Windows 8

scooby359

DavidT wrote: »

Even weirder as the upgrade does not verify anything it is perfectly possible to upgrade "illegal" copies of XP/7 to a legal W8 Pro version. Very difficult to believe MS aren't fully aware of this and perhaps even made it deliberately so.

It's possible Microsoft realised that the masses aren't prepared to pay £100 plus for an OS upgrade anymore when there's so much competition from Apple and all the free Linux varieties, not to mention the ease of obtaining pirated copies of Windows.

Better to have lots of people paying a small amount than no one paying large amounts.

RobTang

prowla wrote: »

I don't hate it, but I do not see why I should be dragged away from the desktop to a different user interface and possibly scroll sideways a couple of pages in order to run an app on the desktop that I was just at, and which I could just run in-situ in the previous version of the OS.

The new interface makes it more difficult to do my work, and for that reason it is a retrograde step.

And I don't see why I should be constrained to a menu that only takes up 10% of the desktop esp when i'm not at anything else.
My attention is already dragged away.

I can pin, 25ish programs to the win7 start menu, the win 8 on a 1080p monitor you get 72 tiles.
Anything else you need to search or scroll. So on the classic start menu I need to start scrolling before I will need to on the win 8 start menu.

And when I do scroll the pages have more results and clearer then the tiny box in the classic start menu.
However I am willing to admit that sideways scrolling is a million times harder then scrolling down. Besides using the search is a lot quicker in both.

And so what if you have multiple applications, so do I and no problem starting, VS2012, Eclipse, Photoshop, SSMS, RapidSQL, multiple tectia terminals, RDP, IIS MMC, Office apps, web consoles, build consoles, BMC's suite of tools.

Has it really made my job more difficult, nope... even if it did by say 100% worse, I spent 2 mins a day launching apps, rather then 1 min.

And so what if its inconsistent between 2 types of apps (reg vs meto) ... ALL of the applications I use on the desktop have inconstant UIs between each other (ok eclipse based tools are similar) but its not really a massive problem.













And its not you're going to use metro apps on a desktop for your normal work anyway... which just leaves the start menu which doesn't have anything to be inconsistent against.

I do admit the difference between metro and desktop apps is jarring on the other I do like having my cake and eating it so I can let it slide.

denwhatshisname

Theres enough free classic shell apps to replace the start button in win8.
Getting rid of the metro ui is easy enough as well.
Basically its there to try to make the pc/tablet/phone idea come to life - same UI on different devices.

chunter

I could see two completely different windows op systems developing. a lot of the bus community only moving from Xp to win 7 now.

I don't think they have any inclination to move to an apple type app interface. Nor have I. Maybe there will actually be a reason for "PRO" and "HOME" in the future.

martin57

1 Just wondering is it easy to create a backup copy of the download?

Is it in ISO form so easy to open in Nero and make a DVD?

2 Thanks for tip about promotion getting 8 for £15, but what are they chances they will run a check on this and maybe invalidate a users copy of windows 8 and maybe even thier previous copy of windows 7?

Thanks for any replies.
martin57

NiftyDigits

martin57 wrote: »

1 Just wondering is it easy to create a backup copy of the download?

Is it in ISO form so easy to open in Nero and make a DVD?

2 Thanks for tip about promotion getting 8 for £15, but what are they chances they will run a check on this and maybe invalidate a users copy of windows 8 and maybe even thier previous copy of windows 7?

Thanks for any replies.
martin57

You get the choice to make a disc or to create a Bootable USB drive.

None.

prowla

It looks to me like that offer is specifically for "qualified PCs", and so it could be disabled at any point in time if they decide you haven't met the terms and are just trying to diddle them.

custardy

prowla wrote: »

It looks to me like that offer is specifically for "qualified PCs", and so it could be disabled at any point in time if they decide you haven't met the terms and are just trying to diddle them.

possible,its a risk people take i suppose
though I personally think they would have tightened the procedure if that was the case

prowla

custardy wrote: »

possible,its a risk people take i suppose
though I personally think they would have tightened the procedure if that was the case

Sure - they may or may not go through the exercise at some point. I remember some time back there was an offer surfaced with free Technet memberships, and the keys stopped working after a couple of years.

But the fact is that the form clearly states that is it an upgrade for the purchase of a new PC and requires you to enter the date of the transaction; if you lie on that then you are obtaining the discount by deceit and so don't have a valid licence. It only allows dates in 2012/2013.

The eligibility details that you agree to state:

Eligibility Details

The offer is for customers (e.g. home users, students, and enthusiasts) who purchase a qualified PC. A qualified PC is a new PC purchased during the promotional period with a valid Windows 7 OEM Certificate of Authenticity and product key for, and preinstalled with:

• Windows 7 Home Basic;
• Windows 7 Home Premium;
• Windows 7 Professional; or
• Windows 7 Ultimate.

The promotional price is limited to one upgrade offer per qualified PC purchased, and a maximum limit of five upgrade offers per customer.

And within these dates:

Key Dates

You must purchase a qualifying Windows 7 PC between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013 to be eligible for this offer. The last day to register and order your Windows 8 upgrade is 28 February 2013.

Of course, the term "new" is a bit open-ended, as your "new" machine could be pre-owned.

I bought a "new" laptop with Windows 7 a couple of months back, and I may see if it qualifies, just so I've got another key in my toolbox if I need it.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The protection seems to be the fact that it devours the existing key. Example Win7pro used to be £170 now about £100 - put a £25 Win8 upgrade on it and you lose your £170 Win7pro key.

It does this at source and instantly :

- you can't install 8 clean or upgrade on a 'wonkey' key
- when validated your old key is 'gone' from their dBASE

Either way they've already taken a key out of circulation.