Windows 8 just for general use ? or iMac ?

[leon]

Hi Guys, yet another computer question, it has been mentioned here that Windows 8 is not really a great program as yet.

However using Windows 8 just for general computer use, and not for anything Astro/imaging etc would it suffice.

I feel my desktop is failing and can see a new purchase in the near future, so where do i go, a new iMac or a Window based machine.

As mentioned it will be just for general use, as long as it can handle all my photographic needs.

Many Thanks.

leon

[Andy Walters]

Hi Leon,
check these guys out, I bought my desktop from them recently, you can still get windows 7 if you want.

http://www.macotechnology.com.au/systemu.asp

Cheers Andy.:)

[pluto]

Hi Leon,
I upgraded to win8 on my lappy a few months ago with absolutely no problems. It's very fast and stable and every program I use works as well or better than win7. I've heard there are a few programs/hardware that require drivers that haven't been updated to win8 yet but I can vouch for: CS6, Lightroom 4, Startools, DSS, Registax, PHD, software and drivers for my 5DmkII, Atik 314L+, QHY5L-IIc, plus all the usual browsers, music players, utilities, etc.
I did get a start menu as I prefer that way of doing things but I don't hate the Metro thing and I do use it occasionally. TBH I'm not sure why people complain about the new start screen, you just press winkey+D and you're on a familiar desktop or you can set it so it just boots straight to the desktop.

My $0.02 :D

[GeoffW1]

Hi Leon,

At the risk of stating something you possibly know quite well, make sure you have all your good stuff backed up on another drive (USB stick, DVD, portable HDD etc) in case of a catastrophic crash.

This includes your precious data of course, and may also include installation downloads, bookmarks, emails, contacts (often stored by default on the C: drive), settings, My Documents files etc. You can even make an image of entire partitions on HDD.

Make it a priority if not up to date at this point.

Cheers

[tlgerdes]

Win8, it is a learning curve, but nowhere near OSX, if you are coming from an MS Windows heritage. Is it better than Win7? it is different. Better or worse is subjective to what you are doing. Win8 is information centric, Win7 is application centric. This takes time to adjust.

I have 2 $700 laptops at home running with it, with absolutely no problems for the last 5 months.

If you get Win8, you need a touch screen, it was designed with that in mind, and works best with it.

[pluto]

The new start screen (formerly Metro) is designed for a touchscreen, the desktop mode works the same as the win7 desktop and if you add a start menu you basically can't tell the difference.
I'm happy using it without a touchscreen as I'm more interested in the improved performance that comes with win8 rather than a new way of opening and interacting with applications.

[alistairsam]

I'm very happy with Win8 and I haven't installed the classic start button.
I find it quicker and more stable than Win7 but it will take a while to bed in.
I don't believe a touch screen is needed. works fine with just a mouse even for the metro UI.
The Mac would be a steep learning curve if you're used to Windows a lot and perhaps in IT, but should be simple enough for the home user as its designed to be simple.
Just be aware of the costs of upgrades or add-ons like Apple TV, external apple hard drives and so on, they can add up quite quickly.
its nice to have a Mac, but I find the Win7 or Win8 PC/Laptop can do the same/similar for a lot less.

I found this a good buy and got it for my wife who's never used Win8 before and is not IT savvy. she's happy.
http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XC8564/hp-pavilion-14-b031tu-notebook

[leon]

Well that was very helpful, thank you all for your response, I will do a little more reserch and see what happens.

I do like XP, and it has served me well, but I'm sure it will die one day.

Thank You.

Leon

[Poita]

You can use any external hard drives, USB devices etc. on the Mac, there is no need to buy apple ones, so the costs are identical either way.

The learning curve from XP to a Mac is a doddle, they even have videos and tutes to make it easier. I just installed a Mac at work for the payroll person who has only ever used PCs and she isn't exactly computer literate, and she has had no real difficulty. Big advantage with the Mac is the ability to run Windows and Mac software.

I have been using PCs since the DOS days, and I'm not enjoying Windows 8. I think I will give it a miss at home and stick with W7 and see what they come up with for the next release.

[2stroke]

There nothing wrong with windows 8 once you loose the lame start screen with a simple mod its just like win7. I really hate the direction ms has taken with the start screen though the os is dead soild, In fact with amd's FX cpu's is really needed. I run an old dsi pro totally fine with it and a 900nc, the only problems are cams which have only 32bit drivers if you use the 64bit copy.

I love osx though software support is very limited, macs in general suck hardware wise compared to a general pc. To me imacs are toys and underpowered and if you didn't know they use notebook componets which are well under desktop spec, ie 4850m's instead of 4850's, mobile cpu's which are drasticly clocked down from there desktop counterparts. The only descent mac's are pro's in terms of power, i love them even though pc equivalent's are nearly 1/2 the price. Mac pro's are true workstations, it just a shame cheap toys like imacs and mini's try to sell off them and give mac hardware a bad name. So buy a pc if you haven't got the money and need power, only grab a imac if you want something for basic tasks email,web, movies and wish to save $40 a year on power :)