Windows 8

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by marki

It's faster and they finally got rid of the start button setup which I hated with a passion.

Mark

It's not the start button that is a nuisance. It's the stop button that is the problem. I had an urgent job (look up some stored data) but I required a restart. I could not stop because I had inadvertantly left the auto updates on. I got my computer back twenty minutes later!

Barry

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Windows 8 is a great reason to run Linux. All we need is a few more software writers to port their apps to it.
As for Apple, my iDevices are just that. I don't expect them to be upgradable.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Well if I spend a couple of Ks on a machine it's nice to know that I can open it up, change the HD to a bigger size or faster volume, maybe upgrade the graphic card and video drivers down the road or add an extra drive. Or maybe get an external optical drive without having to pay through the nose for a cable to connect it from the 'Microsoft Shop'. You know, basics things. Having options to customise MY pc with cards from various unrelated manufacturers?... If this flexibility and freedom are all taken away then what's the point? Is a PC going to become a consumable black box. Change it all when you have to or when they tell you to becaused it's expired next month with the new OS upgrade? Or something you can't legally open like a beefed up XBOX?

Back in the days I loved Apple Scripts and the way it integrated with the OS. I also think Apple user interface designs and functionality are second to none. The Apple II E was revolutionary already. But I always liked the modularity of PCs hardware. If we lose that we're in trouble. Our wallet's going to suffer.

Ah the good old days. Spent many hours at the swap meets & building or upgrading my PC. I don't think that pleasure will disappear at all. The main problem is the OS you have to use. You can still tinker with the machine but unless you can get drivers you are pretty much behind the 8 ball.
Microsoft change so often, hardware developers have a hard time keeping up. Not only do they have to make 32 bit and 64 bit drivers, they have to test these drivers on software that is flawed. They cannot afford to re-write drivers for older hardware so the end user suffers again.

Just read somewhere that Microsoft have made over 100,000 changes to Windows 8 since the evaluation copy was made available.

[marki]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

It's not the start button that is a nuisance. It's the stop button that is the problem. I had an urgent job (look up some stored data) but I required a restart. I could not stop because I had inadvertantly left the auto updates on. I got my computer back twenty minutes later!

Barry

Turn them off and only install the updates you want when you want. Too many problems if you leave it to its own devices.

[marki]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

Just read somewhere that Microsoft have made over 100,000 changes to Windows 8 since the evaluation copy was made available.

I would have thought that was a good thing. They put out the beta version for a broad spectrum of people willing to test then took the testers input to refine the product. Now I have not owned a Mac PC but I have been an IPAD user for about 18 months and in that time apple have had 3 major OS changes (OS4, OS5 and now OS6) let alone the small updates between the big ones (OS 4.1, 5.1 ect etc). This morning I downloaded OS 6.1, on the download description it stated "fixes known bugs" and there are quite a few so neither format is maintenance free . In 18 months I have also seen the hardware change from Ipad II to Ipad III (I have both) and no doubt there is a Ipad IV just around the corner. It is not possible to update the hardware so you just have to suck eggs and buy the new version if you want all the bells and whistles and the ability to run the latest apps in all their glory (yes I use it for gaming). Apple also encourage the same ideology with their PC's, not so with the PC format, just rip the old bits out and replace when required at fraction the cost of a new machine depending on what you buy ( I have often gone back to the bare case and started again). If Apple is really serious about competing in the PC market they will have to offer the end user the ability to do the same but that would go against their business model so they won't do it. That's why Mac PC's have always and will always remain a curiosity for a small number of avid supporters and this is why they have to make the vast majority of their income from other bits and bobs like the iphone, ipad and ipod lines. As long as the PC format with its total flexibility remains, apple will stay where they are in the PC market and I am dam sure the PC crew know that and will do nothing to restrict the freedom PC users have over Mac users. You can upgrade some bits on a Mac PC but be prepared to pay lots of $$$$$ compared to what a PC user would pay for similar changes. Apples major income earners (ipad, iphone etc) are now being seriously challenged by android and windows 8 based phones and tablets (the samsungs are very very good in both formats, I used a Samsung tablet yesterday running windows 8, wow made the ipad III look like a toy, even has MS office on board and the full freedom of a PC). If Microsoft get this metro concept working really well through windows 8 and beyond it will be very bad for apple.

Mark

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by marki

If Microsoft get this metro concept working really well through windows 8 and beyond it will be very bad for apple.

The android market is fast growing. I too think Apple's days are numbered. Microsoft did the same thing to SONY in the gaming arena. The XBOX took over the PS3. They're slow to move but when they gain momentum they bulldoze everything in their path. Win8 is just the beginning IMHO.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by marki

Turn them off and only install the updates you want when you want. Too many problems if you leave it to its own devices.

That is what I do. But for some reason that I had not noticed they turned auto back on and I did not find out till I got the dreaded message "Downloading and installing updates Don't turn your machine off"

There were 57000 odd changes to make. The first 1000 took about 10 mins and I was about to disconnect the power as the projected time was longer than reformatting and installing Win-7 but the update went faster from there and completed in about 20 mins.

Barry

[marki]

Originally Posted by multiweb

The android market is fast growing. I too think Apple's days are numbered. Microsoft did the same thing to SONY in the gaming arena. The XBOX took over the PS3. They're slow to move but when they gain momentum they bulldoze everything in their path. Win8 is just the beginning IMHO.

