The one big fix that could save Windows 8

Microsoft Windows 8 has confused users and disappointed the PC industry. Windows chief Tami Reller all-but-admitted it last week. But, she also foreshadowed that help is on the way in Windows Blue. She confirmed that this Windows 8 update—which has now officially been dubbed Windows 8.1—will be previewed for users this summer and will go live in the fall.While it's rumored that the Blue update will reinstate the much-missed Start menu and allow users to boot into the Desktop Mode, it's highly unlikely Microsoft will do the one thing that would best fix Windows 8: Separate the desktop and tablet versions. That would require a surgery equivalent of separating conjoined twins, but it would have a powerful effect on both Microsoft's upstart tablet business and its traditional desktop base.

In the comments to the TechRepublic poll mentioned above, user PeterM42, an IT consultant in Great Britain, summed up the attitude that pervaded many of the Windows 8 naysayers when he wrote, "Windows 8 on the desktop will not take off until the Metro 'toy' interface becomes an option as provided by the superb 'Classic Shell' software (or gets ditched altogether). Corporates [sic] do not want to pay the MASSIVE bill for retraining users to use something which basically is rubbish."

The one big fix that could save Windows 8 | ZDNet
 
LOL:

PeterM42, an IT consultant in Great Britain, summed up the attitude

"Windows 8 on the desktop will not take off until the Metro 'toy' interface becomes an option as provided by the superb 'Classic Shell' software (or gets ditched altogether). Corporates [sic] do not want to pay the MASSIVE bill for retraining users to use something which basically is rubbish."
 

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
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I don't imagine they will make a desktop os and a separate phone/tablet in the sense the author suggests.

Metro is important to MS. It is the only way they can see to push users into their services - that is where they see their future revenue stream.They think the live tile things are their way into byod.

They might switch the emphasis on 8 to desktop with metro added.

They might also dump the desktop from the rt offerings. It is only needed for Office. If they decide it isn't the draw they imagined - they may save the cost and dump it from rt.

That might look somewhat similar to having 2 different os.

In fact, it will still be an all out metro assault on the public, with a bit of camouflage.
 

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
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    PC/Desktop
You know I'm a big desktop fan and desktop PC user....but the fact remains...that this is going to be the future of the OS's. It's in it's infancy stage right now....if one could look past their personal perception of it and try to see what MS see's and is betting on for the future of computer OS and how eventually all devices will seamlessly interface with each other is mind boggling to say the least. Who knows what the next decade will bring but I'm certainly curious about it.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X 4 965 BE
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4
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    G-Skill 8 GB PC 8500
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In the comments to the TechRepublic poll mentioned above, user PeterM42, an IT consultant in Great Britain, summed up the attitude that pervaded many of the Windows 8 naysayers when he wrote, "Windows 8 on the desktop will not take off until the Metro 'toy' interface becomes an option as provided by the superb 'Classic Shell' software (or gets ditched altogether). Corporates [sic] do not want to pay the MASSIVE bill for retraining users to use something which basically is rubbish."

Surely Enterprise would just remove all the Metro Apps before deployment when creating the OS image. Then the only training the end user would need is to know to press the Windows Key to find/launch the programs the company has put on their computer.
 
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Metro apps screen will look ridiculous in a corporate setting. Unless you are probably working in companies like Google or Apple, they are ok. Otherwise, it looks like a complete joke.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win 8 (64) : Win 7 (64) : Vista (64) : Android JB 4.2 : iOS 6
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AX Series & HP i-5 2400s
    Screen Resolution
    Main PC - 2x Sony PS3 3D LED Displays + 1x 22" Philips; HTPC - 47" HDTV w/ 17" LCD secondary display
    Hard Drives
    Internal- 1TB on each system; 1x120GB SSD on main PC
    External (network attached)- 1x2TB Seagate backup; 1x1TB ext. storage; 1x500GB,
    Other Info
    http://tinyurl.com/br4uxrk

    http://tinyurl.com/cwj93pj
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.
 

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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
You know I'm a big desktop fan and desktop PC user....but the fact remains...that this is going to be the future of the OS's. It's in it's infancy stage right now....if one could look past their personal perception of it and try to see what MS see's and is betting on for the future of computer OS and how eventually all devices will seamlessly interface with each other is mind boggling to say the least. Who knows what the next decade will bring but I'm certainly curious about it.

:ditto:
 

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System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
You know I'm a big desktop fan and desktop PC user....but the fact remains...that this is going to be the future of the OS's. It's in it's infancy stage right now....if one could look past their personal perception of it and try to see what MS see's and is betting on for the future of computer OS and how eventually all devices will seamlessly interface with each other is mind boggling to say the least. Who knows what the next decade will bring but I'm certainly curious about it.

The interface of an OS does not have to look the same across all devices just so that certain aspects can interface seamlessly. A mobile phone has an entirely different function to a desktop PC, even if a mobile phone has a relatively powerful processor etc. The larger the device screen becomes, the more ridiculous the mobile phone interface becomes, taking up the entire screen for even the most simple function.

This is not the future, other than some weird, drug induced future that's currently doing the rounds of Microsoft. If Microsoft had had a plan, then it would have been far better implemented than it has; they would not be playing catch up and fix it games like they are right now. Microsoft has basically put wheels on a fish and think they have now created the future of flight.
 

