Windows 8.1
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Do we have functionality from previous versions back yet, i.e. - Classic theme and full customisation options for window colours - Useful status bar information in Explorer (total size when selecting multiple, version information when selecting single) - Bye bye Metro by default - Double clicking various common file formats (PDF, AVI at least) doesn't open full screen Metro apps by default
Answers: 1) I don't know. Personally I'm happy with default, so didn't bother 2) yes 3) you can get rid of most of it with "taskbar properties". (I heard 8.2 is going to rip out more of it) 4) No, you have to manually install the programs (sumatraPDF, VLC, whatever), then associate in file explorer
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Metro is absolutely not an advance for PC users (maybe it is for tablet). It is a reversion to one-app-at-a-time computing which Microsoft correctly decided was outdated in 1990 when they brought out Windows. With two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPUs to play with it's even more nonsensical now than it was then.
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Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V are one-handed (left-hand) shortcuts unless you have particularly small hands. Pinky on Ctrl, forefinger on C then V. I can do Ctrl-N left-handed without discomfort.
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I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.
I installed this on my granddads computer (he's 74). He WILL like the new solitaire after all!!!! However, to change apps, the only way he could find was to turn the laptop off, and back on again... He did ask, where is the 'red x' and 'I couldn't see a 'back button' (he has android on a tablet), both of which I can't argue with. I said just press the start button..... a whole new world, you wouldn't think the start button (physical button on keyboard) has been there for the last 20 odd years would you!
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...two buttons you don't really need is "a lot better"? :laugh:
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
I'm more impressed by the improved disk I/O performance, and progress display personally. Hadn't even noticed those buttons.
"If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." Alan Kay.
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Yes, I am also VERY interested in getting rid of Metro. If I can do that I might actually re-install Windows 8.
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
Start8, StartIsBack and Classic Shell come to mind. Start8 and StartIsBack are pay for, but they're pretty inexpensive. Classic Shell is a freebie with lots of options. I dislike the flat look (and lack of configuration) of the Win 8/8.1 desktop UI but the improvements to the underlying OS are welcome.
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I don't surf one-handed...
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
Sorry replied on the wrong comment. Meant for Ed. Newb mistake.
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Sorry replied on the wrong comment. Meant for Ed. Newb mistake.
:laugh: We've all done it! (Not "surf one handed", you understand...)
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
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Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V are one-handed (left-hand) shortcuts unless you have particularly small hands. Pinky on Ctrl, forefinger on C then V. I can do Ctrl-N left-handed without discomfort.
I just use ctrl-ins/shift-ins with my right hand (I drive my mouse with my left hand to avoid carpal tunnel issues). Thankfully, they haven't take away all the keyboard shortcuts... yet.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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It's only $5. Classic Shell is nice but doesn't give you everything that Start8 does. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Why pay, just get Start Menu 8. Gives all features of the above, takes out Metro completely (Heck it even did that with Win8), and it has the best price of them all, FREE! It is one of IOBit's offerings.
Thanks! :thumbsup: /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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Have you heard of Crtl+C & Ctrl+V ??? Unless you have only one hand, You should not need buttons.
OK if you have a keyboard, kind of difficult on a touch screen
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I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.
How does hibernation not work? It's better than ever, the newer hybrid hibernation is a dream on a laptop, just suspend and forget, the OS will deal with it. Doesn't matter how much battery I had, when I open my laptop it just get's back where it was, taking a little more time if the battery was empty. Fonts and scaling are a huge issue, but that's thoroughly resolved in the new Metro apps. Of course, if you ignore the new and improved avenue, you'll still be seeing only the old problems. This hatred on Windows 8 borders on the irrational, I use it on my dev machines and even in VMs and have absolutely zero problems with it. Even if you don't like the new stuff, the only new thing you must use (and even then it's optional) is a full screen customizable launcher, which frankly 10 times better than a list of 10 programs on the bulging messy start menu. At least 3rd party start menus are much more functional than Windows 7's.
