Windows 8 thread

[Kavvy]

So,

I am new to Windows 8, and think it looks pretty swanky, with some questions, could anyone confirm the following?

1. If I open an App version of a program, and then open up the program on my desktop, that is two different programs?
2. The only programs visable on the metro interface are Apps? I.e. If I download Itunes full software, it won't appear as an app?
3. If i didn't install the Start 8 program to give me a start menu, are the only ways to open programs are windows exploer, the run dialog or shortcuts on the desktop?

Thanks!

[Rathji]

Answers inline

Originally Posted by Kavy

So,

I am new to Windows 8, and think it looks pretty swanky, with some questions, could anyone confirm the following?

1. If I open an App version of a program, and then open up the program on my desktop, that is two different programs? Yes, the full screen metro app is likely separate from the app you might open on your desktop. The main example that comes to mind is IE10. You could also open the Metro full screen apps from your desktop or wherever, it really just depends on what app is used to open that program. Just think of the metro apps as Applications that only use full screen.
2. The only programs visable on the metro interface are Apps? I.e. If I download Itunes full software, it won't appear as an app? All installed Software is on your Start Menu, unless you remove it. Don't think of it as an interface, but as aredesigned Start Menu.
3. If i didn't install the Start 8 program to give me a start menu, are the only ways to open programs are windows exploer, the run dialog or shortcuts on the desktop? You can use a launcher like Launchy, the Metro Start menu, Run dialog or a regular deskop/taskbar shortcut.

Thanks!

[jammies]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

It it really a hassle to install Start8?

Like, I'm not even trying to sound like my usual dickish self, but really?

The Metro UI is awful without a touchscreen, it takes about 10 minutes to realize that. The next logical step is to use Start8 and be done with it.

We can't just install anything we feel like in a corporate environment. Furthermore, that you have to install an aftermarket program to make the UI usable doesn't invalidate any part of calling it terrible design, but rather the opposite.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by jammies

We can't just install anything we feel like in a corporate environment. Furthermore, that you have to install an aftermarket program to make the UI usable doesn't invalidate any part of calling it terrible design, but rather the opposite.

Yes but you're throwing out the ugly baby with the bathwater here. The guts of Windows 8 are good, dare I say, even great.

The surface of the OS is awful, but again can be fixed with a $5 app. If your IT department is filled with people who think the Metro UI is conducive to a proper workflow and hadn't budgeted for Start8 on each unit, then I think you have bigger problems.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Yes but you're throwing out the ugly baby with the bathwater here. The guts of Windows 8 are good, dare I say, even great.

The surface of the OS is awful, but again can be fixed with a $5 app. If your IT department is filled with people who think the Metro UI is conducive to a proper workflow and hadn't budgeted for Start8 on each unit, then I think you have bigger problems.

He complained about the interface, not the entire OS.

Without the ability to have Start8, or any of the alternatives, some of which are free, then it is a real concern.

I know if I want Windows 8 at work, I have that option. I will also ask for funding for Start8, but in the extremely unlikely event they say no, it is $5 I will happily put on my credit card for the hassle it will save me.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Rathji

He complained about the interface, not the entire OS.

Without the ability to have Start8, or any of the alternatives, some of which are free, then it is a real concern.

I know if I want Windows 8 at work, I have that option. I will also ask for funding for Start8, but in the extremely unlikely event they say no, it is $5 I will happily put on my credit card for the hassle it will save me.

Again, his IT dept. or whomever approves OS or PC upgrades at his workplace should have done their research beforehand. To complain about something that was well known even before its release as being unfriendly to workflow seems pretty short-sighted.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Again, his IT dept. or whomever approves OS or PC upgrades at his workplace should have done their research beforehand. To complain about something that was well known even before its release as being unfriendly to workflow seems pretty short-sighted.

Dude, I AM one of the IT guys in the IT department. Are you purposely obtuse? What's short-sighted is your insistence that I should think the interface doesn't suck and isn't poorly thought out for business users... because you can alter the interface using a 3rd party product.

Do you realize how completely moronic that sounds? It's akin to saying "yah I bought this new car, and it has absolutely nothing for cargo space in the trunk, which is really crappy" and you saying "well if you just bought a trailer to pull behind it, you'd have lots of space for your stuff!" and thinking that is actually relevant and useful advice.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by jammies

Dude, I AM one of the IT guys in the IT department. Are you purposely obtuse? What's short-sighted is your insistence that I should think the interface doesn't suck and isn't poorly thought out for business users... because you can alter the interface using a 3rd party product.

Do you realize how completely moronic that sounds? It's akin to saying "yah I bought this new car, and it has absolutely nothing for cargo space in the trunk, which is really crappy" and you saying "well if you just bought a trailer to pull behind it, you'd have lots of space for your stuff!" and thinking that is actually relevant and useful advice.

So I don't really get what you're getting at. Are you saying that you upgraded to Windows 8 on a whim when Windows 7 is much more business friendly, or are you saying that you bought PCs pre-loaded with Windows 8 and didn't research beforehand how bad it was for your business needs?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

So I don't really get what you're getting at.

Yah, that's obvious. Maybe try reading the very first sentence of my original post.

Originally Posted by jammies

After working with Windows 8 for a couple months now, and giving it a fair shot, I am still calling the interface crap.

Well there you have it. But I'm sure that in the future, the entire company will wait patiently to hear whether or not I approve of everything about the next OS upgrade before committing to anything, because clearly anything else is setting up for imminent bankruptcy.

