Windows 8 thread

[Rathji]

I, for one, can't wait for Full Screen Calculator App.

[TorqueDog]

Rathji: I use this app, Super Calculator.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Windows Blue (windows 8 sp1?) leaked onto the web: http://www.redmondpie.com/windows-bl...11-more-video/

still no mention of putting a Start Menu back in desktop mode (and giving users the option of booting directly to the desktop instead of the start screen). that's all they have to do to win over the business sector

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Rathji: I use this app, Super Calculator.

I guess green text was needed...

[kermitology]

I haven't been on Windows in a few years. Does it have anything like Alfred on OS X?

I don't think I could use computers without something like Alfred and the command line anymore.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I haven't been on Windows in a few years. Does it have anything like Alfred on OS X?

I don't think I could use computers without something like Alfred and the command line anymore.

Alfred is tremendous.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I haven't been on Windows in a few years. Does it have anything like Alfred on OS X?

I don't think I could use computers without something like Alfred and the command line anymore.

Sort of, maybe not quite as seamless. The Start Menu search function allows you to search programs or the web, the Windows App Store, etc.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Sort of, maybe not quite as seamless. The Start Menu search function allows you to search programs or the web, the Windows App Store, etc.

So no Alfred is quite a bit more than that. There are, however, lots of Quicksilver (Alfred's original inspiration) clones for Windows, and probably one of those has a feature set that matches much of what Kermitology uses Alfred for.

What Windows lacks though, that makes Alfred so insanely powerful, is a system-wide scripting language - using AppleScript you can make Alfred do just about anything with any application that implements AppleScript verbs.

[TorqueDog]

Yeah, I did see some of that. You can tell it to create tasks and things, set alarms, etc. Like a deaf Siri.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Yeah, I did see some of that. You can tell it to create tasks and things, set alarms, etc. Like a deaf Siri.

Siri is more like a quadriplegic Alfred, but we digress

[TorqueDog]

I'm fast approaching the date where it's not likely anyone will accept my statements about Microsoft products as unbiased anyway, so eh.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I'm fast approaching the date where it's not likely anyone will accept my statements about Microsoft products as unbiased anyway, so eh.

I honestly appreciate all your tips and hints on Windows 8, and the honest effort you seem to put into your posts. If I buy a new computer, I will be re-reading this thread and paying attention to your posts, so thank you for that.

However, I think this ship sailed a long time ago

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Kavy

I honestly appreciate all your tips and hints on Windows 8, and the honest effort you seem to put into your posts. If I buy a new computer, I will be re-reading this thread and paying attention to your posts, so thank you for that.

However, I think this ship sailed a long time ago

Not quite what I meant: as of April 22nd, I'm a full-time employee of Microsoft Corporation, so yeah. If you thought my posts were biased before, I won't be able to do anything like enough to convince you they're unbiased once I work for them.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Not quite what I meant: as of April 22nd, I'm a full-time employee of Microsoft Corporation, so yeah. If you thought my posts were biased before, I won't be able to do anything like enough to convince you they're unbiased once I work for them.

Well congrats on the new role, make sure you whip out a IPhone and leave it charging on your desk on your first day, best way to get an in with senior management at Microsoft.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Not quite what I meant: as of April 22nd, I'm a full-time employee of Microsoft Corporation, so yeah. If you thought my posts were biased before, I won't be able to do anything like enough to convince you they're unbiased once I work for them.

Can you get me super secret builds of Windows Phone OS? I'm quite enjoying my Nokia Lumia 920.

[TorqueDog]

I'm just hoping I can get *me* super secret builds of Windows Phone OS.

[Leon]

So I just went to MemExpress and swapped out a 750gig HD for a lightning fast crucial 128gig SSD on the laptop.

I threw on Windows 8 in favor of 7 and have really enjoyed it so far.

I've gone in with low expectations given the poor feedback the OS has received so far. Initial impressions are that while some elements are not intuitive. It's not nearly close to the train wreck I was expecting. The lack of a start button is not an issue whatsoever. It's extremely easy to pin essential elements to the task bar such as control panel, as well as any programs used frequently.. Using the windows key to toggle back on forth works just great. I don't see any use in the apps yet and certainly don't feel the need to make use of this area of the OS.

The system is fast and the boot time is great. As a personal use laptop, everything is great and I can do everything I want to do extremely quickly. I can see the OS learning curve potentially being problematic in a work setting, with certain nuances contributing to some productivity issues. Overall, thus far, I'd rate it about an 8/10. There's just nothing wrong with the new GUI and you can truly do everything you need to do.

edit: I recall seeing someone bring up the shut down issue. Alt-F4 seems to work just fine, and this shortcut must be universally known (and extremely useful). Seems like people are quick to nit pick things in this version.

[chemgear]

Seems like a bit much to blame Windows 8 outright, tablets certainly making most of the dent imo.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing...ine-in-history

The PC market has suffered its biggest decline on record, with first quarter shipments dropping 14% since the same time last year. This unprecedented decline casts a very ominous light on the PC industry.

Did Windows 8 cause the decline? We will never know for sure, but given Microsoft’s opaqueness when it comes to Windows 8 sales figures, poor sales of Windows 8 tablets such as the Surface, and the continual disappointment surrounding Windows RT, it’s definitely fair to say that Windows 8 is a large factor of the PC market’s decline. According to IDC, many businesses chose to install Windows 7, rather than Windows 8 — and, in the consumer space, the absence of the Start button and the need to switch between Desktop and Metro modes is turning off potential buyers.

[jammies]

After working with Windows 8 for a couple months now, and giving it a fair shot, I am still calling the interface crap. It is junk designed for barely savvy home users.

Yes, I can pin things to the taskbar. Yes, I can use keyboard shortcuts. I can even customize the horrid main screen. Who cares? I could do all those things before, without the cobbled-together awfulness that permeates everything.

I will give a single example that should suffice. I have a new viao laptop I am setting up. I install Office 2013. I proceed to click on "Mail", the great big icon listed on the very top left of the main screen. Is Windows 8 smart enough to realize that once I have Outlook installed, I probably want to go into Outlook and not the inferior Windows Mail? No, it is not.

Outlook is buried so that I have to go and look at all applications, search for it (because you get a huge list that is sorted in no useful way), right-click it, and then assign it to the taskbar or some other place where it can be usefully launched. To replace "Mail" with Outlook is another convoluted process, which I have to go thru because the end user, not unreasonably, expects that when she clicks "Mail" she'll actually GET her mail, and not some lame Microsoft wizard asking her to set up her Microsoft email account.

And that's just one example. I could go on and on, but I don't have time because I have to futz around customizing all kinds of things so people can get actual work done, outside of surfing the internet and looking at old vacation pictures, for which Windows 8 seems to be exclusively designed. It's a crock of crap, and I hate it, and Microsoft now too.

[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.