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NFT: So, About Windows 8

RicFlair : 9/15/2014 4:54 pm
or 8.1 that is.

As soon as I dish out some dough to get an external hard drive to make sure I back up everything I will either be going to Windows 7 64 bit, or windows 8.1 32 bit.

I have 4gb of ram I am wasting by running 32 bit right now. I am hesitant to move to 8.1 because of all the bad things I hear about it.

how does everyone here feel about it? is it really not all that bad? possibly even better than 7? my computer networking professor highly advises to use the newest operating system available.

thanks for your responses.
.  
RicFlair : 9/15/2014 4:59 pm : link
I also think I may have to get a new usb wireless adapter, i don't think mine has drivers for windows 8.

that annoys me.
It's going  
EricNY33 : 9/15/2014 5:03 pm : link
to take awhile to get used to but once you do I think you're going to like it. 8.1 is much better than what 8 itself was. They made it much more desktop/laptop friendly with the update to 8.1. 8 was made for touchscreen devices.
I have no problems with windows 8.1 at all  
ballanda : 9/15/2014 5:05 pm : link
If you do, then install StarDock's "Start8" and/or "ModernMix" products. They make Windows 8.1 more user friendly for people who still want the more familiar Windows 7 elements (i.e. classic start menu, and non-fullscreen option for modern Windows apps).

Also be aware that Windows 9 will be unveiled this month, and will be bringing back (by popular demand) the classic start menu and windowed apps. That will get rid of all t.he hate for 8.1.
.  
RicFlair : 9/15/2014 5:22 pm : link
So I'll probably end up getting 8.1, luckily for me it's free through my school. but i now gotta get some cash for an external hard drive and a new usb wireless adapter.





unless this old ass linksys compact wireless g usb adapter (wusb54gc) will still work, but i dont know.
RE: I have no problems with windows 8.1 at all  
Stan from LA : 9/15/2014 5:24 pm : link
In comment 11864755 ballanda said:
Quote:
If you do, then install StarDock's "Start8" and/or "ModernMix" products. They make Windows 8.1 more user friendly for people who still want the more familiar Windows 7 elements (i.e. classic start menu, and non-fullscreen option for modern Windows apps).

Also be aware that Windows 9 will be unveiled this month, and will be bringing back (by popular demand) the classic start menu and windowed apps. That will get rid of all t.he hate for 8.1.


The spec is that Windows 9 appears to be a free upgrade for 8.1(as of now). I have a new 8.1 computer and waiting for a 9.0 upgrade to start using it.
I like it a lot  
santacruzom : 9/15/2014 5:55 pm : link
There have been times in which I've remotely supported a client's Windows 7 machine and missed some of Windows 8's features. I very rarely use the Metro interface and therefore don't feel inconvenienced by it.

The improved task manager in itself is huge for me. I also like its file copying improvements, and I like how both of my monitors can have their own taskbar. Minor things, but I'd miss them if they were gone.
and  
santacruzom : 9/15/2014 5:56 pm : link
I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a driver for your USB wireless, or if Windows 8 didn't just recognize it without any intervention from you. It's handled everything I've added to it.
Okay...  
Dan in the Springs : 9/15/2014 6:05 pm : link
so I hated Windows 8. Hated it. Made sure I bought a Windows 7 machine maxed out so I would be able to delay a Windows 8 purchase as long as possible.

My PC at work was on XP, and since Windows retired support for that edition everyone got switched to brand-new Windows 8.1 machines.

I was actually looking forward to the machine upgrade, because I heard that 8.1 was an improvement over 8, and because my XP machine was so old, I figured it would be much more effective.

Turns out the new machine sucks - but I'm not sure it's Windows. I'm pretty sure the machine is underpowered. The issue I'm having is typical for a machine that doesn't have enough memory to properly function.

Why do I share this with you here?

My machine has 4GB of RAM, just like yours.

The good people at Microsoft recommend only 2 GB of ram running 64 bit (see link), but I'm telling you mine gets bogged down pretty heavy if I have a Chrome browser open with multiple tabs, Acrobat Pro and try to open Microsoft Word. And by bogged down, I meanwhere I basically sit for several minutes waiting for the PC to respond and ultimately get warnings from the machine that software is not responding.

My workload has not changed - in fact, I was doing more on my XP machine this summer with better results, and that machine had (unbelievably) 1GB of RAM on it.

