I hate Windows 8... absolutely hate it.

[TonyH]

I've moved this thread to the proper section.

TonyH
AnandTech Administrator

 

[PingSpike]

I don't understand how anyone can like Windows 8. I can't even tolerate it.

 

[Ichinisan]

I just do Win + R then type calc.exe

This. No reason to waste taskbar space, desktop space, or start menu / start screen space.

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks and I was able to pin it.

Why pin it? Every time I ever need Calculator, no matter which version of Windows, I just...

• [Win]+[R]
• calc
• [Enter]

Boom. Done. Need another instance of Calculator? Win+R, Enter.

 

[Ichinisan]

Since we're posting in the wrong forum today, I have a Windows 8.x question.

How can I make my calculator normal size instead of always maximized? I'd also like to dock it on the taskbar in the bottom left.

You can also split the screen with the Metro / Modern version of Calculator (not as good as the other solution, but something you should be aware of). Have the Classic Desktop left of the split, and new Calculator on the right split.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I've moved this thread to the proper section.

TonyH
AnandTech Administrator

Never seen you before. You should venture out of Operating Systems sometimes.

I don't think OP ever really specified what it was he didn't like about Windows 8. I remember being kind of irked by the metro interface for a while, but everything else is more or less the same. By the time I learned about the classic shell add-on I had already become accustomed to it to the extent that I didn't bother with it.

My main gripe with windows 8 doesn't have much to do with my experience with it, but rather how it must feel on a tablet. Metro is clearly made for a tablet environment and works well for that, but you can't access all or even most of the things that you need to do from within it. It's constantly kicking you to the desktop for all kind of things that you should be able to do in it's touch-friendly interface. It's an experience breaking flaw IMO.

 

[Ichinisan]

I hate the Start menu. I never used it in Win7. I only ever used win+r or just win+typing to run a program. I'm glad it's gone. Nested menus need to die.

I'm sad that you bunch of fucking whiny baby shits caused Microsoft to bring it back to Windows 10. I'm slightly mollified by the fact that I will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

Yes. Using [Win]+[R] for many things is really great and I'm glad Win8 didn't break that. For me, the Start Screen works just as well as the Start Menu, but I see why lots of people hate it.

One thing I don't like is that many options require you to remember what an older Control Panel option was called -- so you can type to search for it. I don't have a problem with that because I'm very familiar with those things, but most people will not be able to find certain Control Panel options because they won't know what to search for (and some of the wording has changed in different versions of Windows). There are still some things that you have to do through the older Control Panel applets.

 

[mnewsham]

What is unforgivable is that Microsoft wants you to pay ~$100 for Media Center in Windows 8. I ordered an HTPC when Microsoft was offering a $10 Media Center purchase (and free upgrade to Windows 8 Pro). The HTPC arrived 1 day after that deal expired, so no Media Center for me. It is cheaper for me to buy Windows 7 with a free Media Center than to simply add Media Center to Windows 8.

I managed to get in on the $10 upgrade thing, worked great for me. Sucks for everyone else though.

 

[Ichinisan]

they've improved performance, improved security, improved the update system so that it makes less of a mess, all while continuing to improve features (better task manager, file copy system, USB 3 support) and add features (native image mounting, SMB Multichannel - seriously don't like 7 anymore because of this)

I even think they cleaned up the desktop interface and prefer it over 7 for the most part, so unless there's some sort of hardware incompatibility (I have a relatively new laptop with switchable graphics that is a huge PITA to get 8.1 running properly on) or you were relying on some obscure feature, you're probably just too set in your ways and might want to consider exercising your brain plasticity, although switching to Linux is likely going to do a lot more for you there.

I don't remember all of my complaints about the new Task Manager, but the "Performance" section is a step back in at least one way. It no longer shows your link speed when you select a network interface.

 

[Mem]

I don't understand how anyone can like Windows 8. I can't even tolerate it.

I don't understand why bother posting if you don't like it,just use what you like it's that simple.

Don't worry I'm sure somebody here will have a Win10 hate thread soon,FYI I think Win8.1 and 10 are great.


Well back to gaming on 8.1 for me,have a lot of enemies to kill 🙂 .

 

[crashtech]

Why pin it? Every time I ever need Calculator, no matter which version of Windows, I just...

• [Win]+[R]
• calc
• [Enter]

Boom. Done. Need another instance of Calculator? Win+R, Enter.

Why pin it is because 1 mouse click is more efficient than 7 keystrokes for most people, imo.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Why pin it is because 1 mouse click is more efficient than 7 keystrokes for most people, imo.

You can press [Win]+[number counting from the left of pinned apps] to open it after you've pinned it too.

Like if you've got windows explorer, then media player, then calc from left to right on your task bar; you could press [win]+[1] to open explorer, [win]+[2] to open media player, and [win]+[3] to open calc.

