TheMightyEthan Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 Having never tried Windows 8, my main impression of why people haven't liked it has been not so much that the changes are bad as that they tried to force too many all at once, and it makes it overwhelming to try and learn the new system. Phasing it in gradually makes much more sense to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingGerbil Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I feel sorry for people who can't work out how to use it :/ It's not that different and it's not that complicated. It's sort of the flexibility of a desktop OS with the simplicity of a mobile OS. Anyone who has used a smartphone or a PC shouldn't be struggling with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted May 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 Yeah it's that "or" that let's people cope normally. Windows 8 is an "and", and that's where it goes tits up. Jack of all trades, master of none. Also doesn't help there's no unified control system. How you control stuff in one side of the OS isn't the same as the other side. It is kinda disorientating. Also Ethan assuming 8.1 is available as a publically accessible preview (as best I understand it will be), grab the ISO and give it a spin yourself. Oh also don't use a Windows phone, it makes you wonder even more how they cocked up Windows 8 usability, because Windows Phone is quite nice, and you know how it all works, and it guides the user along wonderfully. I'd super recommend it as a "smartphone for parents" (helps that Nokia is a known and popular brand too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 They're addressing the settings issue in 8.1. Though I think I've seen a modern UI based settings page like once since first install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Well. Better multi-monitor support for one, I'd like some elaboration on this. I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm legitimately curious what Windows 8 might do that's better, because I've been using 2 monitors on 7 for forever and never had a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted June 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 You can put different wallpapers on different screens. (personally I prefer panoramas, which work in Win7 anyway)Edit: Also MS advertise the ability to run apps in one monitor alongside your desktop, but in the preview it was a requirement not an optional thing, couldn't run desktop on both monitors. Though given they advertise ability to put taskbar on multiple screens I guess they figured how to fix that (but that might require 3 or more screens to have desktop on 2) The image they use isn't promising http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/multiple-monitors#1TC=t1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luftwaffles Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Taskbars on all monitors, desktop backgrounds independent of monitor, metro on one monitor, desktop on other, that kind of stuff. Course 3rd party programs have been doing that kind of stuff for eons, but it's still a welcome change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Start menu always opens on the last monitor you used it on so that's never confusing, too, and the fact that you can launch it from any monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted June 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/06/26/the-windows-8-1-preview-is-here.aspx The preview is here, in case you're wanting to give it a spin and find out if Windows 8 is for you. (As with the previous preview I'd suggest using it on a VM or spare PC mind, dual booting can be a bit fiddly and you'll certainly not want to replace your current Windows install) Rundown of changes: http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/26/4465888/windows-8-1-preview-video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Jack Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 A boot to desktop option? About fucking time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbassman39 Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I think 8.1's biggest accomplishment on making people adjust is the feature that the background from desktop mode to the start screen is the same, making it feel much more connected to the desktop mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 So the preview is up... what happens if I install this on a pirated copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted June 28, 2013 Report Share Posted June 28, 2013 I personally don't see it this way, but I found it funny. Also, dat face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted July 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 http://community.advertising.microsoft.com/msa/en/global/b/blog/archive/2013/07/02/new-search-ad-experience-windows-8-1.aspx Brand new cool feature coming to Windows 8 guys!! Adverts in your windows searches. How awesome is that. All your favourite features of the Xbox right there on your desktop or tablet computer! Now you can have a connection with your favourite advertisers, and help complete tasks and drive leads! Woweee!! So yeah, I guess the adverts in the free MS-made apps was just the start I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbassman39 Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 I guess I don't know what smart search is, but is this a web based search or a search on your computer or is it like Apples spotlight search that searches everything from files to apps to emails? I guess the only way I would find it acceptable is if it was a desktop online search like Google desktop or Bing Desktop, and this seems to be more like