Windows Windows 8 Marmite thread... Because you either love it or hate it

Windows 8 is as open as any previous version of Windows has been. It doesn't restrict what you can do anymore than Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 98, 95 etc etc. And there's absolutely no commercial incentive for Microsoft to turn Windows into a closed platform, especially when you consider their revenue from the business sector where a closed platform simply wouldn't work.

As for Windows RT, yes it is a closed platform but that probably has lot more to do with the nature of the hardware it's running on and it'll probably end up as a relatively short lived product anyway. It'll only be around as long as ARM hardware has advantages over x86 compatible hardware for things like tablets and embedded devices and that's probably not going to be the case for that much longer.

 

Actually he can. He can upgrade XP, or Vista.
So basically he just needs to run the setup in Windows XP in his dual boot config. Turning his XP and 7 dual boot, into 8 and 7.

 

Actually, as the demand of ARM increases, and the demand by manufacture of having more powerful graphic (now it's very low.. you only have Apple, and ASUS, pretty much.), companies like Nvidia are focusing more and more on their Tegra chip. Nvidia never really focused on Tegra initially, as no one was interested, beside Nintendo at first (but I guess that didn't go well, and went with a new company for the chip in the 3DS), the Zune HD.. well that didn't last long. Just now with ASUS and Microsoft are interested in the Tegra 3. When MS Surface will be out, tegra 3 will be decent chip. Not great, just descent. But plenty good for the needs of the tablet. If ASUS stays with Nvidia, and Microsoft Surface RT kicks off. Expect Nvidia working really hard on the Tegra 4, same for other manufacture to complete in performance, and you'll have though competition with Intel. Once ARM CPUs has a large market share. Expect Windows RT to disappear, and have Windows for x86, support both AMR and x86 at the same time. And you'll be able to install ARM version of software like you do now under Windows with x86-64 programs.

 

But then it is not 25 GBP, but 25GBP + price he paid for the original Windows XP or Vista licence, other than his current Windows 7 licence. What i got from rollo's post that he plans to use the Windows 8 upgrade from his Windows 7 install PLUS Windows 7, both Windows 7 base installed with same key.

 

I intend to upgrade the windows vista key to windows 8 and keep my Windows 7 key as it is, was how i plan to duel boot. We also own 4 windows 7 keys as a household that i could borrow one if required from an older laptop.

 

Greetings!

 

Greetings!

 

Let's wait until the tablets and convertibles hit the market. As I said before: Windows 8 is not really for your device; it's for tomorrow's devices.

 

Not surprising when review sites are so negative, unnecessarily so imo. Just look at rollo's comments on the last page, believing that the 'metro' parts of Windows 8 will lead to difficulty in launching games, whereas it'll be just as easy as ever. Not rollo's fault, but some of the drivel spouted by so called 'experts' in lackluster reviews.

 

Can I ask, do you actively search for articles that show Windows 8 in a negative light?

I've been using the RTM version on my main PC since it was available without any problems. Like others in the thread have said I think the start screen will work best on mobile devices but it in no way detracts from what, in my experience so far, is a pretty rock solid operating system. Yes you might need to change the way you do things slightly but change isn't always bad....

 

Greetings!

No need to actively search for negative articles on Windows 8. There were some positives articles about the technical side of Windows 8 (most of them in the DP thread) but currently the majority are negative.

 

Are these the same sort of informed, judicious and objective articles as those written by "journalists" who want to lube up with baby oil and make sweet, passionate love to the iPhone 5? I think I'll take their opinion with a grain of sodium.

 

Greetings!

You mean like this?
A Mac-user’s take on transitioning to Windows 8
Well, with the release date coming more and more of these articles will popup.
The ones who already tried Windows 8 and know how to use it will pull hair reading those articles, but the ones who havent tried yet will form opinions based on those articles.
My take is that Metro is nice and works quite well on touchscreens (tried only in smartphones but tablets should be the same) but adds nothing over the current Windows UI for traditional desktop\laptop configurations, most of the time just having to work with two UIs on the same device is just stupid.

Watch out for blood pressure.

 

I dont know where that reviewer got his Windows 8 from, but the weather app does not have adverts per default.

Ah well, Gabe Newell's objections are starting to make sense...

 

No advert here either. But it could be a regional thing.

Yup. There is always a reason behind when a company complains about something. And usually it is when it hurts their plans or profits. Some decides to camouflage it as under some other reasons making it look like it will affect users, others don't mention anything because they want to keep people guessing and not fall into an argument, other just joins in becomes they feel like its cool.

 

Who the hell are these people writing these reviews? There is at least one flat out lie in that article:

I've just tried it. Open start screen, type 'm' and a list of 18 programs appears (6 of them programs I have installed) with paint being one of them, type a further 's' and the list is reduced to just 3, type a further 'p' if you are still unable to find it and you are left with paint on its own.

I don't understand why that's a difficult thing to do either. Searching in the start menu was a big part of Windows 7, so it makes sense to search in the start screen. I also expect MS will update the quick walkthrough of the new features in the release version. Despite this being the Release Candidate, small things will still change, and I can see that being one of them after the negative comments made.

Who the hell are these people? Unfortunately those who haven't yet tried Windows 8 for themselves are possibly reading these articles and are put off trying it at all. I still maintain that the majority of users will enjoy using Windows 8 after the short period it takes to get used to the changes.

Edit. No add here either.

 

Windows 8 won't be a miricle fix for windows tablets in general, they still need good app support and decent pricing / battery life. ( for rt models )

 

If Windows 8, provides me 1h more of battery life on my laptop. Then its good a is sign already.
Microsoft has high reputation for having everything. Even if apps are low, People will get it, and that would make developers start making apps for it asap.

 

Dont you think though we should have pricing by now for a product due out in less than 23 days, Its all just talk so far that we will even see this product on that date, at least as far as a uk launch of the Surface goes.

Microsoft surface to some extent has so little known about it that matters i personally expected to be able to pre order or at least know in advance the pricing that they have in mind, Somewhere between $300-$800 is not useful. We know specs great, but not alot of mension of the big 2 things that we are looking at, As you mensioned above battery life pretty critical as is price.

 

I already mentioned them.
More info on Microsoft event, a day before Win8 will be out Oct 25th if I recall correctly.