Windows 8 is a piece of crap!

[Funship32]

Well my good man, I could have told you that Win8 was a dog turd. After working in the IT industry for 25 years, I really wonder if MS had their heads up their collective a$$es when they released this. When I looked at it during their beta I thought to myself "this thing is a POS and what the hell is MS thinking that EVERYONE has a tablet? They don't!!" And quite honestly considering some of the people I support...well...I think an etch-a-sketch is more in order let alone a desktop or a tablet.

So if it is of ANY consolation, I'm hoping this is another MS odd series release misfire. They had win98 which was good, but tanked on Windows ME. Win2K was good and XP did get there after service pack 2 but missed the mark with Vista. Win7 is AWESOME IMO.

And for those of you who are still running XP- you can until April and at that point MS will no longer be releasing patches for it, so do yourself a favor and get with Win7. It really isn't that much different than XP (IMO) and you'll be glad you made the change. I know I am.

 

[themechanic]

Make WIN 8 look like WIN 7

http://gizmodo.com/5992807/how-to-make-windows-8-look-and-feel-like-windows-7

OR


[video=youtube;NMQEmL0Ev18]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NMQEmL0Ev18[/video]

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Well my good man, I could have told you that Win8 was a dog turd. After working in the IT industry for 25 years, I really wonder if MS had their heads up their collective a$$es when they released this. When I looked at it during their beta I thought to myself "this thing is a POS and what the hell is MS thinking that EVERYONE has a tablet? They don't!!" And quite honestly considering some of the people I support...well...I think an etch-a-sketch is more in order let alone a desktop or a tablet.

So if it is of ANY consolation, I'm hoping this is another MS odd series release misfire. They had win98 which was good, but tanked on Windows ME. Win2K was good and XP did get there after service pack 2 but missed the mark with Vista. Win7 is AWESOME IMO.

And for those of you who are still running XP- you can until April and at that point MS will no longer be releasing patches for it, so do yourself a favor and get with Win7. It really isn't that much different than XP (IMO) and you'll be glad you made the change. I know I am.

MS was trying to nudge users into using their new cross platform OS so we would buy Windows phones and tablets. I know no one owning any of those phones or tablets. I guess the idea didn't catch on.

Some laptops were sold with a downgrade option. Contact the seller to inquire.

 

[Funship32]

MS was trying to nudge users into using their new cross platform OS so we would buy Windows phones and tablets. I know no one owning any of those phones or tablets. I guess the idea didn't catch on.

MS tripped over their d**k IMO in trying to nudge anyone away from the standard that THEY CREATED. They were the ones that setup the start button in the lower left hand corner which was there since Windows 95. They also were the same ones that created the menu bar on their Office suite that held such favorites as Files, Tools, etc and which they did away with beginning with Office 2007 (they went to tabs) and created a mess in that arena.

I understand what MS wanted to do but they need to realize that the business environment is not the same as a teenagers Facebook/Instagram/Twitter environment. As the guy eluded to in the video - not everyone has a tablet or NEEDS a tablet. Yet they thought they knew better and once again they at good ol' Microsquish missed the mark by a large margin.

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I went from POS OS Windows ME you guys think Vista was bad, ME is/was just a crappier version of 95-98,

I actually talked to a couple of friends at MS that said the same thing about ME and basically admitted to me that ME was a marketing ploy by MS to tide people over until XP came out.

 

[themechanic]

Meanwhile the free OSs and applications keep getting easier and better. Tried Linux lately? Linux Mint on my 2000 Toshiba laptop runs faster than XP that came on it.

 

[MarPar]

Meanwhile the free OSs and applications keep getting easier and better. Tried Linux lately? Linux Mint on my 2000 Toshiba laptop runs faster than XP that came on it.

hmmmm...very interesting. what is the support like? are you limited in the programs you can install and run?

 

[Meep-Meep]

Windows 8.1 is awesome..

Mine works EXACTLY like Windows 7..

If you cannot work it out, you are probably OLD, Stubborn or a combination of the two.

Windows 8.1 Brings back the Start button, my pc boots direct to desktop..I NEVER, EVER use the Windows 8 Metro interface...EVER..

