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

In other words. Do you recall when Microsoft released Windows XP SP2, they actually added new feature and made minor UI changes? Well it was the only time where a service pack had that, the rest was, and is, a regroupement of Windows updates, plus a few more updates which improved the user experience. Basically, now, with the Windows Blue program, expect to see bigger than Windows XP SP2 style changes. Like what Windows Phone 7.5 had. Free update, but big changes. Here it might be free, or there will be even more changes and perhaps charge a nominal fee of 10-15$. Which in conjunction of a lower price Windows (especially the current upgrade offer) is no issue. Yea, it's not free like Android, but it will probably not be like MacOS that charges 30$ for a handful of minor new features, and charges you mostly for bug and security patches (aka what Windows Service Pack is, essentially).

 

Another example is the Windows 95 IE4 service pack, which added a lot of GUI functionality.

 

windows 8 seems to know where I am :-S

 

There are tons of way to find out "where you are" - Geo-IP, WiFi location; 3G/GPS if available. Your phone and tablet knows where you are as well.

 

That, you are being spied on. YOU KNOW TOO MUCH!!!

 

I was actually surprised at how accurate it was - within 20meters of where I was sitting is impressive, considering I was using mobile broadband. considering I was inside a building

 

Yea, it's pretty cool.
I don't know how it works, beside geo location via IP address, but I assume its able to find itself by your position of your router.

At university is doesn't point me at the correct location like at home. It's off by 2 buildings.

 

Greetings!

Less stable for changing the release model so soon after having released all the W8 family.

.
Its Android, updates are usual, thats its own consistency. There is also the availabilty and price considerations, the only WP8 available here currently is the HTC 8X, too pricey.

Yep.

Blue as a free "SP" update makes sense. What about Blue v2.0 in 2014? And 3.0 in 2015?
When will Microsoft start charging for this "SP"s?

__________________

 

All I see Windows Blue, is a mid Windows update.
Windows 8.5, then after that, Windows 9 will be out, and Windows 8 will get an update for 8.8 or something. Basically, as I mentioned, a large Service Pack. Nothing says that it will be kept for Windows 9. Maybe Microsoft is like "what the heck, we have this brand new interface, and in order to make it better we need user feedback, and usage data. While we are taking such a huge risk, is experimental to some stages, why not try something new for the updates."

 

Greetings!

Companies love that. Very artistical.

 

Business is all about taking risks. If you don't take any risk, you don't grow. Business 101.
Its obviously not exactly like what I said. What I meant is that while business follow a 6 year upgrade cycle, and consumers are more willingly update their system, it's a perfect opportunity to try other things. Microsoft always wanted to remove Service Packs. They have been talking about since Vista. I guess now they are seeing as a great opportunity to take the plunge.

 

Mobile tower triangulation. Pretty accurate in any city. In my case it show a circle of about 100m on my mobile phone.

 

Greetings!

At their own business, perhaps. Not with their working tools.

 

I am looking forward to the Win8 phone update early next year

 

Heumm let's see.. they did it, with Windows 95, Windows 98 (remember the SE edition), Windows XP and Windows 8. Vista too, they re worked the core part of the OS. Windows 2000 was suppose to bring a unified core between home, servers, and workstation OS into one.

 

A friend of mine has just got a new laptop that came with windows 8.. she's trying to find out how to download a software so she can play games on it. I'm not familar with windows 8.. just up to 7. She went from XP iirc to 8 now.. it's very confusing for her.

 

WOW that's a huge step.
To get modern UI apps, you do it via the app store. Simply click on "Store" tile on the start screen.
Remember that the start screen is the start menu, just full screen. From the desktop (click on Desktop to the Start screen to access it for the first time), you pin any folder or programs you like, by right-clicking on it, and select "Pin". Tiles on the start screen can be moved, and new groups can be made by moving a tile between 2 groups, or at the end or begging of the start screen. Of course, like in Windows 7 and Vista, typing on the Start screen will automatically start searching for apps you have.

I strongly suggest to have a look at the "How to" page of Windows 8.
Here is a direct link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/how-to#2TC=windows8
It has nice video showing how to function Windows 8.

And of course, you can hit F1 in Windows 8 to access the help documentation which is nicely done, with nice diagram and stuff, if you prefer a more traditional way of knowing how to do things.

 

Yeah I agree. HUGE step for her. she's looking at the post that you did along with the link.. hope you didn't mind that I copied the post word for word.

 

DOUBLE POST! Remove please!

 

OK, She's saying that she didn't get a thing when she pressed F1... Dafuq! hmm it's really different from Windows XP to 7.. why did they even change it from start menu to start screen??