Drew

Banned
Joined
Mar 25, 2006
Messages
3,574
I have a lot of empathy & understanding for my colleagues in the Forum. However, I realise as new folks keep coming to the forum, we must persevere. The point of a forum, as we see it, the aim, is to help people, guide, instruct, offer some insight & enlightenment & maybe, even fix something... or promote keeping things from breaking. One of the most important, take-aways in computing is to be proactive rather than & more than reactive.

Certainly, civil, healthy, mature, respectful discussion is good & welcomed, also.

There may be some variation on defining "debate". And this is were my peers find things "get old"... and I can see their rational. I was on the Debate Club many, many moons ago. Debate, by definition, meant stating a supported idea that, therefore, had credit & merit. Therefore, the other party would pay heed & give due, thoughtful, consideration and evaluation, compared to their own take on things, up to that point. From there could be sound & decent conversation, arriving at a conclusion or understanding or new understanding.

That said, when we grow accustom to 'debate' where there is no open ear, no open-mindedness, there's been heaps of that, already. 'Debate' & prejudice don't play well together. To define prejudice... not that it isn't ok to dislike something or criticise it but, that the mind is, already, absolutely, decided... that's not debate. That's banging your head against a brick wall. That's frustrating.

I'll say this just as an objective, observation. My colleagues, know, as a Beta Tester, I can and must be objective. It would do the development of a product no good, @ all, if testers & builders did not, equally look @ all aspects, be they felt to be good or bad.

It did not take long, @ all, to discover & learn Windows8
In some cases numbers in Win8 are better than prior, in some not. To most folks the differential in specs won't matter or be noticed, consciously. The are huge technical changes, additions & enhancements in Windows8. Most people won't notice or care... or maybe not. Point is, it will vary, both in magnitude & in what ways. But, no matter, fact is, there is, indeed & in fact some amazing & impressive technology in Win8. However, there is no obligation to adopt it October 2012. But, remember, life is a continuum. IF, not October, for someone, for some reason, @ some point, the time may come.

A big par of things is human nature... many humans don't take well to change, period, it's just a reality. It's a truism, that , actually, that's what rears its ugly head every time an OS is released. Yet, I liked XP better than Win 98; there were likable (new) things, approaches to things in Vista... I beta tested Vista for a year and both praise it an razed it. Windows7 which, I beta tested for a year was much better. Nothing is perfect and perfect is subjective. People get perfect & ideal twisted. A person thinks something isn't perfect because it doesn't meet their ideal. When Microsoft builds an OS, people forget, it is w/ a global view, it is for billions, not for you in the sense that you cannot please everyone all the time or all @ the same time. This concept gets severely forgotten. Not it is not perfect & no, everybody is not going to like everything about it all the time. To expect otherwise is 100% silly. To accept something, to discover it, learn it is not a bad thing. It may be different, to whatever degree, it may be new but, it IS.

All my colleagues (& I) feel is has little value to bash things or whine & complain. it is better to add a "yeah but". Yeah but, what could I enjoy or smile about, what could I use or do, even, if, it's instead of something that was? Yeah but, can I talk about alternatives, workarounds, how tos... yeah but, how do I do things, where are they, what is there to learn, know & discover. It comes down to attitude & not having a predetermined chip on ones shoulder. There's better time spent than sticking pins in a Bill Gates doll. It won't help anything. And we here are glad to be helpful. That is not possible & is nothing but, frustrating, if, it falls on deaf ears.

I had been studying Win8 since before BUILD on Sept. 14, 2011. I sat through, attentively all the Presentation @ BUILD. I worked w/ the DP; reported to the Windows8 Build Team. I worked w/ the CP. I started Beta Testing when the CP was released and have continued w/ the RP. I have been running Win8 non-stop since 29/2/12. I have gained a lot of respect, awareness & appreciation for it. There have been many things I have praised to the Win8 Build Team AND many things I have faulted, many things I have requested & suggested. Everything backed up w/ details, data & examples so, it's believable, accurate & clear.

