Win8 = Slit Wrists

[GTaudiophile]

My colleague bought his kids brand-new laptops on BF. They run Win8 of course. He brought them home only to discover some sort of "incompatibility" with his home Verizon FIOS router. It can't connect to the router. All other devices in the house running Win7/XP/iOS, etc. have zero problems. (Googling the error yields quite a few similar error discussion threads with Win8.) MS must be really smart to put an OS out there that doesn't play nice with Verizon routers. Are they trying to kick more business to Verizon? Or just router manufacturers? Or both? I am sure we will get to the bottom of an easy solution but most people don't have the patience to work through such a problem with a BRAND NEW laptop.

Anyway, he brought one of the new laptops to work yesterday to see if I could help troubleshoot. After barely 10 minutes with it, I was so frustrated with it that I was about ready to slit my wrists, stab out my eyes, jump off a bridge, and hang myself while swallowing poison pills.

What is MS thinking? It's a dumbed-down OS designed for children! Now the laptop I was using does not have a touchscreen but still. The four corners BS is just BS!!! All kidding aside, my jaw was on the floor as I was tearing my hair out at the idiocy of it all.

 

[jhansman]

There are numerous (some free) add ons that will allow you to bypass the Win8 startup screen; personally, I use StartIsBack, which brings back the Start button and desktop you know. As for the router issue, I'd contact Verizon. They may point the finger at MS, but they may also have other customers who have had similar issues and a solution. As for your last question, MS was thinking of adapting a new OS to the desktop that is meant principally for mobile devices. I agree that the "Metro" interface (or whatever they are calling it now) does not really lend itself thusly, but that's why so many utils I mentioned early have sprung up so quickly.

 

[bbhaag]

Instead of moving your mouse to the four corners try using keyboard shortcuts. Much more intuitive and faster once you train yourself to use them. I've found that the win key on your keyboard is your friend when using Windows 8.

 

[dagamer34]

If you're going to slit your wrists over an OS, I think you have bigger problems (please seek professional help).

 

[happysmiles]

first world problems

 

[smakme7757]

Certain Qualcom Wifi chipsets have a driver incompatibility with Windows 8. Lots of laptops have these wifi cards so it might be that particular issue.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Certain Qualcom Wifi chipsets have a driver incompatibility with Windows 8. Lots of laptops have these wifi cards so it might be that particular issue.

It's not a driver issue. Upon attempting to connect to his home wireless network, he gets the following error:

the settings for this computer do not match the settings for the network

 

[smakme7757]

It's not a driver issue. Upon attempting to connect to his home wireless network, he gets the following error:

Have you tried manually forcing the encryption scheme for that specific wifi connection. I only have Windows 8 on my desktop which doesn't have a wifi card, but in Windows 7 it's in network connections and configure wireless networks.

Force it to WPA2 TKIP or whatever they are using at home.

 

[sportage]

Wouldn't install bike pedals in a car, wouldn't buy windows 8 without a touch screen.
The entire idea of W8 is touch. Why else use it over keyboard/mouse based operating systems?

 

[Nothinman]

My colleague bought his kids brand-new laptops on BF. They run Win8 of course. He brought them home only to discover some sort of "incompatibility" with his home Verizon FIOS router. It can't connect to the router. All other devices in the house running Win7/XP/iOS, etc. have zero problems. (Googling the error yields quite a few similar error discussion threads with Win8.) MS must be really smart to put an OS out there that doesn't play nice with Verizon routers. Are they trying to kick more business to Verizon? Or just router manufacturers? Or both? I am sure we will get to the bottom of an easy solution but most people don't have the patience to work through such a problem with a BRAND NEW laptop.

Anyway, he brought one of the new laptops to work yesterday to see if I could help troubleshoot. After barely 10 minutes with it, I was so frustrated with it that I was about ready to slit my wrists, stab out my eyes, jump off a bridge, and hang myself while swallowing poison pills.

What is MS thinking? It's a dumbed-down OS designed for children! Now the laptop I was using does not have a touchscreen but still. The four corners BS is just BS!!! All kidding aside, my jaw was on the floor as I was tearing my hair out at the idiocy of it all.

I can't speak to the Wifi issue much, but I would guess it's either a driver bug or a firmware bug with the router that Win8 manages to trip.

