I like Win8.1: What Would Compel Me to Upgrade?
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You can use 8.1 without going anywhere near the tiles. I've been using it at work for months. No different than Win 7. I don't miss the start menu. Never used it much with Win 7 anyway.
Kevin
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The true question is what compelled you to upgrade to Win 8.x...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
I'll offer a non-hater answer; There's nothing wrong with 10 at all. Windows 8-8.1 was the major revamp to Windows, for better performance, security, awesome features like drive-pooling, Client-side Hyper-V etc. Windows 10 is "mostly" a UI revamp, you get all the benefits of 8.1 plus a swishy new UI. EG, even though there was nothing bad about the windows 8 startmenu (Yes I said it, I'm not a mindless hater drone, I see it's value), they did actually improve it by not having it fullscreen anymore, and integrated Cortana, which offers serious value btw. There is also Virtual Desktops similar to what's existed in Linux for a long time. You can literally have multiple desktops, and switch between them with a key combination. There is also new apps that are incredibly useful. I use the new XBOX App, it allows me to connect to my Xbox One downstairs and play games directly on my PC monitor. I'm almost always on my PC doing something so I don't really get to play my Xbox much. It's awesome doing the usual PC chores on one monitor, and have Halo or Peggle 2 on the other :) There's also the new MS Edge browser. It's brand new and has nothing to do with IE. There is a huge performance difference compared to chrome and FF, and it takes much less battery compared to those two browsers as well on a tablet or laptop. Finally, there's no driver issues at this time in win10. Even if you had hardware from a crappy vendor that didn't make their win10 drivers; It doesn't matter as every windows 8.1 driver is fully compatible with 10.
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I'll offer a non-hater answer; There's nothing wrong with 10 at all. Windows 8-8.1 was the major revamp to Windows, for better performance, security, awesome features like drive-pooling, Client-side Hyper-V etc. Windows 10 is "mostly" a UI revamp, you get all the benefits of 8.1 plus a swishy new UI. EG, even though there was nothing bad about the windows 8 startmenu (Yes I said it, I'm not a mindless hater drone, I see it's value), they did actually improve it by not having it fullscreen anymore, and integrated Cortana, which offers serious value btw. There is also Virtual Desktops similar to what's existed in Linux for a long time. You can literally have multiple desktops, and switch between them with a key combination. There is also new apps that are incredibly useful. I use the new XBOX App, it allows me to connect to my Xbox One downstairs and play games directly on my PC monitor. I'm almost always on my PC doing something so I don't really get to play my Xbox much. It's awesome doing the usual PC chores on one monitor, and have Halo or Peggle 2 on the other :) There's also the new MS Edge browser. It's brand new and has nothing to do with IE. There is a huge performance difference compared to chrome and FF, and it takes much less battery compared to those two browsers as well on a tablet or laptop. Finally, there's no driver issues at this time in win10. Even if you had hardware from a crappy vendor that didn't make their win10 drivers; It doesn't matter as every windows 8.1 driver is fully compatible with 10.
I do not hate! Windows 8.x. I just think it was a bad move - and Windows 10 is only an upgrade for that (means removes some wrongly forced features)... All I say, that there is nothing in Windows 8.x or 10 that justifies an upgrade (not to say 3 version numbers)...
Greyze wrote:
It's brand new and has nothing to do with IE.
Except of course the rendering and JavaSCript engine...Those are not more than forks and updates of Trident and Chakra...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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And you do no want to compelle a second time...:-) But seriously - 8.1 was a good fix fo 8, which was terrible... Windows 10 is even better fix for 8...But if it works for you, do not upgrade...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Have to agree 8.0 was a pile of steaming ... 8.1 fixed the really bad bits to make it usable. I may have to hang my head in shame, but I quite like 8.1
No shame there - you have all the right to like what you like and do what you do. Do not hurt others...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
Newton, I am of the exact same opinion. It's not that there's patently anything wrong with Windows 10, I played with the preview for quite awhile. The reason I don't move is the same as yours, the fact that there just isn't anything in the product that compels me to perform an upgrade which could potentially break my systems. I haven't found even ONE feature that stands out and says to me "this will assist in your work" or "this will fix ---- problem". To me, at the present time, it would be nothing but "playing" with the configuration of a well running system. Seriously. Same thing with all my other machines running 7. As for the intrusion part? Yeah, that's a concern too, but mainly it's the "it ain't broke, why fix it?" thinking that stopped me. -CM
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Have to agree 8.0 was a pile of steaming ... 8.1 fixed the really bad bits to make it usable. I may have to hang my head in shame, but I quite like 8.1
Don't feel bad, I agree with you. 8.1 is solid, there's really nothing wrong with it.
