Is Microsoft on the right track with Windows 8.1?

Only time will tell, but here is one take.

Historical precedence and my gut tell me that Microsoft is on the right track with Windows 8.1. And that’s neat, since many future releases—not just of Windows but of all major Microsoft platforms—will be minor updates, not major milestones. If Windows 8.1 is representative of what we can expect every year from these folks, then we’re entering an era I can only describe as a Microsoft Renaissance.

Full article: http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-21st-century-windows-31
 
Right track to what?

They might be able to suck the public into this unpleasant thing. Time will tell.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Looks like history is repeating it self.
In 2006-2007, Microsoft unleashed one of the biggest bombs in its history, the much-loathed Windows Vista, and then stubbornly ignored critics, competitors (including Apple, whose “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads were toothless without Vista’s bad reputation), and even customers by not actually fixing the problems with this OS until it shipped Windows 7 three years later.
 

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System One

  • 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
What annoys me, is this misguided, but seemingly widely-held, belief that the internet is computing.

It's not.

It's a small, and not even totally necessary, component of computing.

It is not the be-all and end-all of computing, and it will be a black day if it ever becomes so.

Because that'll mean computing as we now know it is dead. And not just dead. Murdered.

And it's the day I'll probably bin my computers and find another hobby, after over 25 years, as I have no intention
of ever letting the internet control or restrict what I can or cannot do with my computers.

And please, do not try to tell me that isn't their ultimate aim. It's obvious, to anyone who cares to look.



Wenda.
 
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System One

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    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
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    Built-in. Non-touch.
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    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
What annoys me, is this misguided, but seemingly widely-held, belief that the internet is computing.

It's not.

It's a small, and not even totally necessary, component of computing.

The internet is simply a medium with which to transfer information back and forth. And imo, totally necessary. I'd rather not go back to the days of the world's information being transferred via the medium of books or newsprint. And before that, orally.

I do feel your pain when people confuse that with computing though. Its simply a more advanced, faster way to communicate information. The actual information building happens with the magic of computing. The two halves being creation and consumption.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 on the desktop, Windows 8 Surface Pro mobile
Is M$ on the right track with 8.1?

Since the beta release of W8 over a year ago, Windows7Forums has increased by more than the total number of members of Windows8Forums.

Currnent statsu:

W7Forums: 263,709

W8Forums: 24,200

So W8F has approx 9.2% of the membership of W7F.

Apart from sales, which is the primary barometer of success/failure, if that isn't proof enough, and forum membership is a barometer, there's nothing more to say except ...

Do the math. Ho hum! :sleepy: zzzzzzzzz!
 
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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
What annoys me, is this misguided, but seemingly widely-held, belief that the internet is computing.

It's not.

It's a small, and not even totally necessary, component of computing.

It is not the be-all and end-all of computing, and it will be a black day if it ever becomes so.

Because that'll mean computing as we now know it is dead. And not just dead. Murdered.

And it's the day I'll probably bin my computers and find another hobby, after over 25 years, as I have no intention
of ever letting the internet control or restrict what I can or cannot do with my computers.

And please, do not try to tell me that isn't their ultimate aim. It's obvious, to anyone who cares to look.



Wenda.

It's not just MS that's trying to drive folks into the cloud. I've probably purchased my last Adobe product as they appear to have gone totally cloud. Sure you can still pick up copies of CS6 but for the future it's all about monthly subscriptions. They (Adobe) start you off with a teaser price and then......

Fortunately, there are other products around which probably enable you to do just as good a job as Adobe and for now there's nothing wrong with my current CS6. But I will not be a cloud subscriber. Think many folks are watching the Adobe 'experiment' but in the meantime they have managed to alienate many of their users.

At least W7 works fine as it is and who knows, just maybe MS will release a modified W8 for normal desktop use. Then again, maybe a Linux distro will come onto the scene. Interesting times.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win7 & 8 64bit / Linux Mint 14
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5 2400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI HD3870
    Sound Card
    On-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1280
    Hard Drives
    128gb SSD, 500gb SATA
    PSU
    Coolermaster
    Case
    Zalman Z7
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated wired
    Mouse
    MS Optical wireless
    Antivirus
    Avast
There are a few of us "Old timers" that have been into computing when we had dumb terminals and were hooked to servers via cables. All computing was done according to rules set by others and their policies. No or very limited creativity in using information. You even had to trust them to save YOUR data. And on and on.

I will not go back to that era in the form of using the cloud and depending on the data being safe. I control my data!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
I will not go back to that era in the form of using the cloud and depending on the data being safe. I control my data!
100% :ditto:

I'd go back to Win98 before letting my data be held in the clouds.

It's bad enough not being able to download and save apps/programs but needing to download them fresh every time you reinstall.
 

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
Currnent statsu:

W7Forums: 263,709

W8Forums: 24,200

So W8F has approx 9.2% of the membership of W7F.

In addition many W8 members (including myself) don't even have W8, but all W7 members have W7 (or at least used to)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64
    CPU
    Core i3 3.3 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB 1600 MHz
    Hard Drives
    SSD Samsung 830 128 GB
Currnent statsu:

W7Forums: 263,709

W8Forums: 24,200

So W8F has approx 9.2% of the membership of W7F.

