In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The one thing you do need to do is set the desktop mode to use the desktop version of IE, if that's what you use. If you aren't careful the intuitive "Quick start" button in the taskbar goes to the messy Metro version.

Obvious question to a non-W8 user... How do I do that?

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

I struggle to see how someone could prefer Windows 7 to it, the improvements in multi-monitor support alone make it a superior OS, and as you can appreciate, that is just a minor thing! To name a few more: Hyper-V included, RDP greatly improved, much faster boot times, does almost everything faster, more reliable, etc, etc. You get the idea.

But I'd surmise the majority of users are just that, ordinary users. They're not technical aware, those advantages, good though they are, are meaningless to ordinary users.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Obvious question to a non-W8 user... How do I do that?

Can't remember LOL. But it's not difficult. I've done it twice, and could always pop round if you got stuck.

Is this about right?

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

I struggle to see how someone could prefer Windows 7 to it, the improvements in multi-monitor support alone make it a superior OS, and as you can appreciate, that is just a minor thing! To name a few more: Hyper-V included, RDP greatly improved, much faster boot times, does almost everything faster, more reliable, etc, etc. You get the idea.

But I'd surmise the majority of users are just that, ordinary users. They're not technical aware, those advantages, good though they are, are meaningless to ordinary users.

You are misunderstanding my point though (or maybe, I did not explain properly), ordinary users should have even less things to complain about, it is the technical (or semi-technical what I would call them - those who think they know but actually don't) who may moan about things, the non-techie users should have even less to complain about side by side. As with anything the usual "its different to Windows 7" is not a fair reason as to why Windows 8 is poorer. If you take a computer newbie who has used neither before you should find they would prefer Windows 8 because once they are logged on they are presented right away with common apps etc, whereas on Windows 7 you would have to show them how to use the Start Menu etc etc......

Edited by Pipexer (Thu 16-Jan-14 00:10:45)

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

As with anything the usual "its different to Windows 7" is not a fair reason as to why Windows 8 is poorer. If you take a computer newbie who has used neither before you should find they would prefer Windows 8 because once they are logged on they are presented right away with common apps etc, whereas on Windows 7 you would have to show them how to use the Start Menu etc etc......

That's rot, and you know it.

There are many millions familiar with re-Win8 Windows. Millions of them in a business environment where the vital need is for rapid easy deployment and assimilation of OS changes. The change to the Metro system for them is a nightmare.

Big corporations can put a team of specialists onto sorting that. The typical medium to small business does not have that resource on tap.

As for newbies to computing, fine. Let them enjoy what is no better to them than a bigger-screened tablet, which happens also to be far clunkier than an iPad or an Android based one. The fact that this expensive toy will only provide them with 20% of what a Win 7 machine or a Mac does is not going to bother them. For the first 6 days.

For most of the rest of us, it's usable but far from inspiring. You made some good points and suggestions earlier. Not this time .

If Win 8/8.1 is so wonderful, why are MS going to make all the changes that are discussed in the links I gave? I've never seen a rollover and massive laundry bills from them since they realised Bill Gates's forecast that the internet would never catch on proved less than 100% accurate.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 16-Jan-14 00:50:08)

Whilst on a touch screen, such as tablets and phones the windows 8 layout is ideal. For those with desktop and or laptop,, IMO, it appears daunting, and most of us are resistant to change.
I purchased windows 8 for a laptop however, the ease of use of 7 with a mouse disappeared. There were problems with some of the programs I use. I thus returned to windows 7
I have a windows phone, adverse reaction to google, the larger screen and ease of use, calls and text, make it a worthwhile investment.
The windows 8 update was not thought through and aimed at the Tablet / phone market without looking at how its traditional users would react.
Windows 8 was the right way forward but , like apple, it needs to cater for all types of user. To be able to remove windows 7 support it needs the windows 9 approach.

I don't have a problem with the desktop and using Win 8 with the touchpad. It acts 99.5% like Win 7. What's the issue?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I don't have a problem with the desktop and using Win 8 with the touchpad. It acts 99.5% like Win 7. What's the issue?

Under Win 8, various programs are now presented as Full-Screen "Metro-Apps", which prevent you from, apparently, working on anything else (no longer can easily access other windows, Task-Bar etc).

If Win 9 makes them "behave" as a proper window (i.e. Resizable, still access other windows & Task-Bar etc), then that has to be a sensible approach!

I assume that those programs act similarly to Internet Explorer. As I said earlier, there are two options- the normal one being what I use with its shortcut in the taskbar as usual. Along with Command Prompt; Thunderbird; Word (Metro version ); WordPad; Resource/Performance monitor and Firefox.

I don't think I've tried to install normal Word.