04-12-2013, 09:35 AM | #46 |
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Yes, of course it does. It has a desktop which runs all your existing applications exactly as they run under Windows 7.
It's only "Metro Apps" that run full screen, and that's because those are designed to be tablet apps, and a multi-window UI just doesn't work well on a tablet (which is why iOS and Android tablets also run all apps full-screen). Honestly, the amount of misinformation in this thread is scary. I honestly have to wonder how many of the people criticising Windows 8 have actually spent any time using it! I use it, and I like it. |
04-12-2013, 09:44 AM | #47 | |
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They have essentially sandwiched two unconnected UIs into one OS. Apps written for the 'Windows 7' interface look and feel completely different to apps written for the 'Windows 8' interface. That is a useability nightmare. |
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04-12-2013, 09:48 AM | #48 | |
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I see it as flexibility, not a "useability nightmare" at all. And as I say, I'm actually using the product. |
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04-12-2013, 10:13 AM | #49 | |
Nameless Being
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It honestly isn't that much of an issue. Most people already use applications with non-standard user interfaces. Web browsers are particularly bad for this, as are many media players and Microsoft Office. Those who demand a consistent UI simply choose different applications. Examples include Firefox, which can be setup with a standard UI, and LibreOffice, which uses a standard UI by default. I'm not claiming that the situation is ideal. As I said earlier, Windows 8 has issues. On the other hand, I agree with HarryT: people are spewing a lot of misinformation. |
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04-12-2013, 10:25 AM | #50 |
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To me, it fails to answer a simple question: If I'm not interested in the Metro interface, why would I want to upgrade? Windows 7 works fine.
If I were to by a new PC now, I would buy it with Windows 7 rather than 8. I know it works, I know it has drivers for everything I need, and why take the risk with a new OS? |
04-12-2013, 10:29 AM | #51 | |
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this new report leaves windows 8 tablets and hybrids with detachable keyboards out of the count for "PCs". so it does make quite abit of difference
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Windows 8 certainly supports having as many desktop windows open as you wish to have open. in the modern ui it allows you to have 2 'apps' open on the display at the same time. currently you are limited to a 2/3 and 1/3 split but that will change with the addition of a half and half split soon. Last edited by Dulin's Books; 04-12-2013 at 10:46 AM. |
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04-12-2013, 10:43 AM | #52 | |
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04-12-2013, 10:47 AM | #53 | ||
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On the other hand, you are making a decision that will impact future computer use. It is easier to master software that you stick with for a long time and it certainly is more comforting to use the same old thing. Yet it does make upgrading more of a hassle if you do so down the road. There are more things to relearn at one time, partially because there will be more significant changes in the OS and partially because you'll likely end up upgrading a lot more software at one time. |
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04-12-2013, 10:52 AM | #54 |
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I'm still on a six year old desktop running Windows XP, and I dread the day I have to get a new desktop - probably next year, if XP support runs out then.
I'd hope I can still get a Windows 7 desktop then; if not, I'm in trouble as the majority of tools/programs we use for work don't run on Windows 8 or run with problems. (These are proprietary, custom-made tools by our clients, who require using very specific versions and builds of their own tools, so it's not a case of "can probably find something similar that would work".) I have a fairly new laptop with Windows 7 as my backup computer and for use with those work tools that won't run on XP, but even a laptop (business grade Dell, 15.6'' monitor, full keyboard with numpad) is dreadful for work purposes - I need much more screen space and a large keyboard for starters. I suppose I could use a docking station but as I work from home and don't ever carry the laptop with me, it would be pretty useless - especially as I also need a lot of hard drive space. So... yeah. I'm just hoping that good desktops won't be going away any time soon. And that Windows 7 is still available next year (we also have a few tools that don't run on Windows 7 and require Windows XP, but they do run in Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Pro so that would be solvable, if not ideal). I have an iPad which I use for web surfing when away from the desktop, e.g. to quickly look something up or check some social networks while in bed reading on the Kindle, but I can't imagine using it as my primary computing tool - even if I didn't have very specific requirements that make a desktop the optimal device, even typing tweets is irritating on the virtual keyboard, never mind any longer texts. |
04-12-2013, 10:54 AM | #55 | |
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I'm running Win8 on a small laptop which I take "out and about" with me on my travels. I don't use any peripherals with it, so driver support is pretty irrelevant. For that, Win8 is perfect. It boots up in under 10s, so it's ideal for a laptop I want to simply switch on and use as quickly as possible. |
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04-12-2013, 12:20 PM | #56 |
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04-12-2013, 01:08 PM | #57 |
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I don't know if my beef with Win 8 is part of the broader reason but I have zero incentive to move to Windows 8.
I've got a tablet, my iPad, and it works great on its own and with my iPhone. I've got multiple cloud services for whatever I need to share with other devices. I also have one power-user desktop PC, one big/heavy laptop, and one ultrabook-ish laptop PC all running Windows 7. I am fully satisfied with the interface and stability. Why should i be at all interested in migrating to Windows 8, at least until I buy a touchscreen laptop, which isn't really even on my radar yet. |
04-12-2013, 01:28 PM | #58 |
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And until Windows 8 plays nice with Linux/dual-boot, I doubt if I'll ever have to worry about it.
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04-12-2013, 01:58 PM | #59 |
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What issues are you running into? My desktop dual boots Windows 8 and Arch Linux without a hitch. I am using BIOS emulation (and a 2 TB boot drive) though, since UEFI didn't seem to work.
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04-12-2013, 02:08 PM | #60 | |
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And the lack of start button? That drove me nuts, at least I can have it back with Classic Shell. The only reason I have W8 on my work laptop is because it's been forced down my throat by the company, otherwise I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. |
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