In addition many W8 members (including myself) don't even have W8, but all W7 members have W7 (or at least used to)


Don't worry if you do not have windows 8, we accept you as well ;)
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro Windows 8 pro Windows 7 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I had a disaster on a computer upgrade to Win8. I even had to get help to rebuild that computer!

I bought a Lenovo laptop with Win8 to use for learning after that experience. With Win8 I have had some serious problems with printing, even trying to remove two printers that worked at one time. After some Win 8 updates they do not work. I delete them in an attempt to clear the deck for latter reinstall and they come back all by themselves!

I am hoping that 8*1 will fix the problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
There are a few of us "Old timers" that have been into computing when we had dumb terminals and were hooked to servers via cables. All computing was done according to rules set by others and their policies. No or very limited creativity in using information. You even had to trust them to save YOUR data. And on and on.

I will not go back to that era in the form of using the cloud and depending on the data being safe. I control my data!

I wasn't around then, but don't relish being sent to the dark ages. Regression is the word.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Don't worry if you do not have windows 8, we accept you as well ;)
I should think you would welcome them with open arms, because if membership were limited to W8 owners and fanbois only there wouldn't be enough to form a quorum with which to run it! :(

I imagine even Mac and Linux critics would be welcome too ... at least it would keep it going!
 

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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
Don't worry if you do not have windows 8, we accept you as well ;)
I should think you would welcome them with open arms, because if membership were limited to W8 owners and fanbois only there wouldn't be enough to form a quorum with which to run it! :(

I imagine even Mac and Linux critics would be welcome too ... at least it would keep it going!


Well mine was sort off a "joke answer" and i don't run this forum
so ... every one is welcome for me why not? also "Mac and linux fanbois"
or "critics" , eletricians etc..;)
Also i'm not a windows expert and to my knowledge and
for my "usage level" windows xp/7/8 are basically all the same, each one
having some more functionality and security gain hopefully.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro Windows 8 pro Windows 7 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Not sure if I'm threatened by the whole emphasis on cloud. Cloud is just another name for the network -- Internet. Our e-mail flows through the Internet, and I don't see people hopping on many bandwagons to abolish e-mail. I mean, I can kind of see the point -- after all, I wouldn't go out of my way to store tons of documents on cloud storage that had sensitive information, like my social security number and whatnot. But as a supplement, I think it's great. I love hopping from my main PC to my laptop to my tablet knowing that I can transfer files between them that way. I love having access to my OneNote notes on all my machines. I've bought so many games on Steam that I'm starting to care less and less about purchasing games on physical media.

After all, why trust banks with your money? Why trust farmers and grocery stores with your food? Why trust dentists, doctors, and surgeons with our bodies?
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom built/assembled myself
    CPU
    AMD FX-8350 Black Edition
    Motherboard
    ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0
    Memory
    16 GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X Windforce
    Sound Card
    On-board audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp U2713HM 27" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO 250 GB SSD
    Western Digital Caviar Black 2.0 TB SATA-3
    PSU
    Corsair HX850W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF XM
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK520 wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech MK520 wireless
    Internet Speed
    22 Mbps
    Browser
    IE/Chrome/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes
As one of the lucky old saps that has used or seen just about every version of windows os possible I believe that Microsoft is getting better every year. A lot of people said Vista was bad but it worked good enough for what I had to do and Im finding as I get more used to it each day windows 8.1 is the same way. Over time as things age things get better. Im sure it will be the same way with what ever direction MS decides to go.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy 700-414
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 4570 3.20ghz
    Memory
    12 gigabyte
    Graphics Card(s)
    INTEL HD 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Pavilion 22bw
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    2TB
    PSU
    460w
    Keyboard
    Hp Wireless cichlet style
    Mouse
    Logitech m 100
    Internet Speed
    Charter Cable Wireless
    Browser
    INTERNET EXPLORER 11
    Antivirus
    NORTON 360
While there are some valid uses for "clouds", the main reason I don't use them is the total lack of control over access to the data stored there.

When stuff is on my local fileserver, it's not available from outside my local network.

When stuff is in the "cloud", it's accessible by anyone able to break the security of the cloud service. All it takes is one disgruntled System Admin to walk away from their console/workstation for 30 minutes, and Gigabytes (if not Terabytes) of customer data becomes accessible.

And, I'm NOT bashing System Admins per se (I used to be one, myself) but social engineering is one of the most frequent ways of accessing restricted networks/sites.

And, while I do have several different kinds of devices, I personally have no use for the "cloud" and if MS ends up forcing us to use that for accessing our local Windows PCs, then I'll seriously consider switching to something else.
 

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And, while I do have several different kinds of devices, I personally have no use for the "cloud" and if MS ends up forcing us to use that for accessing our local Windows PCs, then I'll seriously consider switching to something else.

Amen! If the "cloud" ever becomes a requirement to use an OS that is when I bail. Linux is getting better everyday.

Way to necro a thread Atomic. :)
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
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