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http://www.extremetech.com/computing/179756-microsoft-finally-admits-defeat-will-bring...ndows-8-update
when this happens i'll seriously consider upgrading from Win 7.
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Don't want the Metro tiles in the Start menu. I'll be sticking with StartisBack.
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That's good, but still not good enough.
The Start Menu must not have more than only one column, to begin with.
Also, they must drop the "search-as-you-type" nonsense
Besides: etc Etc ETC. -
I want the "classic" start menu. Can I have that? None of the horrible Win7 type start menu nonsense.
I'll tentatively consider the possibility of entertaining the idea of upgrading XP.Originally Posted by deadrats
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Intel stopped releasing drivers for XP with the arrival of Haswell. XP drivers are still available for AMD's Steamroller, but I would not be surprised if that changes when AMD releases Excavator. Sticking with XP is going to become steadily more difficult for the less adaptable members of this forum. LOL
Last edited by usually_quiet; 3rd Apr 2014 at 22:27. Reason: typo
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I am NOW OK with Windows 8.1 on my laptop.....AFTER I installed Start8 and spent a couple of days blocking, removing and ripping everything out that didn't look or work like Windows 7.
What were those people thinking? 
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I hadn't planned on putting XP on a new PC. I'm planning on building a new one sometime soon(ish). Win7 would have been the likely candidate. Rather, I was referring to upgrading XP on this PC.Originally Posted by usually_quiet
I've used Win 3.1, Win95, Win98, Win98se, Win2000, WinXP, and I even gave Vista a chance. Once there's an advantage to using a newer version of Windows, no doubt I will. -
the problem with putting Win 7 on a new pc is that the WINTEL marriage is strong and neither partner is willing to get a divorce. intel constantly introduces new features and AMD eventually copies them and said new features are usually only supported in new Win versions.Originally Posted by hello_hello
AVX is only supported in Win 7 and up, AVX 2 requires Win 7 SP1 and up, it's rumored that TSX isn't properly supported by any Win 7 version, AMD's Bulldozer and above don't get maximum performance from Win 7's and below thread schedulers, and Intel is planning on releasing 512 bit SIMD with its upcoming cpu's in the next couple of years and you can bet that said instruction sets will only be supported by whatever the latest Win version is at that time (maybe Win 9).
the same thing will happen with DX12, you can be sure that it will be only a Win 8 feature and it just goes on, the forced upgrade cycle will continue and you can't really blame the tech companies, they just realize that there is demand for the latest tech innovations and people that work hard feel like enjoying the fruits of their labors and they get that enjoyment by buying the latest toys, among other things. -
In other words, would you like to say key logger to be more precise?Also, they must drop the "search-as-you-type" nonsense
I do not know where the corporate trend of piracy (opposite to privacy) leads to? May be profitable for the corporates!
Poor Users Always get SuCKeD no matter ... ... ... -
As I mentioned on other threads, I was not too happy about where Microsoft was going with Windows 8.X.
I had a new custom PC recently built and had Windows 7 installed, despite the risks with latest hardware. (Still love XP too.)
So it wasn't just lonesome me disappointed, and this is a good upgrade back to sensibility. Some of us actually want a real computer, not a toy suited for the new ADD phone addict-stroker generation.I hate VHS. I always did. -
Why Do We Pay for the things we HATE (Do NoT Like)?
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also heard ... ... ...
MS is giving away given-up win 8 for free in India. -
And phones and low price tablets.Originally Posted by enim
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-says-windows-free-phones-small-tablets-1755556...tmobustoday%2F -
The Windows 8.1 Start Screen and tiles would probably also work well for an HTPC. I'm putting one together from leftover parts from my old system, now that my new Haswell system is up and running, but unfortunately I may end up running my copy of Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bits with Media Center on the same my main system instead, in a dual boot. The Hauppauge capture device I'm thinking of buying is usable only with Windows 7's version of Media Center at present.Originally Posted by PuzZLeR
My new system is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, which I bought on sale before Windows 8 was released. -
I'm not doubting the practicality of Windows 8.X, for playing your clips, MP3s, configuring with your media players, home theater, even viewing your pictures, playing the latest games, linking to social media, YouTube, etc., for you or others.Originally Posted by usually_quiet
The Windows 8.1 Start Screen and tiles would probably also work well for an HTPC. I'm putting one together from leftover parts from my old system, now that my new Haswell system is up and running, but unfortunately I may end up running my copy of Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bits with Media Center on the same my main system instead, in a dual boot. The Hauppauge capture device I'm thinking of buying is usable only with Windows 7's version of Media Center at present.Originally Posted by PuzZLeR
My new system is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, which I bought on sale before Windows 8 was released.
If that works for you, or anyone else - awesome!
But that's the "toy" part of using a computer, like today's glitzy phones are.
I don't see Windows 8.X as something most of would find optimal for doing "real work" such as real video editing, real image processing, video encoding, programming, video/audio capturing/restoration/production, etc. Maybe some software/hardware works fine on it, but such tasks IMO would seem awkward at best on a Windows 8.X interface as they would be on a phone.
