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Will Windows 8.1 change your opinion?

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by Arie, 2013/06/21.

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Will you be installing Windows 8.1?

Poll closed 2013/07/30.
  1. Yes, I use Windows 8 but will install the update to Windows 8.1

    15 vote(s)
    31.3%
  2. Yes, I don't use Windows 8 but will be upgrading to Windows 8.1

    3 vote(s)
    6.3%
  3. Not sure

    7 vote(s)
    14.6%
  4. No, I have Windows 8 but I won't be upgrading to Windows 8.1 for now

    2 vote(s)
    4.2%
  5. No, I don't like Windows 8 and this update doesn't change my view

    21 vote(s)
    43.8%
  1. 2013/06/21
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff Thread Starter

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    On June 26 Microsoft will release a preview of Windows 8.1. which will likely be released in final form in August.

    Windows 8.1 fixes some issues, including the return of the Start button, boot to desktop, the option to have multiple apps on screen at once.

    So if you are using Windows 8 currently do you think the upgrade will improve your experience, or do you feel things are fine as they are?

    If you’re not currently using Windows 8, will this update persuade you to upgrade to it?
     
    Arie,
    #1
  2. 2013/06/21
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    Start button, boot to desktop aren't the show stoppers for me, so I don't really miss them.

    I would just apply it as it updates & patches the OS.
     
    AlexH likes this.

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  4. 2013/06/21
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member

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    Windows 8 is the worst OS I have ever dealt with.
     
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  5. 2013/06/21
    adjohns3

    adjohns3 Inactive

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    WHY??? Can you share some reasons/examples of WHY you feel it is so bad?
    :confused:
    :confused:
     
  6. 2013/06/21
    Researcher75 Lifetime Subscription

    Researcher75 Well-Known Member

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    Windows 8.1

    I understand that this preview if installed, will make the full update delete all applications currently installed in Windows 8!

    In other words, wait for the full update and don't lose your installed applications!!

    No idea why some people have so much of a problem with W8 - adjustment from previous OS versions is in no way all that brain taxing!

    I use W8 on three machines and have no problems at all. I also use system mechanic which compliments W8-W7-WXP very neatly with no glitches.

    So complainer, what is the problem you experience please?
     
  7. 2013/06/21
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Since Windows 8.1 does not include any major desktop improvements and just adds more functionality and features to the metro side of Windows 8, there is no benefit for me to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1.

    I don't need or want metro apps to be installed on my system, so I will be sticking with Windows 7 for another few years.
     
    Frank D likes this.
  8. 2013/06/21
    jorjab Lifetime Subscription

    jorjab Well-Known Member

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    still getting used to Windows 7 and wish it was XP.
     
  9. 2013/06/21
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    W8.1 Can't be All Bad!

    While I initially didn't care too much for W8, after using the "refresh" utility - which did require a few days of putting apps back where they were - I decided it's actually pretty good.

    I'd beta tested all versions of Windows from 3.1 (yes, I AM that old:D) to XP Pro, and again, at first found W8 to be very kludgey.

    Thanks to some guidance from Arie, and others here in answering some of my questions, when I did get around to the refresh, it cleaned things up and made a whole lot of difference.

    I still believe that W8 is probably better if installed clean or preinstalled on a new PC, but if people do want to upgrade, then the refresh, immediately afterwards, is maybe a good idea, as it cleans out the cobwebs, left from the previous versions.

    W8.1 might be a good thing but not if I must go through reinstalling everything again.

    Cheers!

    -a.
     
    jorjab likes this.
  10. 2013/06/22
    jorjab Lifetime Subscription

    jorjab Well-Known Member

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    W8 - I have one up on you - I started machine code, then with MS-Dos testing and went from there.
    Nice to know there are still some of us out there. :p

    Jorjab
     
    AlexH likes this.
  11. 2013/06/22
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    Actually, I also started with assembly language and tested most of the last versions of MS DOS, up to 6.22.

    Cheers!
     
  12. 2013/06/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Very doubtful - Win 8 + Start8 works for me :)
     
  13. 2013/06/22
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    I do agree that XP Pro was an excellent OS, and very reliable!
     
  14. 2013/06/22
    pishbloom2

    pishbloom2 Well-Known Member

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    No im not going to use windows 8. to me its nothing more than a glorified ipad for a computer and not practical at all. i started with windows 98 and my favorite one has been xp which ill keep using until it doesnt work anymore.:)
     
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  15. 2013/06/22
    Shadowdancer

    Shadowdancer Inactive

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    Still using the ever fantastic XP.

    Planning on building a new desktop PC around Haswell. So far, haven't decided on the operating system.
     
    AlexH likes this.
  16. 2013/06/24
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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  17. 2013/06/24
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member

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    Horrible interface, no start menu (it's like going around your elbow to get to your thumb), useless and unneeded aps (give me my meat & potatoes XP anytime), horrible photo viewer, etc.

    And I could never get system restore to work (on a brand new laptop!), and there was no system restore in safe mode, either. Egad! :eek:

    There are some things you just don't mess with (like the location of a car's steering wheel, the handle on a coffee cup, etc.). Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't seem to recognize this when it comes to user interfaces.

    I plan to move up to Windows 7, soon, but I will be using Classic Shell to make it look like XP.
     
    jorjab likes this.
  18. 2013/06/25
    jorjab Lifetime Subscription

    jorjab Well-Known Member

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    I was forced to move up to win 7 when my WINXP desktop died. Once I found Classic Shelll I became a little bit happier. Definitely will try to hold on to this one as long as possible. Do Not want Win8. I wish everyone who is constantly "improving" their products would stop. Not only happens with Software but with all kinds of goods.
    I realize many improvements are to get more sales but would be better to just stick with real improvements.
     
    Last edited: 2013/06/25
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  19. 2013/06/25
    AlexH

    AlexH Just an Old Timer getting help ...

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    In principle, I agree. I've used my soapbox to rail against the so-called improvements in the Windows OS over the years.

    Instead of adding more resource hogging routines, they should refine what they have. After all, the kind of power we have in our computers - GBs of RAM, GHz dual core, or quad core CPUs, solid state storage, and more - should make our computers fairly scream with power and speed!

    Instead, we have more complex and badly written OS resource hogs, which tame the power we should feel, such that the computers we have today don't run significantly faster than the ones from 10 years ago.

    I know ... I had problems with Win 8 Pro and my 32-bit, 2GB RAM system, until I used the Windows 8 "refresh" routine, which made things run more quickly and nimbly. But it also required that I reinstall, and thus reevaluate my need for, most of the applications and suites I had installed before. So it runs more cleanly and is much better, but it still doesn't reflect the kind of power we all dreamed about not so many years ago.

    And yes, I do use Win 8 with only Arie's Taskbar menu (thanks, Arie!); no add-ons yet, until I learn how 8.1 will help me. And yes, I am enjoying Win 8 Pro much better after cleaning out the gunk.

    But seriously, nobody should have to go through what I did, starting with the upgrade from Win 7, to Win 8, which took more than 3 days of working with a Microsoft Techie to get it done, then limping along until the refresh.

    So I can see both sides and have my opinions for each side and the point of view each espouses.

    Cheers!:)

    -a.
     
    Last edited: 2013/06/25
    jorjab and James Martin like this.
  20. 2013/06/28
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    That looks quite interesting Doc. ;) Neil.
     
  21. 2013/06/29
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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