However, I find it quite amusing that Win8 is the new "child OS" much in the same way XP was at it's release. The only thing that could've made your post better was if you used the same "Playskool theme" BS that was used for XP. Yes, the start screen is different but it's not nearly as different as people think. There are some new keyboard shortcuts to work around the corners thing, Win+C is all I've really used so far to bring up the charms bar.

The entire idea of W8 is touch. Why else use it over keyboard/mouse based operating systems?

Because the desktop in Win8 still works just fine with a kb/mouse. If you think otherwise, you haven't actually used it.

 

[jhansman]

FWIW (this comparison has grown tiresome, we know), I dual boot Win8 and Win7 and performance-wise, Win 8 (on a Samsung 830) simply stomps Win7. From bootup to application loading to browsing, Win8 is a superior OS. Do I like the Metro desktop? Not much, but I don't whine about it either ('cause, see, I took the time to figure it out). With a bit of tweaking (just as I had to do with Win7, Vista, XP, etc.), it works just as I desire. As noted earlier, if one piece of hardware incompatibility is all it takes for him to break out the razor, he probably should not be using a computer anyway.

 

[Tom]

His opinion is just as valid as those of you who think W8 is ok.

at least 3 of you think your opinion is superior enough to make condescending personal remarks.

In response to his displeasure, not with a person, but with an OS.

so goes the forum.

 

[imusorka]

I dual boot Win8 and Win7 and performance-wise, Win 8 (on a Samsung 830) simply stomps Win7

Let's see some numbers please?

 

[Nothinman]

His opinion is just as valid as those of you who think W8 is ok.

at least 3 of you think your opinion is superior enough to make condescending personal remarks.

In response to his displeasure, not with a person, but with an OS.

so goes the forum.

It's not that our opinion is superior, but it's definitely based upon more experience with the system in question. You can't form a truly valid opinion from looking at something for 10min.

 

[smakme7757]

Let's see some numbers please?

If you actually tried W8 you would realise that it's just 'faster'. Of all the things people hate one of the things they love is the speed.

The OS is new and it's going to have teething issues. Had Vista never been released Windows 7 would have had the same issues vista had in the start with driver support. So it's only a matter of time before problems like the OP is having will get sorted out.

 

[Thor86]

Looks like someone needs to visit eightforums.com

 

[SunnyD]

If you actually tried W8 you would realise that it's just 'faster'. Of all the things people hate one of the things they love is the speed.

The OS is new and it's going to have teething issues. Had Vista never been released Windows 7 would have had the same issues vista had in the start with driver support. So it's only a matter of time before problems like the OP is having will get sorted out.

So it loads things a half second faster, yet it takes an order of magnitude longer to do anything productive with the OS/User Interface itself.

Pick your poison.

 

[pmv]

If you actually tried W8 you would realise that it's just 'faster'. Of all the things people hate one of the things they love is the speed.

That's a ridiculously vague statement. "just 'faster'" (the inverted commas make it even more meaningless a claim)!

I'd rather go by actual figures. The ones I've seen suggest it does indeed boot up faster (because it uses some of the hibernate method, which makes me want to know how its speed at waking up and hibernating compares with 7 doing the same), and it handles USB3 significantly faster. Game benchmarks are essentially identical, as one would expect. Not sure what other speed improvements there are supposed to be.

The OS is new and it's going to have teething issues. Had Vista never been released Windows 7 would have had the same issues vista had in the start with driver support. So it's only a matter of time before problems like the OP is having will get sorted out.

This I agree with. New OS's are going to have driver issues. I expect win8 will soon settle down in that respect.

Clearly 7 had an easier start because it was more of a case of Vista-done-right than anything radically new.

 

[smakme7757]

That's a ridiculously vague statement. "just 'faster'" (the inverted commas make it even more meaningless a claim)!

I'd rather go by actual figures. The ones I've seen suggest it does indeed boot up faster (because it uses some of the hibernate method, which makes me want to know how its speed at waking up and hibernating compares with 7 doing the same), and it handles USB3 significantly faster. Game benchmarks are essentially identical, as one would expect. Not sure what other speed improvements there are supposed to be.

It's not meaningless when it is true.