View attachment 159003

Clearly you felt the same as most did about Win 8 because you changed it to Win 8.1 to make it look like 7. I have two Win 7 machines and I have little to no issues with them. So in that regard I might call you old and stubborn as well for not accepting the Win 8 as you received it. In my case I'm in business to learn how to repair and balance the next new turbomolecular pump that comes to me from some lab from across the world. This leaves me with exactly zero time and interest to learn how to use my computer all over again.

 

[Doright]

I'm interested in learning more about Linux myself

 

[68GTX440]

Linux has some great features. I have and run 2 Linux servers and I have no where near the issues that MS has. I did some testing with open apps and got to around 150 programs running at the same time. You can't do this with MS and keep the overall speed and stability. If you have a program lock up unlike windows you can hit ctrl/alt/backspace and close the locked up program. MS you more than likely have to reboot the computer.
Some of the disadvantages are that some programs from MS won't run on linux, but they do have programs such as wine and others that will emulate and allow you to run MS programs easily but not all.

My main Pc almost every time an update is done you have to reboot the PC.
My linux computers has been up and running consistently including all the updates for 133 days with out a reboot. The last reboot was caused by a power loss in the neighborhood.
Keep in mind linux has upsides and downsides as does MS but it does run so much better and some people will only run linux only opposed to MS as they call it Microcrap.

Virus's: MS can get infected just by visiting a website and linux won't. At least when I have tested it by going to the same website that has infected a MS PC.
Stability: NO COMPARISON Linux has the best in stability hands down.
PC requirements: Of course the better the PC the better it will run but you can put the latest linux OS on an old 386 computer and it will run great. You can't do that with MS every update to OS you need more CPU Ram and hardware period. So I will leave it up to you on which way to go.

Do yo have an old PC laying around? If so most linux flavors are free to download, when the want to you pay for it, it is for the books and support, but you can always without a doubt find a newsgroup like our beloved FBBO with plenty of members that will not hesitate to give advice and support hands down.

My .02 worth

 

[MarPar]

so 68, what are Linux's downsides?

 

[68GTX440]

Marpar, the biggest down side is that if you like the games and or software that will ONLY run on MS.
Linux does have and is getting more and more like windows compared to what it used to be. Linux has a learning curve.
When I was first introduced to linux around 1997 it was still mostly command line based. Today it works real similar to MS but without the bloated BS that MS puts out. Installs of programs can be run from a special installer that most people are not used to. (but is easy) If you want to learn how to install things the way you want with only the features wanted you have to build the program, or just let the programmers built software get installed the way they build it. (which is the most common uses for the programs) If you have special needs for a program to do specific things you need to compile yourself. With that said I have specific needs that I want or need to run my servers so I try to compile myself but that requires a lot of reading to be able for it to do what I want. Nothing more and nothing less.

Now the plus sides are unlimited!!! I host websites for many people and mail servers for them and myself. (Because I choose to) I have full control of everything related to the servers.
We all get very limited spam in our emails (maybe 6 or 7 a month) with over 100 users. Sometimes the upkeep can be a little annoying but well worth it. I would love to drop windows completely but it does have
some ease of use at times.

Like I said before you will never know what you are missing with linux until you try it. If you have an old computer laying around install linux to it and see if you might like it. The cost for the OS is $0.00 unlike MS in which it will cost you $100.00 plus every time an updated system comes about. Plus all the hardware upgrades you MUST do every time to make it run better.

so 68, what are Linux's downsides?

 

[tallhair]

My son has a dual boot system. Linux and 8.1 for gaming

 

[themechanic]

hmmmm...very interesting. what is the support like? are you limited in the programs you can install and run?

The free versions have very thorough installation guides and online help in forums. I have not tried the retail Linux.

You can download the program to your PC, make an installation CD or DVD or thumb drive and boot to Linux on your media where you installed it to try it out. If you want, you can install it in place of your existing OS. Or, you can make it dual boot WIN and Linux. I highly recommend viewing the YouTube videos and trying Linux before you overwrite your existing OS.

Check out the top versions (called Distros) here: http://distrowatch.com/

Looks like Mint is still on top. More info and download here: http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php

 

[Doright]

OK alright I looked at that web sight one any way and I ran across this page http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/100 witch to me looks like a bunch of DOS stuff ?

