the Desktop, it's going to be for a few files or less at that particular time; I'll usually do that if I'm editing some audio files actually.

I'm surprised THAT many people are still using XP, not surprised at all that Windows 7 is still king.

XweAponX said:

I'm surprised THAT many people are still using XP, not surprised at all that Windows 7 is still king.

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Hi there
Why would (or even should) you be surprised that people are still using XP. If it works and does what the user needs why should they bother to change.

I'm still driving a 13 year old 3 litre BMW -- still works really great (and it's a lot cheaper too since with that older engine I can run it using LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas -- approx. mixture of propane and butane) . Where I am a litre of LPG is around 65% CHEAPER than a litre of Gas / Benzine / Petrol and its a lot cleaner too. Newer Diesel Engines aren't convertible so I even WIN by using an older car -- pay less tax too as emission is cleaner -- and if I used the ferry from Iceland ==>Scotland via Faroes Islands to take the car to the UK and was mad enough to even THINK of driving in Central London I wouldn't have to pay their "Congestion (??) Charge" either.

People don't always have to upgrade to "the latest and greatest" when there aren't any clear advantages in doing so. - Of course if you need to use newer hardware or apps and need better security then yes upgrade but for loads out there XP probably works just fine.

My Grandma taught me as a kid "Waste not .. Want not". I think this is still a great philosophy in our increasingly GREEDY commercial world where everybody is always talking about how they can "Monetise" their product.

Buy when YOU need -- not when some silly suited bozo tells you.

Cheers
jimbo