To me, it's like a plumber using a Porsche as a company vehicle. I just don't see it. (Save that Porsche for Saturday night instead...)Last edited by PuzZLeR; 4th Apr 2014 at 12:36.
I hate VHS. I always did. -
Read redwudz's post. Windows 8.1 isn't a total bust for traditionalists who need OS features or hardware features that aren't supported by Windows 7. With work, Windows 8.1 becomes much more usable. A Start Menu replacement like Classic Shell, or Start 8 immediately improves the Windows 8.1 desktop experience, and 8.1 can be configured to boot into the desktop. Changing the file associations so that your preferred programs are the defaults rather than Windows 8.1 Apps helps too. (I did all those things for a better desktop experience.)Originally Posted by PuzZLeR
I'm not doubting the practicality of Windows 8.X, for playing your clips, MP3s, configuring with your media players, home theater, even viewing your pictures, playing the latest games, linking to social media, YouTube, etc., for you or others.Originally Posted by usually_quiet
The Windows 8.1 Start Screen and tiles would probably also work well for an HTPC. I'm putting one together from leftover parts from my old system, now that my new Haswell system is up and running, but unfortunately I may end up running my copy of Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bits with Media Center on the same my main system instead, in a dual boot. The Hauppauge capture device I'm thinking of buying is usable only with Windows 7's version of Media Center at present.Originally Posted by PuzZLeR
My new system is running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, which I bought on sale before Windows 8 was released.
If that works for you, or anyone else - awesome!
But that's the "toy" part of using a computer, like today's glitzy phones are.
I don't see Windows 8.X as something most of would find optimal for doing "real work" such as real video editing, real image processing, video encoding, programming, video/audio capturing/restoration/production, etc. Maybe some software/hardware works fine on it, but such tasks IMO would seem awkward at best on a Windows 8.X interface as they would be on a phone.
To me, it's like a plumber using a Porsche as a company vehicle. I just don't see it. (Save that Porsche for Saturday night instead...)
Some MS utilities included with Windows 8.1 use the the Ribbon UI instead of the traditional menu bar, but that is not a Windows 8.1 problem per se. The Ribbon UI became MS's standard UI for all its software even before Windows 8 arrived.
Windows 8.1 driver issues and software migration issues will either be resolved by the maker/publisher or not. The same thing happened when I first switched to Windows 7 in 2009. -
Glad to see that bloated phone look isn't imprinted in core. That was scary, and I did my best to stay away from it. It was nice looking, would make a super tablet/laptop, but just didn't see the use for it, out of the box, as is, on a "work desktop".Originally Posted by usually_quiet
Yes, Redwudz mentioned almost a complete stripping of the glitz and glutz of 8.X, meaning that you have to make it something that, in many ways, isn't 8.X to be very productive for those efficient workflows that we've (such as members of this Forum) been typically using.
Glad to see, and see confirmed, that not only a more traditional O/S tailoring of 8.X is indeed possible, but can be effective as well - maybe with even more performance, and the Start menu's return only adds to that.
I'm relieved actually.
I hate VHS. I always did. -
This 8.1.1 still doesn't return as many user-choices over the UI as XP, 2000, 98 and 95 offered. The return of the Start Menu, which started with dual options on XP and continued to be stripped down, is still there.
The big issue that folks should realize is that MS really wants you to log into their tracking systems - the Apple scheme - log in, be tracked, be counted, and eventually only deal with the Microsoft Store system.
Win 8.1.1 does nothing to back away from that. That's still full steam ahead. -
If someone has no interest in using the Microsoft Store or anything else for which a Microsoft account is needed, it is possible use Windows 8.1 with a local account. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-switch-your-windows-8-1-log-in-to-a-local-account/Originally Posted by OllieTSB
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You burst my bubble now.Originally Posted by OllieTSB
Didn't want to say it as to avoid a flamethrow - but Microsoft's new direction, particularly with 8.X, feels very Apple-esque. If we want a Mac, we get a Mac, but we shouldn't get that Apple feeling when we buy a PC.I hate VHS. I always did. -
Yes, it's possible NOW to use local accounts. It's quite a well-hidden process, hidden under a link that has nothing stated about "local account" at all for first-time installers, as most new-purchase retail users are. Er, that is, "First Time Win8 Installers", I mean. Microsoft's ability to hide, disguise and confuse this process essentially chases away New Users and effectively locks those folks into Ballmer's pocketbook. Er, WinStore.
NOW isn't so much the issue, however, but the future threat of Mac-izing our mouse-clicks for tracking purposes is pretty clear to anyone usually paying attention.
Puzzler, from the beginning, Apple marketed the ideal of Mac Certifications to programmers and then "allowed them" to sell their Mac-authorized programs to the Mac masses. Of course, that was a multi-thousand dollars licensing fee up-front.
Then the $50 DOS BASIC arrived with the Chaplin-esque IBM PC, and anyone who could write and compile a useful program could sell it merely by cold-calling. Tons of magazines would soon be filled with pages advertising PC programs where none had ever existed before.
