Opinions on Windows 8

thescouselander

So I'm looking to replace my ageing Macbook with a new laptop of some description. I am seriously thinking about returning to the world of Microsoft as on the face of it the Windows 8 UI looks a lot more modern than OS X - I actually quite like the idea of it.

That said, I havent actually used windows 8 so I was wondering what other people's experience of it was. Also how does it compare to OS X in practice?

penrhyn

With Windows 8 Microsoft are having a larf!
In reality its Window 7, with a full screen start page. Click on almost anything and you are taken straight back to a normal windows style desktop.
What apps there are are 99% rubbish,don't work in a resizable window and can only be opened one at at time.
The biggest balls up to date was the Norad tracks Santa app which would not work at all.
To quote the famous French philosopher Rene, its the dinner of a dog.

FWIW I am running windows 8.

I suggest you pop down to your local PC Dixons Curry World and having fought off the sales youf have a good play with it.

bengalknights

Personall i would stick with Windows 7 as 8 seems more tablet orientated

thescouselander

Thanks, I'll definitely go and have a play myself before committing any hard earn't cash.

I'm not sure I'm interested in Windows 7. This is just my opinion but I think the old desktop interfaces are living on borrowed time. I think MS are going in the right direction with their new UI but it will be very disappointing if it has been badly implemented.

prowla

Give Windows 8 a try and you will be laughing at how rubbish it is.
Every action that could be achieved now flips through screens and takes more actions to achieve.
The UI is a shambolic mix of tablet, phone and PC styles, with a discoordinated jumble of clicks, taps, hot keys, and gestures that don't map well onto using a mouse.
The control panels/dialogs are a mixture of the pastel lozenge home screen, dialogs consistent with the older Windows desktop, dialogs in the new Metro style, and a very large text panel that sweeps in from the right.
The built-in apps are single tasking DOS-like full screen displays that don't have a close box.
The user interface has no configurable options and any 3D and transparency effects have been removed, so you have to stick with windows that have thick flat plain colour borders.
The only thing good about it is that it boots quicker than previous versions - the rest is a retrograde step.
Also, IMHO, it looks old-fashioned.
In reviewing it I would recommend trying to (a) read a PDF document, and (b) shutting down.
It is the worst operating system Microsoft have released.

penrhyn

It doesn't play well with Norton Internet Security 2013 ( yes I know all the arguments, so don't mock!)either. There is some sort of bug that stops you from doing manual scans unless you log out and back in again.
Took me a few minutes to figure how to do that! ( Bring up start screen, click on user icon click of sign out)
I'm not alone as its been brought up on the Norton Forums.

I would agree the quick boot up and shut down is its best feature.

Handsome90

I haven't used Windows 8 personally but the look of it, Mac OS X Lion/Mountain Lion is a lot better! I guess BBC Click reviewed it perfectly in this review http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9763977.stm

penrhyn

Handsome90 wrote: »

I haven't used Windows 8 personally but the look of it, Mac OS X Lion/Mountain Lion is a lot better! I guess BBC Click reviewed it perfectly in this review http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9763977.stm

Thats for that, anyone know Steve Ballmers' email address so I can let him know what a pile of poo Windows 8 is, O wait they sacked/retired the bloke responsible for the development so I guess he knows.

thescouselander

Handsome90 wrote: »

I haven't used Windows 8 personally but the look of it, Mac OS X Lion/Mountain Lion is a lot better! I guess BBC Click reviewed it perfectly in this review http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9763977.stm

Interesting review. It looks like Windows 8 it pretty immature as a technology. I'll still have a go myself though.

Hammer_Slammer

thescouselander wrote: »

Interesting review. It looks like Windows 8 it pretty immature as a technology. I'll still have a go myself though.

As you said give it a go yourself...For the record im a ex mac owner and windows 8 is refreshing as it moves a dated in my eyes os to something more modern.

Anyway Im pretty happy i moved after many years using macs.