I don't know about their dismiss Marc but they will be in serious trouble under their current model. We are trying out different systems for work next year to replace our laptops as their 3 year lease is up and had several tablets to play with. The most impressive was the Samsung with great functionality, feel, looks, big screen and so on. It has a battery on board plus one in the docking station which also doubles as a keyboard and also doubles battery life. You have total freedom to use it as a laptop or pull the screen free and walk around the room using it like a tablet. The SSD allows windows 8 and MS office etc etc to be loaded so it is no different to a PC/laptop in use with full touch control, it is also lightning quick. We can connect wirelessly to our network, projectors and smart boards and walk around the room with the tablet whilst teaching, fantastic . The only hiccup at this stage is connecting the audio which still needs a cable but that will only affect movies so no big deal though the techs are working on a wireless solution. My next tablet will not be an Ipad that's for sure. I have always found the OS on the Ipad to be restrictive and the available apps to be mickey mouse when it comes to doing serious work which is why I have pretty much used it exclusively to play games. The lack of USB ports has also been a killer for serious work let alone peripherals.

Mark

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by marki

I don't know about their dismiss Marc but they will be in serious trouble under their current model.

No I wouldn't dismiss them but they missed the boat big time IMHO. The iPhone/iPad was a terrific concept with a revolutionary and intuitive interface. What they do best. Instead of consolidating their lead they tried to capitalize on their monopoly. Now the peloton has caught back up to them. Competition was probably more willing to give a little more flexibility to the end user. I mean there was a need for it. How many iPod got jail broken in the first few months. Didn't they get the message? C'mon....

[marki]

Okay I have found a troublesome astro program, CCDsoft V5. Software bisque have a new .exe file available for download on their website but you still need to run as administrator to get it to boot without error messages ("failed to update registry, try reg edit) which I loaded this morning. Yesterday it seemed to lose functionality the more times I booted and eventually opening the camera window caused it to crash. No doubt SB are working on a cure, at least I hope so as having to run as administrator is not acceptable for a new product bought 2 days ago. I have posted on their website so will wait and see.

Mark

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

The android market is fast growing. I too think Apple's days are numbered. Microsoft did the same thing to SONY in the gaming arena. The XBOX took over the PS3. They're slow to move but when they gain momentum they bulldoze everything in their path. Win8 is just the beginning IMHO.

Actually, Nintendo is back on top. Yes Xbox360 is ahead of the PS3, but only just. The war is still on.

Sixth gen console:
1. PlayStation 2 – 150 million as of 31 January 2011
2. Xbox – 24 million as of 10 May 2006
3. GameCube – 21.74 million as of 30 September 2012
4. Dreamcast - 10.6 million as of 6 July 2002

7th Gen Console:
1. Wii – 97.18 million as of 30 September 2012
2. Xbox 360 – 67.2 million as of 31 March 2012
3. PlayStation 3 – 63.9 million as of 31 March 2012

[marki]

Might be interesting as win 8 has the xbox app on it so all games produced for xbox will now run on PC and are easily bought from the app store. As the OS becomes the norm those numbers may shift some.

Mark

[andrew2008]

I've just watched a few videos and really like the look of it.

[Exfso (Peter)]

Good Old Microslough, we the public will be the beta testers as usual, and eventually find most of the bugs, yeah it will take years, but we are used to that. Then presto when it is nearly acceptible, up will pop another OS to wade through. No thank you!!

[sanusense (Sanusense)]

Windows8 may come with different features, but i really don't like this software i was unable to find start button for a hour.

[fauxpas (Tony)]

Gotta watch a few youtube vids before going 8...

I got my family watching to prep them...

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

I think M/S have made a big misstep with this OS they should be keeping Win8 for the tablet and keep Win7 for the PC. It just sucks on a PC even with a touch screen it's just not for a main Computer experience. INMHO

[pluto (Hugh)]

I played with it the other day on a computer at work and it seemed fine. The tiles thing is ok as a start screen and when you need to do something more important than check the weather you just press <windows key>+d to go to a normal desktop which seemed pretty much the same as win7. It seems to me the only difference in terms of working in the normal windows desktop mode is that there is no start menu, but I guess I never really used that anyway as I arrange my shortcuts in desktop folders or on the quick-launch bar thing.

[DJDD]

Originally Posted by marki

Might be interesting as win 8 has the xbox app on it so all games produced for xbox will now run on PC and are easily bought from the app store. As the OS becomes the norm those numbers may shift some.

Mark

excellent- i want to play Halo 4 on PC!

[marki]

All this talk about the start menu is interesting, you just put the cursor in the bottom left hand corner and a tile pops out, simply left click and you have it in the form of a tiled screen, much the same as it always was just no button. You can also move the cursor to the top right hand corner and access it from there. Instead of having a pile of open windows crowding up your task bar they now do not show until you move the cursor to the top left hand corner and they pop out from the side of the screen in the form of tiles, pretty straight forward I think. If you are using a touch screen you can do the same as all you need to do is move your finger or stylus to the relevant side of the screen and simply drag towards the centre and the tiles pop out for use. For left mouse button function simply tap the screen, for right mouse button tap and hold for a sec and the menu appears. To close a window simply touch the top centre of the screen and drag towards the bottom. As for the big mistake in releasing this OS, better get used to it as it is where they are heading. I like it as does just about everyone else I know who is using the OS on a daily basis. Negative comments and postulations by those who are not using win 8 as an OS are about as useful as a poke in the eye with a stick and mostly totally irrelevant ranting. I find it very easy to navigate around and there are so many more possibilities whilst retaining access to all the important bits that were always a feature of previous windows OS, you are in no way locked out.

For those using CCDsoft V5 the cure for the problem opening the program (post#50) is straight forward. Download the latest .exe file in the form of a zip file (about 3 MB) from the SB support download page, extract and replace the existing .exe file in programs(x86) ---> software Bisque ---> CCDsoft. Once placed in the folder the right click on the new .exe file --->properties ---> check the tick box to run program as administrator. Works perfectly after that but a bit of a bother and Bisque really need to sort this out though they state it is the same problem they had when win7 was released, hmmm.

Mark