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    Windows Phone 6, Windows CE 5, Windows Vista x32, Windows 7 x32/x64, Windows 8 x64

My Computer

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  • OS
    Win7/8 Mint
    System Manufacturer/Model
    lenovo W530
    CPU
    intell i7
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16gb
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512 gb ssd
    Other Info
    Around 13 million employes
I use Paragon Hard Disk Manager and have for some time.
 

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  • OS
    Windows Phone 6, Windows CE 5, Windows Vista x32, Windows 7 x32/x64, Windows 8 x64
I use Paragon Hard Disk Manager and have for some time.

So do I.

Never hurts to have another. Much as I am a paragon fan, this is better at recovering lost partitions. (I have the server version of aomei , but the pro is largely the same)
 

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System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.

Problem is, not all users are as genius as you are when it comes to doing this kind of stuff. I know it doesn't take a genius to do that. But consider all the frustrations users have to undergo before eventually figuring that out. It all boils down to the most important concept when it comes to computers.... "user-friendly".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 (64) : Win 7 (64) : Vista (64) : Android JB 4.2 : iOS 6
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AX Series & HP i-5 2400s
    Screen Resolution
    Main PC - 2x Sony PS3 3D LED Displays + 1x 22" Philips; HTPC - 47" HDTV w/ 17" LCD secondary display
    Hard Drives
    Internal- 1TB on each system; 1x120GB SSD on main PC
    External (network attached)- 1x2TB Seagate backup; 1x1TB ext. storage; 1x500GB,
    Other Info
    http://tinyurl.com/br4uxrk

    http://tinyurl.com/cwj93pj
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.
That strategy only works as long as developers of "serious" software (stuff you need to use at work) keep writing their software as Desktop and not Metro.

But surely Microsoft doesn't want that?
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.

Problem is, not all users are as genius as you are when it comes to doing this kind of stuff. I know it doesn't take a genius to do that. But consider all the frustrations users have to undergo before eventually figuring that out. It all boils down to the most important concept when it comes to computers.... "user-friendly".


Hi there
Agreed.

For instance if you install a large application like Visual Studio 2012 (full version) or the CS6 Adobe suite where every .EXE file creates a tile which can be anywhere on the start screen how does the poor user know WHICH are the important ones and which are the "rubbish" tiles that can sensibly be deleted - not only that you won't necessarily KNOW if the tiles that appear are part of the application you are installing.

It is DEFINITELY NOT A TRIVIAL TASK to sort out this dogs dinner of a mess and if coke robot thinks it is and is within the competence of "typical users" - and a typical user doesn't have to be an IT Guru to use Adobe CS6 for example - he must be sniffing too much of the white powdery stuff.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.

Problem is, not all users are as genius as you are when it comes to doing this kind of stuff. I know it doesn't take a genius to do that. But consider all the frustrations users have to undergo before eventually figuring that out. It all boils down to the most important concept when it comes to computers.... "user-friendly".


Hi there
Agreed.

For instance if you install a large application like Visual Studio 2012 (full version) or the CS6 Adobe suite where every .EXE file creates a tile which can be anywhere on the start screen how does the poor user know WHICH are the important ones and which are the "rubbish" tiles that can sensibly be deleted - not only that you won't necessarily KNOW if the tiles that appear are part of the application you are installing.

It is DEFINITELY NOT A TRIVIAL TASK to sort out this dogs dinner of a mess and if coke robot thinks it is and is within the competence of "typical users" - and a typical user doesn't have to be an IT Guru to use Adobe CS6 for example - he must be sniffing too much of the white powdery stuff.

Cheers
jimbo

double ditto on that.

In a big corporation the IT guy is going to tweak all of that for the user and just make a custom deployment image. Even then though you're likely to end up with a different images for different departments etc. It's still going to be a major headache for some poor sole. And even then there will still be training for the end user on what's what and how to use the hot corners etc. If you don't all your PC's will be on 24/7 as no one will be able to figure out how to turn them off from Windows. :p
 

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    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
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    Asus
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    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
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    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
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    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
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    Windows Defender
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    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.

Problem is, not all users are as genius as you are when it comes to doing this kind of stuff. I know it doesn't take a genius to do that. But consider all the frustrations users have to undergo before eventually figuring that out. It all boils down to the most important concept when it comes to computers.... "user-friendly".

I would hope at least system admins are genius enough to figure that one out...
 

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
I don't get what's so difficult about removing the apps, disabling access to the Windows Store, pinning Desktop items to Start and making a custom image with that? To say THAT is difficult to learn is just unthinkable.

Problem is, not all users are as genius as you are when it comes to doing this kind of stuff. I know it doesn't take a genius to do that. But consider all the frustrations users have to undergo before eventually figuring that out. It all boils down to the most important concept when it comes to computers.... "user-friendly".

I would hope at least system admins are genius enough to figure that one out...

You just don't get it coke. Think outside the box.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Win 8 (64) : Win 7 (64) : Vista (64) : Android JB 4.2 : iOS 6
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AX Series & HP i-5 2400s
    Screen Resolution
    Main PC - 2x Sony PS3 3D LED Displays + 1x 22" Philips; HTPC - 47" HDTV w/ 17" LCD secondary display
    Hard Drives
    Internal- 1TB on each system; 1x120GB SSD on main PC
    External (network attached)- 1x2TB Seagate backup; 1x1TB ext. storage; 1x500GB,
    Other Info
    http://tinyurl.com/br4uxrk

    http://tinyurl.com/cwj93pj
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