I'm not all up on computer code stuff like that my head is full of SABER ugggggg I really don't want to use a program like that is that what Linux is all about or is it like windows? I dunno nothing about it I have just heard rummer and stuff but never did any real research on the subject I can fix computers even trouble shoot inside of chips but I don't know know squat about operating programs or writing programs heck I'm not even any good at HTML code. That being said is Linix right for me?


I went back reading more of that 5 min tutorial, I need to just fix one of these old computers and down load it on one of them and play with it like you said.

I don't have enough to do or hobby's I guess but Let me ask you this first will my ADOBE publishing collection programs work with it? and what the heck does this mean?

What is a Torrent ?
What is Torrent client?
What is a download mirror?
What is MD5?
I take it ISO means the Operating system?
I obviously have a lot of reading to do to play with this one me thinks.

Installation of Linux Mint
Download the ISO
Via Torrent
Install a Torrent client
Download the Torrent file
Via a download mirror
Read the Release Notes
Check the MD5
Burn the ISO to CD
Boot the LiveCD
Install Linux Mint on your Hard Drive
The Boot sequence

Like you said lots of reading & no one said it was easier to use did they?

 

[themechanic]

If you watch Linux Mint in action on YouTube you will notice the similarity with Windows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rlla3E_nChA

The ISO file is a complete disc image of the installation files. Once downloaded, you burn the image to a CD (or DVD in this case). Windows can accomplish this or there are many free programs on the internet. This creates a bootable installation DVD which will offer you the option of running from the DVD or full installation.

The torrent is peer to peer means of downloading the over 1 gigabyte file. If you don't have or want to spend the time learning how to use torrent download then go here and buy a CD for $10: http://on-disk.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=70

Download the Linux Mint User Guide file and read it. It will answer many of your questions: http://www.linuxmint.com/documentation.php

Be sure to check the supported hardware list before you decide which version of Linux Mint you want to use. If you are running Windows Vista, 7, or * any version should be compatible. http://community.linuxmint.com/hardware

 

[modernistsouth]

Microsoft really hasn't advanced beyond this...

 

[tallhair]

View attachment 159437
Microsoft really hasn't advanced beyond this...

That's funny and I recall those days well!

 

[440ronnie67]

its taking some time for me to get comfortable with it. I still think xp is the way to go but unfortunately we have to change with the times.

 

[68GTX440]

Remember MS still runs from DOS it is just hidden very well. I don't thing they will ever get away from it completely! I have been using windows since version 3. What is sad is they get an OS to work very well and decide to drop it for what they think is better. 95 was ok then XP and it was pretty damn good. Then ME and that sucked, then Vista and that really sucked and then 7 Wow pretty good and now 8. Age has nothing to do with liking it or not!!1 the bottom line it SUCKS period. 8.1 just hides some of the bullsh@t, it is still there just like DOS it is hidden from you. 8.1 is just a modified version of 8 so that they can try to get more people on board. Kinda like our guberment and Ofailcare.

 

[67GTX440]

I have been running Windows 8 in a non-touchscreen laptop for about 4 months. Once I installed Windows Classic Shell, it works fine for me. Not much reason for Windows 8 unless you plan on using the touchscreen. Just the change to the new laptop was also a challenge, but at this point I never pick up my old laptop with Windows 7 or the one with Windows Vista.

Classic Shell restores the old start button. It is free. It also helps to disable the screen corner menu activation so you don't have unwanted menus popping up all the time.

http://classicshell.net/

I read that most ATM's run on XP and the banking industry is scrambling as Windows XP support is about to end.

 

[roadrunnerron]

Don't forget the hardware. All MS systems run better with more RAM. My current system came with Vista and 0.5 GIG of RAM and it kept getting slower and slower and slower. Windows 7 requires 1 GIG. When I upgraded my machine to Windows 7, I increased to 5 GIG for 60 bucks and the system works great.

An IT guy once told me to get the biggest bad-assed hardware that you budget will allow. Wish I'd remembered that and spent $40 more and gone to 10 GIG.