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I do not hate! Windows 8.x. I just think it was a bad move - and Windows 10 is only an upgrade for that (means removes some wrongly forced features)... All I say, that there is nothing in Windows 8.x or 10 that justifies an upgrade (not to say 3 version numbers)...
Greyze wrote:
It's brand new and has nothing to do with IE.
Except of course the rendering and JavaSCript engine...Those are not more than forks and updates of Trident and Chakra...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
I've realised that the one "good", one "bad", version of windows is actually quite a smart little marketing ploy by Microsoft. Fair enough the 8.0 was bad and needed 8.1, but I think that We all know lots of people hate change. So when MS need to move the tech behind windows on, it's always going to meet with a lot of resistance, be that founded, or as usual totally unfounded. Now what do MS do, the roll out a new version that takes the tech (and UI) changes to the extreme, the vocal change haters jump up and down and declare it the worst move ever. Shortly after, out come the next "all new" version of Windows, which is pretty much the same tech everyone hated, but with the changes reigned in a little, and now everyone loves it. Voilà, MS gets their tech upgrad out, and most people are happy with it.
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I've realised that the one "good", one "bad", version of windows is actually quite a smart little marketing ploy by Microsoft. Fair enough the 8.0 was bad and needed 8.1, but I think that We all know lots of people hate change. So when MS need to move the tech behind windows on, it's always going to meet with a lot of resistance, be that founded, or as usual totally unfounded. Now what do MS do, the roll out a new version that takes the tech (and UI) changes to the extreme, the vocal change haters jump up and down and declare it the worst move ever. Shortly after, out come the next "all new" version of Windows, which is pretty much the same tech everyone hated, but with the changes reigned in a little, and now everyone loves it. Voilà, MS gets their tech upgrad out, and most people are happy with it.
Totally right...The only problem lately is that people have the choice...so if Microsoft pushes too far it can lose a lot...Users may convert to other OS or stay with the still working previous version...In both cases Microsoft lose all the money invested into a product no-one wants...
Skipper: We'll fix it. Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this? Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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You can use 8.1 without going anywhere near the tiles. I've been using it at work for months. No different than Win 7. I don't miss the start menu. Never used it much with Win 7 anyway.
Kevin
I like a few of the features of a "classic" menu (ability to send items to the desktop, overall organization, etc.) For 8.1 I just installed an item called "Start8" from Stardock. All of $5 and works flawlessly. I see the "Metro" screen only when I want to which is usually to start up a game of "Words with Friends" or something.... otherwise the thing is Win7 improved and the slightly flattened GUI isn't any problem. Starts at desktop. Solid release. Sticking to it.
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You can use 8.1 without going anywhere near the tiles. I've been using it at work for months. No different than Win 7. I don't miss the start menu. Never used it much with Win 7 anyway.
Kevin
So it sounds like everyone's argument for why Win 8.x is great is because you can ignore all the crappy 8.x features and treat it like Win 7. It's like saying spinach is great because you don't have to eat it. If you ever do want to use an app built for Win 8.x, you better have a lot of spare time. Since solitaire is basically a time killer anyway, I guess it shouldn't matter that it take 10 tries and 30 minutes just to open the app. And they should have named it Window, because you can't have more than one. If you toggle away from a Win 8 app and try to go back, that app will crash. I'm just hoping Win 10 is to Win 8 as Win 7 was to Vista.
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So it sounds like everyone's argument for why Win 8.x is great is because you can ignore all the crappy 8.x features and treat it like Win 7. It's like saying spinach is great because you don't have to eat it. If you ever do want to use an app built for Win 8.x, you better have a lot of spare time. Since solitaire is basically a time killer anyway, I guess it shouldn't matter that it take 10 tries and 30 minutes just to open the app. And they should have named it Window, because you can't have more than one. If you toggle away from a Win 8 app and try to go back, that app will crash. I'm just hoping Win 10 is to Win 8 as Win 7 was to Vista.
Member 8234661 wrote:
So it sounds like everyone's argument for why Win 8.x is great is because you can ignore all the crappy 8.x features and treat it like Win 7. It's like saying spinach is great because you don't have to eat it.
Not quite. It's more like this... My meal plate has steak, potatoes, mixed vegetables and spinach. I like the first three and not the last, so I just eat the first three. Maybe the spinach should not be there but I can ignore it. But if the spinach was "mixed in" with the other three then it would be a major regression.
