Windows 8, is it all that?

[Puppies04]

Originally Posted by Rvenger

Clearly one of the reasons why Windows 8 is not doing so well adoption wise is because people don't want to upgrade an OS that is only 3.5 years old.

Another is the vast majority of any windows versions uptake is from new machines and there just isn't the need to buy a new laptop every 2 years anymore. A 4 year old machine is more than adequate for what most people want it to do now days.

Oh and don't forget there is a recession on and people just aren't blowing money they don't really have on new tech anymore (unless you count apple sheep)

[Red Squirrel]

I saw someone installing windows 8 today, and holy crap, what ever happened to the simplified install that windows 7 was?

Need an account for this account for that, WTF? Why should a desktop operating system be so tied in with the internet? I noticed game consoles are like this now too, WTF is going on these days? This concept is just so terrible. We should not be forced to tie our product to an account and have it store stuff on the internet. That should be an option that you can enable later.

What if you tried to install this on a non internet PC?

I'm going to have to install this myself in a VM to experience for myself how truly terrible it is. I will admit, it looks like it could be neat for specific applications, like a kiosk or home automation display or something. I'm really not a fan of anything that ties so much with the internet though. The internet should be a separate feature that's there if I need to access it, but an OS or program should not be constantly depending on it's presense. Bad design, from a functionality and privacy point of view.

[C1]

I would agree. This has been building up for quite a while. Many apps wont even install without internet connectivity availability. Connectivity allows monitoring ones use as well as it (ie the app) can be disabled remotely.

MS also has been pushing for years to basically just rent you its stuff. Corporations ultimately prefer an assured monthly or annual income stream.

[lxskllr]

Originally Posted by Red Squirrel

I saw someone installing windows 8 today, and holy crap, what ever happened to the simplified install that windows 7 was?

Need an account for this account for that, WTF? Why should a desktop operating system be so tied in with the internet? I noticed game consoles are like this now too, WTF is going on these days? This concept is just so terrible. We should not be forced to tie our product to an account and have it store stuff on the internet. That should be an option that you can enable later.

What if you tried to install this on a non internet PC?

I'm going to have to install this myself in a VM to experience for myself how truly terrible it is. I will admit, it looks like it could be neat for specific applications, like a kiosk or home automation display or something. I'm really not a fan of anything that ties so much with the internet though. The internet should be a separate feature that's there if I need to access it, but an OS or program should not be constantly depending on it's presense. Bad design, from a functionality and privacy point of view.

I don't remember the previews being especially bad. You could skip over any account stuff. I'm sure an account is necessary to use the market though, and I don't like that. I should be able to use the programs of my choice anonymously, and not have to be afraid of MS changing/deleting programs when they choose. I don't like being tied that tightly to the web either. All it does is cause problems, and hides the DRM from users so they become more complacent.

[readymix]

Originally Posted by Red Squirrel

I saw someone installing windows 8 today, and holy crap, what ever happened to the simplified install that windows 7 was?

Need an account for this account for that, WTF? Why should a desktop operating system be so tied in with the internet? I noticed game consoles are like this now too, WTF is going on these days? This concept is just so terrible. We should not be forced to tie our product to an account and have it store stuff on the internet. That should be an option that you can enable later.

What if you tried to install this on a non internet PC?

.

down at the bottom where it say's "skip" you click. just like so much freeware that likes to add menu bars and such unless you "skip"

[poohbear]

the one thing that makes me hesitate so much is that i'm not sure how much support & attention Win8 is gonna be getting from all the big hardware manufacturers & software developers. Seriously if only 1.7% of the population has this OS, why release regular updates and workhours to something that's hardly gonna be seen by the vast majority of users? AND that 1.7% is when the OS was heavily discounted @ $39.99! Therefore i imagine the quality of drivers and software support on Win7 to be of higher quality and reliability than Win8. That's the common sense outlook anyways, we'll see how it pans out....

[Mem]

Originally Posted by poohbear

the one thing that makes me hesitate so much is that i'm not sure how much support & attention Win8 is gonna be getting from all the big hardware manufacturers & software developers. Seriously if only 1.7% of the population has this OS, why release regular updates and workhours to something that's hardly gonna be seen by the vast majority of users? AND that 1.7% is when the OS was heavily discounted @ $39.99! Therefore i imagine the quality of drivers and software support on Win7 to be of higher quality and reliability than Win8. That's the common sense outlook anyways, we'll see how it pans out....

poohbear with respect I don't actually agree with this statement,Win8 will have support and attention because its backed by Microsoft,all the OEM companies that sell Win8 with their hardware will also have to give it good support unless they want their own sales to suffer etc...you could argue there is always some slow support from certain companies for any new OS.

Another point is a lot of drivers /software on Win7 is also compatible on Win8, the big problem is when and if Microsoft go over to yearly upgrades on operating systems ,how will this effect software companies/people etc....



Driver and gaming wise on Win8 I've not had any headaches and even installed some really old games like BG/ Icewind Dale 1, so compatibility is still very good with Win8.


Another thing most users/people don't like to upgrade often so plenty of different factors involved.

[poohbear]

Maybe...i auzentech still hasn't released a Win8 driver for their audio cards (sure they're notorious for their driver support but their audio cards are stellar), so the support isnt entirely there....can't say i blame them though cause its only 1.7% market share, so they dont care too much about win8 support.

[Mem]

Originally Posted by poohbear

Maybe...i auzentech still hasn't released a Win8 driver for their audio cards (sure they're notorious for their driver support but their audio cards are stellar), so the support isnt entirely there....can't say i blame them though cause its only 1.7% market share, so they dont care too much about win8 support.

You always get some companies very slow to release drivers etc..remember Vista?....a lot of compaines were very slow ,however the Win7 drivers work fine for my Asus Xonar DX sound card on Win8,they do have a beta Win8 version on Asus homepage but don't need it(it works fine as it is).Canon released an official driver for my old printer within days of Win8 release.

Anyway what will happen if and when Microsoft go on yearly OS upgrade will software companies release drivers often or just give up,anyway most of us know the good from the bad with regards to companies with customer driver support.