Apples Spotlight search but integrates online searches as well. This hits that gray (or grey) area in my head that I'm not sure if I'm OK with it. I guess if I'm going to get down to it, I dont mind ads on web pages or web searches, but if its something that I'm not using a web browser for, then I think I'm not OK with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 http://community.advertising.microsoft.com/msa/en/global/b/blog/archive/2013/07/02/new-search-ad-experience-windows-8-1.aspx Brand new cool feature coming to Windows 8 guys!! Adverts in your windows searches. How awesome is that. All your favourite features of the Xbox right there on your desktop or tablet computer! Now you can have a connection with your favourite advertisers, and help complete tasks and drive leads! Woweee!! So yeah, I guess the adverts in the free MS-made apps was just the start I guess. I'm on 8.1 right now and as far as I can tell this is only after you press enter and it loads up a page. Here's a quick search I did. I don't see any ads here yet so this is what I assume they mean: I could be wrong though. They don't make it very clear in that post. I'm making this assumption because of stuff like the new feature where you type in a celebrities name and it shows you a specialized page full of their info. It's the same sort of stuff you already see on Bing and Google but directly in your OS. So as long as you don't have any apps named "Will Smith" you're trying to launch you should be fine. I guess I don't know what smart search is, but is this a web based search or a search on your computer or is it like Apples spotlight search that searches everything from files to apps to emails? I guess the only way I would find it acceptable is if it was a desktop online search like Google desktop or Bing Desktop, and this seems to be more like Apples Spotlight search but integrates online searches as well. This hits that gray (or grey) area in my head that I'm not sure if I'm OK with it. I guess if I'm going to get down to it, I dont mind ads on web pages or web searches, but if its something that I'm not using a web browser for, then I think I'm not OK with it. It's everything you said in the first paragraph. The default search is now "Everything" with the options for Programs, File, Web Images, Web Video. So if you're following the "evolution" of search: Windows 7- Files, Settings, & Programs Windows 8- Programs. Files. Settings. All separate. Windows 8.1- Files, Settings, Programs, Web. Thank fuck all of the web based stuff is hidden behind the enter button. So if you search "Skype" you have to press enter before it shows you results for websites, the Win 8 app, etc. I mean really, this is just what they should have done in the first place but apparently the bing team needed the time to catch up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madbassman39 Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 That doesn't seem so bad then. If its pulling results from the web them I'm not against ads being thrown in there as well, as long as the adds are spat through my apps and files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) The only ads that are present in 8.1 as far as I can tell are the same ones that are present in 8. Stuff like the "Weather" app having an ad way at the end of your scrolling. I'm not sure if what they're discussing is rolled out yet in this preview version. Nothing that interfers with what you do if you just use it like Windows 7. Even if you did use a lot of Win 8 apps (I still don't use any) I can't imagine it's a hassle considering where they're placed. Edited July 2, 2013 by Faiblesse Des Sens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted July 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 Yeah I'd say the way their post is written, and the lack of any images of it in action so far as examples, would imply that it's not yet turned on/in the preview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted July 2, 2013 Report Share Posted July 2, 2013 Yeah I'd say the way their post is written, and the lack of any images of it in action so far as examples, would imply that it's not yet turned on/in the preview. Either way I'd be surprised if it was in the search itself rather than the search results I've already posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted August 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-adoption-rate-drops-back-to-a-plod-7000018847/ Adoption is slowing. Though expected (hoped) to increase come release of 8.1. http://allthingsd.com/20130730/asus-pulling-back-on-windows-rt-chairman-says/ And Dell is now the only manufacturer making Windows 8 RT devices. Which kinda puts a whole spanner in the whole "let's make an OS with a large focus on tablets" when it seems manufacturers are going to be sticking with Android for their ARM tablet needs (or sticking Android on Windows 8 laptops as Asus are doing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faiblesse Des Sens Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 I don't think anyone was ever positive about Windows RT except for Microsoft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 I would assume the slowing adoption rate is due to the negative word of mouth (whether that's justified or not). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 At least Windows 8 finally gives you the option to remove the adverts that have plagued Minesweeper and Calculator all these years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2013 The lock screen is now butt powered. (haven't watched all the video yet, so so far that's all I've got) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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