 

[crashtech]

You can press [Win]+[number counting from the left of pinned apps] to open it after you've pinned it too.

Like if you've got windows explorer, then media player, then calc from left to right on your task bar; you could press [win]+[1] to open explorer, [win]+[2] to open media player, and [win]+[3] to open calc.

All these years and I never knew that until now. Pretty cool, thanks.

 

[Mem]

Why pin it? Every time I ever need Calculator, no matter which version of Windows, I just...

• [Win]+[R]
• calc
• [Enter]

Boom. Done. Need another instance of Calculator? Win+R, Enter.

Easier way then that(Win+X menu),basically right click in left corner,got all my main stuff there.

 

[balloonshark]

Easier way then that(Win+X menu),basically right click in left corner,got all my main stuff there.

Doesn't that require a mod or program?

 

[Mem]

Doesn't that require a mod or program?

Win+X menu is already built-in on Win8/8.1,all Win+X menu editor does is to allow you to add more programs including its presets or remove what you what,can get it here free http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.30 .

 

[Aikouka]

One thing that soured Windows 8 for me is the fact that Microsoft requires Windows 8 Pro just to get Windows Media Center, which costs another $10 on top of that. It's not as big of a deal if you're building your own machine, but if you want to buy one (like a laptop)... have fun paying $100 for the Pro upgrade. It's a real slap in the face since WMC came on every version (except the super-cheap Starter Edition) of Windows 7.

Now, I know someone is going to say something like, "Who even uses that POS anymore!?" Which... is probably the most ignorant retort that you could make. WMC is the only TV software that supports the Copy Once flag, which is pretty much used on every premium channel and sometimes randomly if your cable provider is an arse like that. (I've had it on stuff I recorded off the networks.)

improved the update system so that it makes less of a mess

They removed the system tray notification for updates. When I used Windows 8 on my desktop, I had to download a third-party program just to show it, because I refuse to do auto-updates given how much I hate restarting my computer. Anyway, the point is, I can't agree with updates being better without my system tray icon!

 

[bunnyfubbles]

They removed the system tray notification for updates. When I used Windows 8 on my desktop, I had to download a third-party program just to show it, because I refuse to do auto-updates given how much I hate restarting my computer. Anyway, the point is, I can't agree with updates being better without my system tray icon!

I'd say that's an incredibly minor quibble compared to this, and that its definitely better: http://www.howtogeek.com/174705/how-to-reduce-the-size-of-your-winsxs-folder-on-windows-7-or-8/

 

[olds]

If you vouch for it, I might give it a shot. Thanks old man.

If you like 7 but not 8, it's $5 well spent.

 

[olds]

Why pin it? Every time I ever need Calculator, no matter which version of Windows, I just...

• [Win]+[R]
• calc
• [Enter]

Boom. Done. Need another instance of Calculator? Win+R, Enter.

Because knowing how to type is effeminate.

 

[AdamK47]

The right click start menu in Windows 8.1 is great. I use it all the time. You can get to pretty much anywhere starting from that menu.

 

[Ichinisan]

You can press [Win]+[number counting from the left of pinned apps] to open it after you've pinned it too.

Like if you've got windows explorer, then media player, then calc from left to right on your task bar; you could press [win]+[1] to open explorer, [win]+[2] to open media player, and [win]+[3] to open calc.

I stick to the most universal keyboard shortcuts. Most of the ones I use work in Win95+.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I stick to the most universal keyboard shortcuts. Most of the ones I use work in Win95+.

Pretty much everything I use is on win7 or win8, so that's all I have to worry about. I'm not a huge keyboard shortcut guy in the first place. The way I learned that one was trying to find a way to get my HTPC remote to open Kodi as part of the "watch tv" command or with a button press when I needed it. Best way I found was to pin Kodi and have one of the remote buttons be [Win]+[Kodi number].

 

[Whisper2]

The right click start menu in Windows 8.1 is great. I use it all the time. You can get to pretty much anywhere starting from that menu.

I agree. I bought Start 8 when Win 8 was first introduced but I haven't bothered to install it since the Start/Rt click menu was added.

So far, it is still in Win 10. Hopefully, MS will leave it in because I like it better than the new Start Menu.

 

[MongGrel]

Windows 8 is annoying, but those annoyances are generally easy to get rid of. And it does have some nice benefits (such as automatically sorting photos by date taken, regardless of the folder they are stored in).

What is unforgivable is that Microsoft wants you to pay ~$100 for Media Center in Windows 8. I ordered an HTPC when Microsoft was offering a $10 Media Center purchase (and free upgrade to Windows 8 Pro). The HTPC arrived 1 day after that deal expired, so no Media Center for me. It is cheaper for me to buy Windows 7 with a free Media Center than to simply add Media Center to Windows 8.

I never cared for Media Center myself personally.

Now, I know someone is going to say something like, "Who even uses that POS anymore!?"

I didn't say that.

I just do not miss it personally.