Windows 8 thread

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

And it works.

It's kind of funny. They changed that one on me, along with the back/forward gestures, I hated it, I got too lazy to change it, and now it's completely intuitive and I hate using someone's machine that is set up the "old" way.

Oh for sure - it is, semantically, the correct implementation (scroll the content, not the window borders), but if this thread is any indication, the hew and cry amongst Windows users had MS implemented this feature would have bordered on a seismic event.

[opendoor]

I tried Mac OS's "natural" scrolling for about 5 seconds before switching it off.

I'm generally very supportive of UI changes when they provide a better way of doing things but changing the scrolling seemed kind of pointless to me. I've never confused the scrolling window paradigm with touch screens where you're manipulating the content.

It's not like smartphones (including iOS) don't use both anyway. When you're scrolling down slowly in an app or on a web page you drag the content upwards. But if you want to quickly scroll down through a long list or something you drag the scroll bar downwards, just like you would with a trackpad to go down a webpage.

It's a minor thing that I'm sure I could get used to quickly (save for scrolling down to zoom in on a map, I think that'd drive me crazy for a while), but I can't think why I'd bother, especially when every other computer uses so-called "reverse" scrolling.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Oh for sure - it is, semantically, the correct implementation (scroll the content, not the window borders), but if this thread is any indication, the hew and cry amongst Windows users had MS implemented this feature would have bordered on a seismic event.

Except that Apple gave users the option of turning that new feature off. If Microsoft had simply made the new start screen an option instead of mandatory, there would have been no outcry.

When I show someone who is completely against Windows 8 what my work PC look like with Start8 installed, their opinion changes drastically

[You Need a Thneed]

I think I got used to the reverse scrolling after about 30 seconds. I go back and forth between my Mac at home and my Windows 8 machine at work that scroll opposite ways, and honestly, I never even think about it. Far more annoying is my "windows 8" friendly mouse at work, that thinks I'm trying to scroll somewhere anytime a finger rests on it.

[1_Flames_Fan]

When is this new windows 8 update with the start button and stuff supposed to be available?

[psicodude]

I don't think there is an official release date yet, but it will be going to public preview at the end of June. Most likely a late fall/early winter release then?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Will be fall. Microsoft's new strategy is to have yearly Windows updates instead of 3 or 4 year cycles

http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/8/415...-blue-strategy

[cral12]

Originally Posted by 1_Flames_Fan

When is this new windows 8 update with the start button and stuff supposed to be available?

I thought the Start "button" would not added back?

[TorqueDog]

Windows 8.1 Release Preview is available for download.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...wnload-preview

I'm running it already on my MS asset, I think a LOT of people will be happy (though some will inevitably still have issues).

Took about 12 minutes start to finish to upgrade my existing Windows 8 Enterprise installation, no reinstall of apps or restore of documents required. Very impressed by how efficient the installer / upgrade process has become. I remember 37 minutes was the best-case scenario for XP.

Be advised that you will likely be required to install Windows 8.1 RTM as a clean install later if you upgrade now using the preview installer. No idea if this hack will work for 8.1.

[Anduril]

After using Win8 for however long it's been, gotta say my tune has changed a bit for the worse when it came to traditional laptops/desktops. Went from optimistic to annoyed with mainly the apps available. Does anybody regularly use any of these?
The start time is still a tad slow, and updating them is something I don't look forward to compared to how I excitedly read over every app update on my Android phone before completely approving.

Having the new 8.1 should make it a little more worthwhile to multitask and hopefully some more worthwhile apps come out, though for what purpose on a laptop/desktop I don't know.

[TorqueDog]

I only use the Windows 8 Apps when I'm on my Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch or my Samsung ATIV Smart PC, which are both touch devices.

My desktop, I use it as a normal desktop. Only time I use Windows 8 Apps is for my Live.ca personal e-mail and calendar, and once in a while I like screwing around with Magix Music Maker. Doesn't really bother me.

[Hemi-Cuda]

NSFW!

[Brannigans Law]

So according to a lot of tech sites out there, Windows 8.2 is bringing back a traditional start menu for early 2015 (the 8.2 expected release).

Not surprising when you consider that Windows 7 is growing faster than Windows 8.

[photon]

Finally got around to installing Windows 8, well 8.1 Update and they've certainly at least made it a lot better for mouse users than Windows 8 originally was, it's still jarring to switch back and forth between clean windows with big type and then a traditional explorer type window, but at least you can close full screen metro apps and stuff.

I'm kind of liking the start menu bringing up Metro too, now that it's totally customizable I could maybe see using it. Launchy still is faster.

It's gonna take weeks though getting all the stuff I used to have and need reinstalled. Ugh.