You seem to think I'm arguing that the interface is crap because I can't figure out how to work around it. I can figure that out just fine, thank you, my point is you should not HAVE to figure out how to work around it. It's a pretty simple point - I hope that this third or fourth time I've reiterated it, that you finally get it.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by jammies

You seem to think I'm arguing that the interface is crap because I can't figure out how to work around it. I can figure that out just fine, thank you, my point is you should not HAVE to figure out how to work around it. It's a pretty simple point - I hope that this third or fourth time I've reiterated it, that you finally get it.

So basically you just wanted me to circle jerk about how terrible it is, rather than discuss it.

Cool.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

So basically you just wanted me to circle jerk about how terrible it is, rather than discuss it..

Yes, that's exactly what I wanted. With your usual flair and panache, you have discerned the very heart of the matter, and best of all, reassured yourself that you are just as clever as you always thought you were despite all the evidence that reading comprehension is not your forte.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by jammies

Yes, that's exactly what I wanted. With your usual flair and panache, you have discerned the very heart of the matter, and best of all, reassured yourself that you are just as clever as you always thought you were despite all the evidence that reading comprehension is not your forte.

I'm pretty sure there's a quote of me stating exactly that funnily enough.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by jammies

Dude, I AM one of the IT guys in the IT department. Are you purposely obtuse? What's short-sighted is your insistence that I should think the interface doesn't suck and isn't poorly thought out for business users... because you can alter the interface using a 3rd party product.

Do you realize how completely moronic that sounds? It's akin to saying "yah I bought this new car, and it has absolutely nothing for cargo space in the trunk, which is really crappy" and you saying "well if you just bought a trailer to pull behind it, you'd have lots of space for your stuff!" and thinking that is actually relevant and useful advice.

I don't work in an artsy industry, marketing industry or anything like that. I am also not in IT

However, I thought in a IT world no sane IT department upgrades to Microsoft newest operating system for at least 2 years.

Hasn't the upgrade to Windows 7 for most companies accured from last year and still on going?

Isn't this considered best practice in IT world? Upgrading to Windows 8 is flashy but your risking compatibility issues with your companies software, productivity issues with issues like Start 8, and durability issues if Windows 8 is non-reliable operating system.

It seems like a very rash move for an cooperate organization to upgrade to Windows 8. They have more to risk on a much larger level then the average consumer.

You may have a very good reason for this, one I didn't account for, so I got to ask"

As a company, why would you upgrade to Windows 8 in the next year at all?

It just seems crazy to me that your organization would want to do this, sort of like we get to sit back and laugh because every other organization expected this to happen

[Rathji]

XP coming to end of life cycle in Apr 2014 would be the primary reason, I would think.

For my company, there really were no barriers to deploying Windows 7. All of our applications are Web based, except a single legacy db app that needed some compatibility mode tweaking. There are a lot of tools that make running legacy programs pretty painless. We had windows 7 fully deployed less than 12 months following its release, and the only reason it delayed that long is we wanted to time it with the purchase of new PCs. I know a few large firms downtown that beat us by a couple months.

That said, not every company has the same setup, so it might be harder for some.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Rathji

XP coming to end of life cycle in Apr 2014 would be the primary reason, I would think.

For my company, there really were no barriers to deploying Windows 7. All of our applications are Web based, except a single legacy db app that needed some compatibility mode tweaking. There are a lot of tools that make running legacy programs pretty painless. We had windows 7 fully deployed less than 12 months following its release, and the only reason it delayed that long is we wanted to time it with the purchase of new PCs. I know a few large firms downtown that beat us by a couple months.

That said, not every company has the same setup, so it might be harder for some.

To be fair, Windows 7 wasn't a drastic change like Windows 8, it didn't have the same level of organizational risk as Windows 8

[Wood]

Is there a way for me to download the Windows 8 Pro ISO? I can't seem to find it anywhere

My laptops HD died so I bought a new one, I want to boot from my external HD and install the windows ISO onto my new HD since I don't have a disk

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Kavy

As a company, why would you upgrade to Windows 8 in the next year at all?

Not my decision and I have enough things to worry about that *are* in my control; generally I am working on the servers and the network and not touching client machines. And we aren't upgrading so much as letting attrition take out XP machines which are being replaced with Win8 machines.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Kavy

To be fair, Windows 7 wasn't a drastic change like Windows 8, it didn't have the same level of organizational risk as Windows 8

If you are coming from XP, it's actually the other way around - XP to Win7 is a sea change compared to Win7 to Win8, in terms of hardware and driver support, application compatibility, management and deployment tools, etc.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by Wood

Is there a way for me to download the Windows 8 Pro ISO? I can't seem to find it anywhere

My laptops HD died so I bought a new one, I want to boot from my external HD and install the windows ISO onto my new HD since I don't have a disk

http://teamwindows8.com/2012/11/down...rom-microsoft/

[Kavvy]

Good news - Boot to desktop option coming with Windows 8.1

As it turns out the latest leaked build of Windows 8.1 codenamed Blue includes a boot do desktop option. It seems our prayers have been finally heard.

Windows 8.1 a.k.a. Blue is in the rumorland for quite some time, but it was recently when the first builds popped up online.

It’s unclear what other changes will bring Windows 8.1, but let’s hope it will include more goodies for the core desktop users. Whatever Microsoft was trying to prove with this new Start screen, it should have been optional by default. After all a new annoying interface isn’t the best way to make me switch to a touchscreen, right?

http://blog.gsmarena.com/boot-to-des...h-windows-8-1/