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I can't find the article I read about it, but apparently he was fired over the Nokia deal. TL/DR: Ballmer wanted Nokia, board didn't, he threw a hissy fit and got his way, at least in the short run.
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Metro is absolutely not an advance for PC users (maybe it is for tablet). It is a reversion to one-app-at-a-time computing which Microsoft correctly decided was outdated in 1990 when they brought out Windows. With two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPUs to play with it's even more nonsensical now than it was then.
You are uneducated. I am using Two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPU. Until windows 8 metro I have never seen a app use 64 bits correctly, let alone a single app correctly handle 200 GB. The only reason not to like metro is the fact nothing is programmed for it yet. Your opinion is not based on technology, but mere thin air.
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Do we have functionality from previous versions back yet, i.e. - Classic theme and full customisation options for window colours - Useful status bar information in Explorer (total size when selecting multiple, version information when selecting single) - Bye bye Metro by default - Double clicking various common file formats (PDF, AVI at least) doesn't open full screen Metro apps by default
- Of course not, and I never really thought that many people customized their Windows colors that much. However, I use the Bing Desktop, so I get a new bg image and color theme each day. Keeps things fresh. - Total size when selecting multiple: yes. Version information when selecting single: no. TBH, I can't imagine why I'd want to see version information in file explorer (that's what the properties dialog is for, after all), but to each his own, I suppose. - You know the answer to that. Like it or not, it's not going away anytime soon. - This is easily resolved once you install your pdf reader of choice and set as default (or whatever). With a fresh installation, the only PDF reader installed is the metro version, which is a step up from the no reader installed of versions past. Your first two points are all about lost configuration options, and your last two are about not wanting to configure your installation. Sorry, but can't have it both ways.
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How does hibernation not work? It's better than ever, the newer hybrid hibernation is a dream on a laptop, just suspend and forget, the OS will deal with it. Doesn't matter how much battery I had, when I open my laptop it just get's back where it was, taking a little more time if the battery was empty. Fonts and scaling are a huge issue, but that's thoroughly resolved in the new Metro apps. Of course, if you ignore the new and improved avenue, you'll still be seeing only the old problems. This hatred on Windows 8 borders on the irrational, I use it on my dev machines and even in VMs and have absolutely zero problems with it. Even if you don't like the new stuff, the only new thing you must use (and even then it's optional) is a full screen customizable launcher, which frankly 10 times better than a list of 10 programs on the bulging messy start menu. At least 3rd party start menus are much more functional than Windows 7's.
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I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.
What third party application are you using to get the Start menu back?
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I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.
Haven't tried large fonts, hibernation works great for me on three of four devices (fourth is a desktop where I've turned it off). Explorer is improved (and I had never noticed the copy/paste buttons missing in 7 - I always use right-click menu), as is task manager and a whole bunch of other things. It's also much faster to start than 7 used to be, and seems to leave me more RAM free at boot to desktop. I actually quite like Metro too (even on my laptop and desktop), but it is lacking *quality* apps. The store is full of rubbish so there isn't much point in being in metro (or even visiting the store). I actually really like metro IE, faster than chrome for me in most cases and gives me more space/focus on the actual content I care about. The annoying thing is occasionally it behaves differently to the desktop one and I'm forced to leave it. The twitter app is pretty good but has a few niggles, and the Facebook app is ok if you care about that. The email client is fine for my personal mail, but I wouldn't use it for work. After that, everything else starts to fall down - either I don't have a use for it, or the apps are poorly written/designed/don't fit my use case. On the other hand, I don't have an iPad or Android tablet either, and I'm a dev, so maybe I just don't fit the target demographic for tablet/touch apps.
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Start8, StartIsBack and Classic Shell come to mind. Start8 and StartIsBack are pay for, but they're pretty inexpensive. Classic Shell is a freebie with lots of options. I dislike the flat look (and lack of configuration) of the Win 8/8.1 desktop UI but the improvements to the underlying OS are welcome.
