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Windows 8.1. require a touch screen monitor?

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by BobbyScot, 2015/07/06.

  1. 2015/07/06
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Will a non-touch screen monitor work with Windows 8.1.?
     
  2. 2015/07/06
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Yes it will.
     

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  4. 2015/07/06
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thank you for response. I will then use the mouse pointer as previously with Windows 7.
     
  5. 2015/07/07
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    This was another case of Microsoft's PR/Marketing department going overboard in the wrong direction. It was an ill-conceived, misguided and poorly executed plan to get Windows PC users comfortable with W8's touch screen capability to entice those users into buying Microsoft cell phones that use a similar interface because MS is trailing so badly in that market.

    They touted W8's touch screen support so heavily that many, many potential users thought you had to use touch screen with W8 and if you wanted to move to W8, you had to buy a more expensive touch screen monitor. This turned off millions of potential users and really helped make W8 a failure - or at least not the success Microsoft wanted it to be.

    Touch screen is just another HID - human interface device - like a mouse or keyboard. And in no way do you need a touch screen monitor to take advantage of Windows 8's features.

    That said, W8's user interface is quite different from W7's and does take some getting used too. However, if you find you just don't like W8's look and feel, check out Start8. Start8 brings back the familiar W7 Start Orb and Start Menu and lets you boot directly to the Windows Desktop instead of the Windows 8 Start Screen that so many people dislike. With Start8, W8.x works and looks and feels almost exactly like the familiar W7. It cost $5 (after a 30-day trial period), but it is well worth it IMO. And, even at just $5, it has the "polished feel" I expect from a paid product that may not be seen in some free alternatives.

    There is also Classic Shell. This product also brings back the Start Orb and menu, is free and very popular too. However, it has extra features and goodies that some feel is unneeded "fluff ". That said, it works very well.

    StartIsBack and Pokki are two more popular start screen alternatives. StartIsBack is not free, but pretty close at $3.
     
    Bill,
    #4
  6. 2015/07/07
    BobbyScot

    BobbyScot Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Bill thanks for your excellent informative reply and certainly very useful. As usual Microsoft has never been customer considerate, no apology or at least could have issued free, a software equivalent to Start8.
     
  7. 2015/07/07
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Well, there was a minor mea culpa with W8.1 that allowed users to boot directly to the desktop.

    But for sure, MS has done a full about face (or pretty close to it) with W10 - which is free to W7 and W8 users. And for sure, Microsoft has done an about face when it comes to security too. So MS has come a long way in putting the consumer first which is pretty decent for a publically owned company.

    Still has a ways go, but it is not the Microsoft of yesterday.
     
    Bill,
    #6

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