Kevin
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Newton, I am of the exact same opinion. It's not that there's patently anything wrong with Windows 10, I played with the preview for quite awhile. The reason I don't move is the same as yours, the fact that there just isn't anything in the product that compels me to perform an upgrade which could potentially break my systems. I haven't found even ONE feature that stands out and says to me "this will assist in your work" or "this will fix ---- problem". To me, at the present time, it would be nothing but "playing" with the configuration of a well running system. Seriously. Same thing with all my other machines running 7. As for the intrusion part? Yeah, that's a concern too, but mainly it's the "it ain't broke, why fix it?" thinking that stopped me. -CM
Great summary of the entire situation. 100% agree.
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
After I got everything I used on the desktop, except Kendal, what was left was an imitation of 7 on an 8.1 machine without the start button. There was a lot less hacking around to get Windows 10 to do what I want. A pro would not have any trouble adapting to 10. My friend Sam will take lots of hand holding when he loses his Win 7 machine. In short 10's start button makes the operating system way easier. Yes who ever called me a loser for not loving Rust I'm sure you won't love this either.
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
I guess it really depends upon the features you want to use. Almost all the changes from 8.1 to 10 are totally useless to me so the only reason I did the update was because it was free. Here's the 4 main 'features' that I turned off/disabled on Windows 10. 1) New Start Menu. I don't like the implementation. I always organize my start menu and that's not really feasible with the Windows 10 Start Menu (no hierarchy). Also, there's a fairly low hard limit on how many items you can have on the Windows 10 Start Menu. I'll just stick with Classic Shell. 2) Cortana. I have no interest in talking to my computer and I've never had the best results with Bing search. I also don't want a search on my local machine to also search the web. You can disable it (and I did). 3) Privacy! In Windows 10, the default is to opt in to sharing on almost everything. If you like your privacy, you've got a lot of options to change. 4) Virtual Desktops. Hm, I've got them on my linux box but never use them so I doubt I'll be using them on my Windows 10 box. I basically hide the 'task view button' to regain real state on the task bar.
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I guess it really depends upon the features you want to use. Almost all the changes from 8.1 to 10 are totally useless to me so the only reason I did the update was because it was free. Here's the 4 main 'features' that I turned off/disabled on Windows 10. 1) New Start Menu. I don't like the implementation. I always organize my start menu and that's not really feasible with the Windows 10 Start Menu (no hierarchy). Also, there's a fairly low hard limit on how many items you can have on the Windows 10 Start Menu. I'll just stick with Classic Shell. 2) Cortana. I have no interest in talking to my computer and I've never had the best results with Bing search. I also don't want a search on my local machine to also search the web. You can disable it (and I did). 3) Privacy! In Windows 10, the default is to opt in to sharing on almost everything. If you like your privacy, you've got a lot of options to change. 4) Virtual Desktops. Hm, I've got them on my linux box but never use them so I doubt I'll be using them on my Windows 10 box. I basically hide the 'task view button' to regain real state on the task bar.
A great summary of what is out there on Win10. Yep, I don't care about any of it. I'm running a Win7 VM and I had uninstalled the GWX (get windows 10) installation update. Mysteriously, it is now back and running and it runs again every time I restart the VM even though it tells me my video card wont' upgrad to win 10 anyway. Total debacle!! And there's no Ballmer to blame any more. :-D
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
I find it interesting that all the talk is on the UI changes. Nothing about how MS is trying to make the OS a service and the collection of our data. Yes you can talk about Facebook and Google and how they already do it. That does not make it right. I personally do not use Facebook it escapes me why I would want to put my dirty laundry out for all to see. Google I do use but limited I sure do not use Gmail and I sure will not do any banking on a Google OS.
Buckrogerz
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
that's the craziest f***ing thing i ever heard.
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Yep, I said it out loud. I like Windows 8.1. I develop on it and it works great for me so why would I even care about Windows 10? Seriously, are there any benefits? Mostly what it sounds like I get is MORE INTRUSION from MICROSOFT. Anyone? Anyone?
So you feel good, I use Windows 8.1 at home and aside from a few quirks, prefer it over Windows 7. I'd upgrade my Windows 7 work computer to Windows 10, but it's a laptop, which are notorious for not having drivers for all the little things, like the touch pad.
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Yeah, the Pi is great... Well, the Pi 2B, actually... Just got it last week. Trouble is, I haven't managed to think of anything useful to do with it yet. Really just bought it because I was having a really depressing week and needed to take my mind off things... But hey, I have a server running 24/7 in my apartment, using about as much electricity as a cell phone... I'm sure I'll think of something cool to do with it.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)I have my Raspberry Pi running as a server, running minidlna for streaming to my TV, SFTP for "cloud" storage, and shellinabox for CLI (and causing panic in people who think I'm hacking their computer from within a browser). I've had the opposite experience, running a laptop with Ubuntu (Gnome 3 for myself as a WM, and MATE for my wife), with a partition for Windows 8.1 that hardly ever gets booted.