I cant exactly sit down and time boot up/shutdown or time how many seconds i save each time i load a program, but the fact of the matter is that Windows 8 IS faster and more fluid than Windows 7.

Microsoft has obviously done a lot of work in the kernel and refined the code base for Windows 8 and it's not exactly something a simple consumer like me can prove without spending hours upon hours collecting data.

So i will just say it's 'faster'(Invertde commas because i can't really - put my finger on it) than Windows 7, which is what has been stated in any review, good or bad.

*mobile post

 

[smakme7757]

So it loads things a half second faster, yet it takes an order of magnitude longer to do anything productive with the OS/User Interface itself.

Pick your poison.

There is plenty i don't like with Windows 8, but i find it amazing how people keep playing the ''Poor productivity'' card wihout ever actually telling us what W8 does that has reduced your productivity.

I can think of a few reasons.
1. Driver incompatibility
2. Software incompatibility

Other than that all that's left is Metro? How that can hamper your productivity is beyond me? I never even use it apart from its search function.

So please i'd like to hear some concrete examples of what hampers your productivity on Windows 8?e

For the record i would't say i'm 200% more productive because i use W8, i'd say i'm just as productive as before.

So the questions begs to be asked:
Why upgrade to W8 if it doesn't offer any major advantage?

It's more secure than Windows 7: UEFI Secure boot, inbuilt Antivirus, tightened buffer overrun protection (i forget the name, but it's a more secure version of the same feature from 7 and vista - Use Microsoft EMIT to check it out), smart screen fiilter now operates system wide checking applications, although i havn't checked i believe everyone with a pro edition gets bitlocker which is more viable now on fast SSDs.

I turn my PC on and i save a few minutes in the morning compared to W7.

Upgrade key was free via Dreamspark (also an upgrade was only $50 for my laptop).

I can't really think of anything else. I'm happy, it was cheap, it's more secure, it's faster, so why would i stay on W7 when it works with all my software packages and my hardware?

*mobile post

 

[Paperlantern]

Because the desktop in Win8 still works just fine with a kb/mouse. If you think otherwise, you haven't actually used it.

I have actully, and even with the small amount that I have used it, I agree with the statement about the touchscreen. I was frustrated and annoyed with using Win 8 on a machine with no touchscreen. Even in the regular desktop area. Now having used it on a Surface Tablet (I know i know its not really win8 its RT, but its close), and having installed win 8 on a HP Touchsmart yesterday and played with it, it really is MUCH more intuitive and fun to use.

 

[Nothinman]

I have actully, and even with the small amount that I have used it, I agree with the statement about the touchscreen. I was frustrated and annoyed with using Win 8 on a machine with no touchscreen. Even in the regular desktop area. Now having used it on a Surface Tablet (I know i know its not really win8 its RT, but its close), and having installed win 8 on a HP Touchsmart yesterday and played with it, it really is MUCH more intuitive and fun to use.

I've been using Win8 in a VM for a few things over the past few weeks and while the Metro apps lean towards wanting a touch screen there's nothing really frustrating about not having one. Interaction with a mouse works just fine for the most part. The gestures for some things aren't intuitive, but then I don't find them intuitive on touchscreens either.

 

[Kristijonas]

Win8 is better than Win7 for anyone with at least average IQ. There's nothing not to like

 

[bbhaag]

Win8 is better than Win7 for anyone with at least average IQ. There's nothing not to like

That's a little inflammatory isn't it? Both OS's have a lot to like and a lot to not like. Dissing ones IQ because they choose one over the other just seems a bit trollish...

 

[colonelciller]

It's not meaningless when it is true.

I cant exactly sit down and time boot up/shutdown or time how many seconds i save each time i load a program, but the fact of the matter is that Windows 8 IS faster and more fluid than Windows 7.

Microsoft has obviously done a lot of work in the kernel and refined the code base for Windows 8 and it's not exactly something a simple consumer like me can prove without spending hours upon hours collecting data.

So i will just say it's 'faster'(Invertde commas because i can't really - put my finger on it) than Windows 7, which is what has been stated in any review, good or bad.

*mobile post

"Few arguments are more dangerous than the ones that 'feel' right but can’t be justified."
-Stephen Jay Gould