Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Knoll on December 25, 2014, 01:56:41 am
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The Wife got me a nextbook as Christmas gift to replace my lil Asus EeePC that's still running XP, and just keeps on tickin'. But with XP no longer being supported and the Eee getting older every day, I've been looking for something new.
Nextbook seems to be nice machine. Old eyes appreciate the somewhat bigger screen & better resolution. And it's useful to be able to use it as a tablet AND then hook it onto the keyboard and use as laptop.
But Windows 8.1? I hate Microsoft!!
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Hahah, I was just ranting about this. I'm at my wife's parents for Xmas in Boston, and they use windows 8.1. Can't stand it. It updated itself and ended up locking us out because it needed out Microsoft account password, which we couldn't remember and wouldn't accept the password that we had used numerous times before to log in. Can't stand the "start screen" I just get lost and frustrated using it. I loved xp and windows 7, which is what I currently use. Can't stand 8.
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My daughter got me a laptop last year that had Windows 8 on it. After a few hours of screwing with it (she's my tech guy) she decided to send it back for a laptop with Windows 7. Windows 7 is similar enough to XP that it didn't take me too long to get used to it.
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I dumped my old XP PC for a new one this year. The computer shop I do business with won't even sell a computer with Windows 8 on it and it is a big shop. I like Windows 7 a bunch.
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There are 2 books out to help with Windows8 at our local book store. They are called "Windows8 for Dummies" and "Windows8 for Old Dummies".
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About a year ago I bought a new computer with 8.1 on it, and the sales person assured me that it was very easy to get used to. He lied big time. So far I have seen NOOOOO advantage for the user in that program. Wait till you want to save something. In spite of my best efforts, I usually cannot get it to go where I can find it. It even puts text documents in among photos, and puts photos in places that are hard to find. If I'm trying to attach a photo to an Email or post it to a web page, many times it opens the folder where the photo is supposed to be, but it is not there and no amount of trying can put it there. I had better get back to a Christmas attitude, because I could fuss a long time about that thing: Explorer failing to open or to work when open, difficulty in shutting down, oh yes I did say I was going to put this to rest didn't I.
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Fellers,
Since I don't know if a link is allowed, google classic shell.
It is a free download that brings back your normal, regular start menu that never should have went away. With this, I can't even tell that you are not in xp/ win7.
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You will get used to it. If it is a touch screen it makes sense. If not you don't have to use the tiles. I use XP, 7 and 8.1 at work.
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There are 2 books out to help with Windows8 at our local book store. They are called "Windows8 for Dummies" and "Windows8 for Old Dummies".
Which one did you buy Pat? ;D
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There are 2 books out to help with Windows8 at our local book store. They are called "Windows8 for Dummies" and "Windows8 for Old Dummies".
:) ;) :)
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I'm waiting for the old fart dumb ass version, Clint. ;)
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... google classic shell.
It is a free download that brings back your normal, regular start menu ...
Yes, classic shell is helpful.
Thanks!
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hahaha you old guys are funny. i got a tablet that runs windows 8 with all the widgets and window apps and it also runs full windows as the classic desktop. you should be able to get to the desktop version fairly easily.
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For once I can offer a tip that can help since this is what I do for a living as an IT Director. For everyone that has a Windows 8.1 computer or tablet, you can set it so it will boot directly to the desktop instead of the Metro Tiles or Start screen. Here are the steps:
1. After booting Windows 8.1, click the Desktop tile to enter Desktop mode.
2. Right-click on any open area in the taskbar, then click Properties.
3. Select the Navigation tab, then scroll down to the Start section. Check the box next to "Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in."
4. Click OK, then reboot. Windows should put you right into Desktop.
If you want to go to the Start screen, click the old start button. And if you find yourself on the Start screen and want to get back to the desktop side, just click the default Desktop box.
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Windows H8
>:(
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It's funny how people hate anything new. Yeah, it is a PITA to figure it all out sometimes, but chances are in a few weeks you wont even notice.
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9 months and it is still an absolute clusterfluster.
One thing I cannot seem to get past is how I am unable to move the pointer anywhere near the edges of the screen without the stupid bar coming over to interrupt the work flow. This is an absolute pain because I use an spreadsheet that requires me to use the right edge of my screen.
Seriously thinking of going with a Mac and soon!
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Absolutely hate W 8.1! I'm learning to use a PC all over again, kinda sorta. Wasn't very good on the previous versions, but I was getting there. Now....dang it!
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Poor ole MS is in a corner. Seems they've come up pretty much a bust in the phone marketplace. Popularity of tablet machines couldn't be ignored. And, of course, their dominance of the pc market had to be maintained. So the objective of developing an os for tablets and pc's made sense.
But pc's are mouse/keyboard centric while tablets are touchscreen centric. So W8 tries to be both fish & fowl.
JoJo and others may be correct in maintaining that it will take a bit of time/experience for users to become accustomed to W8. Others argue that Microsoft needs to make changes to the os to overcome the backlash/resistance of its user base. Likely a combo of both.
But in the meantime ... it ain't purty or fun!
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@JW - You can turn the edge functions off if you really want to. Go into the setting and there are separate controls for turning edge functions off.
For everyone else - When Win 8 first came out I didn't like it either. But I had to learn it. All my new work machines are being installed with 8. I try to impress on my users that they have two computers. One is a tablet for running apps like on your phone, iPad or Droid. The other is like the old Win 7 desktop. If they want to run an app, use the App computer. Otherwise stay on the Win 7 desktop side and treat it like a normal computer.
Windows 10: If you did not know, Microsoft is going to come out with Windows 10 sometime next year. I have the Win 10 beta loaded on a computer and testing it. Microsoft is going back to the Windows 7 desktop look. The Meta Tile or Start page is going to go away. All apps and programs will run from the desktop. When you click on the start button, it brings up the old style menu and also all the icons for the apps. It is easy to ask why didn't they do this is the first place. But it was a growing process from Windows 8 (which everyone hated), to Windows 8.1 which was much better to finally getting it right with Windows 10.
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I've been using Windows 8 for the past year or so and I while I've now gotten used to it, I still find it to be over-complicated and not very user-friendly. But this is to be expected I suppose. We're in a transition period for technology right now. We're moving from devices that were strictly desktop machines to devices that are increasingly mobile. It will probably be a few iterations of design before they nail down a good system that can work well in the diverse tech market that we have today.
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Never been a PC/Windows fan but my ol' MacBook bought the farm and I could only afford this HP (Hunk of Poop!) laptop! I sure miss my Mac! :(