As for debate... some, many who are not in IT or Enterprise, say business will hate Windows8. Corporate sources are saying the opposite. Some say youth will love it... nobody questions that one. Some say the elderly & or XP Users will hate it... the irony is most of those in the forums, who are keen on Win8 & took to it easily & quickly are older folks.

But, the irony does not stop there. We hear people say it is hard to navigate... it is easier & more efficient than Windows7. We feel, ask, instead of grumble. It, can't be all that, otherwise so many people would not like it so much AND THEY DO! We do get tired of people fussing about the Start screen because that is so very silly & groundless. Many of us never, even, use of visit it. People say things like you have to contend w/ a million tiles & scroll for days... none of which, is true.

Just listen & be willing to take from others & re-evaluate & adjust & forget comparing... why? Of course it's different... and in 3 more years there will be another different OS.

I don't often or usually write this much, my fingers are tiring. We'd love to help, (debate, not, too, sure why, makes people nervous what is meant by that), discuss, have people willing to listen & think about what others might know or perceive (differently from them). Be willing to revisited certain notions.

A mountainous amount of investigative research, surveys, feedback, testing & questionnaires came before Windows8. The idea that it was blindly & stubbornly shoved @ the world is rubbish! The efforts to know what people both in & out of business want & need, will like, understand & use OR NOT has been & is & will continue to be huge.

Yep, Microsoft want to be successful. That doesn't make it a terrible company. It is the fundament raison d'etre of any business or entrepreneur. Yep, they need to bother w/ the changing landscape in IT. no question that means mobility... phones, tablets, et al. The workplace, the workforce is getting more mobile all the time. Computers are everywhere, classrooms, homes, offices, in the stands @ an event, in your hand on the bus. Things keep changing... Microsoft are not idiots or weird for trying & wanting to stay in pace w/ that. There will, still, be a huge place taken up by conventional, non-Touch DESKTOP PCs & laptops. It is a huge thing that Microsoft has made an OS that will work on ALL devices... harmony & syncing & consistency. It is a huge thing that Windows8 does not need super-robust or new gear. Those are not bad things. We are going to adapt, like it or not, to OUR changing times... the future is not going to wait while, some people cry about what WAS in XP.

Finally, please try to sympathise... we have heard a lot of false things suggested, we tire of being made to feel like we talk but, to uninterested ears. We've been there, done that, have the T-shirt. It was a new read for us, too, excitedly we perused & pursued it Though, @ the end of the day, we know how good & how sensible & easy Windows8 is. So, it is tough when we are, only, told it's horrid & we are missing something because, somehow we've come to know it is not horrid, dumb or difficult... no matter how many times or ways we repeat the actual, reality & facts. It is not a matter of debating who or what is right or wrong. It is a matter of what is in hand, the here & now and having a good, pleasant, productive User Experience w/ Windows8.

Regards,
Drew
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Excuse me... it's more than what may be on Start but, yes, same content as Win+Q The created folder just means not changing screens, can open the folder whilst, staying on Desktop.

Drew
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Hey, I'll admit it... I'm going to back-pedal. Since, there is Windows Explorer @ the Bottom-Left Corner and Libraries in the Desktop Toolbar... I agree, there is no need to have Libraries folder pinned.

2nd; nice as it is not to flip screens and much as I have liked the Applications (folder) shortcut... There has always been the nuisance of setting up the Applications folder following a Boot. I suppose, instead of bothering w/ that (ritual), >Win+Q when, one wants or needs something, is maybe the lesser of 2 evils... & yes, nice layout. Still, nice as a Taskbar folder, if, could get it display better & w/out manipulation.

Ergo, both the Libraries or an Applications folder need not be on the Taskbar. Thanks for bringing that to the fore.

Ride on, guys

But, I will stand firm that there is great value in using the Desktop Toolbar... it really facilitates and expedites getting to many things... besides what it offers, by default, includes adding to it, going forward, & even, w/out having displayed icons (on the desktop).