The PC used the shotgun approach to building its 'empire' while the Jobsian idea was sniper-pinpoints. One side had 90% of the marketplace soon enough, and Macs were left with a sometimes faltering 10%. And in terms of programming revenue, the PC side probably had 99% of programmers and their revenue. Of course, the "fly by nighters" were equally represented, too, and Apple did a great job of weeding those out - "You have to pay us $7000 first and THEN you can use the Apple logo." Not a lot of fly-by-nighters did that. Why bother?
And to this day, I think the appeal of the PC-WinTel world remains the same for revenue generation - "if you can write a useful program, you can make money from it." Heck, there are some 'companies' that don't even rely on 'useful' or good or functional programs to create money.
"That's why they call it venture capital!" Sometimes, it's more ADventure than not!
I am not sure why Microsoft believes the Apple-Store Restrictions and Limitations are NOW the worthy model of success to emulate. "Look at all that cash that is publicized?!!" Yeah. Based on toy-user sales, not productive products, though.
"If PC programmers want to spend money on licensing logos, let them talk to Ellison at ORACLE. He'll be happy to take their tens of thousands, up front..."
Puzzler, I'm not too concerned about Microsoft truly emulating Apple. The "Let's track everything" mentality was first successfully modeled by time-sharing computer companies, then cell-phones' "usage minutes, any portion of the next minute rounds up to increase our fees". ISP Usage Caps is another example. That Microsoft has the ability to embed tracking cookies into their "OS" (cough cough) is difficult to accept because, back in WinME days, the Europeans claimed "embedding a web-browser was monopolistic". So, now the tracking-cookie functions are part of the OS itself and that's NOT monopolistic?
What other Google-Yahoo-ISP is allowed to access Windows 8 tracking systems?Last edited by OllieTSB; 5th Apr 2014 at 09:42.
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I'll start to worry that Microsoft is turning into Apple when Microsoft no longer allows hardware built by other companies to run its OSs. LOLOriginally Posted by PuzZLeR
You burst my bubble now.Originally Posted by OllieTSB
Didn't want to say it as to avoid a flamethrow - but Microsoft's new direction, particularly with 8.X, feels very Apple-esque. If we want a Mac, we get a Mac, but we shouldn't get that Apple feeling when we buy a PC. -
I didn't have much trouble finding out how to set up a local account and will tell my sister the option exists when I help her set up her new Windows 8.1 PC tomorrow, but I have a feeling that she will probably want access to free games and apps through the Microsoft Store.Originally Posted by OllieTSB
As for the rest, I think you are more than a little paranoid at this point. I'll wait and see what happens. -
And usually idiotic comments like this addresses TWO people. Wheee... the tracking systems ARE there, but please feel free to lie and deny. That's usually your ploy.
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It hasn't been used yet.Originally Posted by OllieTSB
Maybe you should move to some flavor of Linux or Unix full time, like some of the others here who are paranoid on the subject of tracking, or big business monetizing things that they believe should not be monetized. After all, what are the other non-Microsoft OS alternatives? Chrome OS, OSX and Android. LOL -
Tracking? Just my opinion:
1. Install and use a decent firewall, NOT Microsoft's useless one. Unfortunately I can't get Comodo to work with W8.x, so I use Zone Alert. It's OK.
2. Use a 'Hosts' file to block most adware.
3. Don't use Internet Explorer, especially IE 11, I swear it's designed for tracking. Try Firefox or Chrome or something else.
4. Never, ever, use Google search engine. All they do is track. Try DuckDuckGo or similar. No tracking. -
I've been off Google at home for a couple of years now - too many of my reasons to list, but tracking is one of them. The final clincher was their release of the Chromebook - that thing is evil. Poor kids today.Originally Posted by redwudzI hate VHS. I always did.
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While some of these suggestions may be prove helpful, the tracking being discussed is something new, and is not cookie based. Microsoft, Google, and Apple are developing their own private tracking schemes that do not use cookies. There is a story about that here: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/10/4823944/microsoft-reportedly-working-to-replace-coo...es-ad-tracking If there is an option for no tracking, as may turn out to be the case (to avoid lawsuits) I'd be satisfied with that. If there isn't, I don't really care that much. My online and offline activities can be tracked and monetized in so many other ways, the fact that there may one more some day makes little difference to me.Originally Posted by redwudz
However, if people are going to get their panties in a knot because an operating system does have or will have some form of private tracking built-in, then they had better stick to operating systems made by entities who are not working on better ways to track users. -
Microsoft already buried most successful Operating System Windows XP by end of life status today. But, Market Share statistics as of 08 APR 2014 is as under:
Windows XP still holds 27.69% market share against 11.3% of combined Win 8 + Win 8.1.
Windows XP 27.69% market share seems like a constant, Microsoft will face real tough time to bring it further down even marginally! It means that Microsoft will also bury Windows 8 (8.1) soon... as an unsuccessful OS...
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