So, I think Windows 8.1 is a memory hog and if you want to "upgrade" to it, I'd recommend more like 12 GB of RAM before giving it a shot.
Windows 8 requirements - ( New Window )
Ric  
Dave in Buffalo : 9/15/2014 6:14 pm : link
am hesitant to move to 8.1 because of all the bad things I hear about it.

how does everyone here feel about it? is it really not all that bad?


I jut went through your very same struggle. Here was my solution...



Just got mine the other day, and I'm quite happy. Have no desire to deal with 8.


Link - ( New Window )
it works just like your phone  
oipolloi : 9/16/2014 12:05 am : link
everything is apps. you can't close programs by clicking out of them you just swish to the next program

it can be annoying until you get used to it. if you actually mastered how the system operates, it would probably be more effective. but it takes time

but it seems like the wave of the future. i don't think they are going back to the old format, so you might as well start using it. I definitely would not "upgrade" to a Windows 7 OS
It's fine.  
Davisian : 9/16/2014 12:15 am : link
You'll get used to it.


But more importantly, how's the Bing area holding up without me?

Please send spiedies and real pizza?

RE: Ric  
santacruzom : 9/16/2014 2:44 am : link
In comment 11864889 Dave in Buffalo said:
Quote:
am hesitant to move to 8.1 because of all the bad things I hear about it.

how does everyone here feel about it? is it really not all that bad?

I jut went through your very same struggle. Here was my solution...



Just got mine the other day, and I'm quite happy. Have no desire to deal with 8.
Link - ( New Window )


5400 rpm HD?

I'd be replacing that ASAP.
RE: It's fine.  
WeatherMan : 9/16/2014 3:22 am : link
In comment 11865745 Davisian said:
Quote:
You'll get used to it.


But more importantly, how's the Bing area holding up without me?

Please send spiedies and real pizza?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no such thing as real pizza outside of the northeast. Enjoy the ganja you may, but a good slice is not to be found in CO.
I'm liking Windows 8...  
SHO'NUFF : 9/16/2014 4:26 am : link
took about 15-30 minutes to dig around and get used to it...the people complaining about it don't know what they're talking about and are resistant to change.
I really like 8.1  
Bockman : 9/16/2014 7:35 am : link
You'll also like cold booting in about 5 seconds.

I've never had it crash and its smooth as butter.
thanks for the responses  
RicFlair : 9/16/2014 8:09 am : link
and davisian,

what is your favorite pizza around here, my girlfriend moved up here last year from staten island and only has 1 or 2 places she actually enjoys pizza from.
So long as you don't use it as it was designed...  
UAGiant : 9/16/2014 8:32 am : link
Its fine.

Just throw Start8 or Classic Shell on it, have the Start button returned and force it to stay in desktop mode and you should basically have Win7 with a few bells and whistles added to it.

That said, Metro UI may be one of the biggest misses from a company in recent history. Can't crack 3% of the phone market with your mobile OS? Why not marginalize anyone using Windows on a laptop or desktop for productivity and have a mobile OS (complete with awful multi-tasking) completely bog them down in hopes that they'll adopt your phones no one wants!
Start button?  
SHO'NUFF : 9/16/2014 2:56 pm : link
who needs a Start button??? freaking amateurs... lol...j/k
I loved Windows 7  
Knineteen : 9/16/2014 3:35 pm : link
and recently jumped to 8.1.

I have no clue what the complaints are about. 8.1 can be made to look very similar to 7. The price difference between 7 and 8.1 is minimal. It makes sense to go 8.1 and get the 3 extra years of life cycle coverage.

Install and boot-up are seamless. However, I do agree that Microsoft broke a few things that were working fine...mainly the Start button. Unfathomable how anyone thought this was a good idea.
Windows 9  
Jim in Fairfax : 9/16/2014 4:21 pm : link
Is being unveiled at a press conference Sept. 30th. Reportedly will include the return of the Start button and also the ability to run Metro apps inside a window.
Ric,  
Davisian : 9/16/2014 11:14 pm : link
For round pie, I liked Nick's, Tony's and Consol's..

For square, Jim Roma's, Nirchi's and Cortese..


Weather, I know!.. But the only solace is, the mexican food here is fuckin toit!
She didn't really like Consols.  
RicFlair : 9/17/2014 7:50 am : link
She liked Nicks up until we got take out from there that took 45 minutes after the pickup time, and then had multiple hairs in the food.

I don't think she's had Tony's, I love Tony's though great place.

She likes Kristophers though.
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