Cheers,
Drew
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This is exactly the type of user Win 8 was designed for; Multimedia, and social networking. When it comes to the professional field then I am sorry to say that Win 8 will be a flop just like millennium and vista.


Speed is not the only criteria for a good OS.
 
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There is also no need to have control panel pinned as one user in this thread had.

To quick access CP, move the cursor down to the bottom left and wait for the show metro icon to appear. Right click on that and you'l see a list of commonly used admin tools, one of which is the control panel.
 
My Windows7 is just as fast as it ever was... guess there's an exception to everything.

No, agreed, due to the bottom-left menu, not need to pin CP. Also, the is a CP via Desktop Toolbar that gives not only CP & the 'modern' categories but, all the CP items listed the as, us old farts are accustomed.

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And, actually, even, if, it's hard for anyone to imagine, business likes Windows8.

Cheers,
Drew
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I partially agree, lol. Windows 8 is planned, as freely admitted, towards portable devices with the use of a touchpad. But I agree with you, with reserve. If it is the intention for Microsoft, software writers, and even users, to go Metro, then something will have to be done regarding the present full screen presentation of Metro Apps. I do quite a lot of multi tasking in text issues, but I can see that those into anything to do with graphics, or more advanced occupations, can have a prohibitive problem with this. But for me, and for the time being, I find the small , (imo) , increase in performance is enough to make me move forward to Windows 8. The facilities are just a matter of getting used to different navigation and usage.

My interjection in this thread was mainly to support Shane's remarks regarding the better use of the Metro Start Menu.

Shane. You might be interested in my Start screen. The example is a little overcrowded, as I have only just been demonstrating it to another.


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Nick, I'm just letting folks know what's available. It's always subjective & personal preference, @ the end of the day. You think that listing is long?... ever seen God Mode? LOL

Cheers,
Drew
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My Metro Start, mind everyone I'm still getting all my files and programs back since I moved from Win 7. I did a clean install of Win8 so this screen will be fuller and have many more groups and programs later. I just thought I'd share how my start screen looks.

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Yup just as it should be; Win 8 is a social media oriented OS and definitely not for professional use! Cute colours, limited intuition and perfect for smart phones and tablets.
 
Yup just as it should be; Win 8 is a social media oriented OS and definitely not for professional use! Cute colours, limited intuition and perfect for smart phones and tablets.
Here is this same comment, again (& again). Keep seeing it tossed into threads...doesn't seem to matter as to the, actual, topic being discussed... kind of a 1-size-fits-all line that I keep seeing tossed about.

It has, already, been well refuted, several times & a few locations.

Cheers,
Drew
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Here's another. No particular reason these tiles are there... guess I just got lazy... usually remove them as fast as I get them. As long as I don't have enough to have to scroll

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Cheers,
Drew
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I use some office software without any problems, Windows 8 can be made to look professional by removing the tiles and just leaving all windows programs. I don't see any reason why anyone would have problems with using basically the same programs that is for Win7 on Win 8.
And I'm not a social networking user by far, I barley check my facebook every few weeks. You can probably call me a power user geared toward entertainment features more then anything.
 
I know you mean well so let us see What happens to Win8. Something tells me that it will go the way of Vista when it comes to PCs. Care to wager? (you should check the internet and see all the bad publicity it is getting and rightly so). I shall not bother you any more on this subject so let us wait and see!
 
The Win8 score is actually worse than the Win7 score. Win8 scores on a scale of 1 to 10 and Win7 scores on a scale of 1 to 8. So the three tenth of a point your score went up is not really much.
 
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The Win8 score is actually worse than the Win7 score. Win8 scores on a scale of 1 to 10 and Win7 scores on a scale of 1 to 8. So the three tenth of a point your score went up is not really much.

Yea I did happen to notice that recently, If anything I am glad I didn't get any lower or worse scores. If everything lives up to my expectations then I can be happy. And believe me, I'm a stickler when it come to performance. If a video or game doesn't run smooth I'll sit there for hours and try to make it better. And if my stuff didn't run better or just as good as it did on Win 7 then I would have already switched back.