We had to buy a new laptop (well, we thought we had to but maybe not after all!) and of course it came with Windows 8. Oh boy. Why do they make it so different to Windows 7? Has anyone else struggled with it like I am?
brian said
09:50 PM Feb 11, 2014
If you would prefer that older windows 7 desktop, then download and install "Classic shell" which is freeware, or you can pay a pittance for "start8" and you will have the best of both worlds.
I use Classic shell and it is great, but I have been told that Start8 is even better.
google them both for more info.
neilnruth said
10:20 PM Feb 11, 2014
Yes, I prefer Windows 7 but Windows 8 is already installed and I guess I'll get it used to it eventually. At least I can still use 'desktop' which looks like the old one.
Cruising Cruze said
11:13 PM Feb 11, 2014
Hi there Ruth
As Brian told you, install the "Classic shell"
and you wont notice the difference with Windows 7 ( as much )
I would recommended it to use it as well
I'm still very happy with Win 7 here
John
Delta18 said
11:22 PM Feb 11, 2014
Microsoft are ditching it as soon as they can get a replacement running. That must give an idea of it's popularity.
-- Edited by Delta18 on Tuesday 11th of February 2014 11:23:23 PM
peterblack said
06:51 AM Feb 12, 2014
hi all.I'm still very happy with Win 7 no real dramas and im no expert on computers. Just a novice.
enjoy
jules47 said
08:49 AM Feb 12, 2014
Getting my computer updated today - have Windows 8 - going to 8.1 - the guy says it is "tighter", 8 is "loose" !!!! Whatever that means!
Yuglamron said
10:37 AM Feb 12, 2014
Yes for sure download classic shell if you prefer windows 7. 8 and 8.1 are designed to bridge the gap between the Android style of operating system and the PC. More and more of the stuff you can buy now runs an App style operating system, Phones ,Tablets TV's and very soon with Smart TV's you will be running everything through your TV.
Whatever Microsoft do with the next operating system it will probably be App based for sheer economic reasons. Too many phones and tablets running android/App based software. Just too big a slice of the market to ignore.
I was talking to a salesman in HN yesterday and he watches all his free to air TV through a smart TV. He doesn't watch the programs he likes when they are broadcast, with the smart TV he watches them when he wants whatever the time.
I used to love my '68 Jaguar S type but a modern Diesel Holden Cruise has better acceleration speed and fuel economy than my Jag.
It's the way of the world things change.
milo said
12:54 PM Feb 12, 2014
they are supposed to be working on windows 9 for release next year ,
nearly every second windows update is a bad one...
Santa said
10:27 AM Feb 13, 2014
I took delivery of a new PC running Windows 8.1 recently, have spent the past week running my old and new PC's side by side, experiencing the joys of configuring a new puter, i.e, setting up email, data transfer, loading programs, transferring bookmarks etc.
After all of the negative opinions (mostly from people who have never used the OS) must admit I was a little concerned that I may have been in for torrid time, nothing is further from the truth, it really has been a straight forward operation, most of what was there in XP is certainly still there, some things are accessed a little differently, no big deal, just takes a little getting used to.
Sure, like everything there is room for improvement, however a lot of this will come down to personal preferences and how we choose to set the machine up for our own use.
For them that's interested, it's a custom built PC.
Intel i7-4770 CPU
Gigabyte G1 B5 full size mother board
16GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM
1TB WD black HDD
LG BlueRay rewriter.
2 x 22 inch monitors (dual screen setup)
So, in answer to the question, what do people think of Windows 8? I'm impressed, setup was easy, and the OS while different is easy enough to come to terms with, not sure what all the fuss is about.
-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 13th of February 2014 10:27:36 AM
brian said
11:38 AM Feb 13, 2014
Like you Santa, I too find win8 a breeze to use.
I am constantly amazed at those who want new stuff to work just like the old one did.
That was one of the major problems that MS had in the early days, trying to make their new stuff work with the old.
Imagine if they made cars and aeroplanes where all of the old parts were still compatible with the new models.
Patto44 said
03:45 PM Feb 13, 2014
Hi Santa, Is your old software (Office, Firefox, etc.) compatible????
Thanks,
Patto
Santa said
10:02 AM Feb 14, 2014
Patto44 wrote:
Hi Santa, Is your old software (Office, Firefox, etc.) compatible????
Thanks, Patto
Morning Patto,
Most of my old software was fine, MS Office 2007 runs without drama, I use Outlook as my email client.
FireFox is a browser and is my browser of choice, so no problems there.
A couple of older programs I have are not supported so have simply upgraded to newer versions.
Hope that helps.
Ontos45 said
11:16 AM Feb 14, 2014
brian wrote:
Like you Santa, I too find win8 a breeze to use.
I am constantly amazed at those who want new stuff to work just like the old one did.
That was one of the major problems that MS had in the early days, trying to make their new stuff work with the old.
Imagine if they made cars and aeroplanes where all of the old parts were still compatible with the new models.
The DC3 Dakota from WW2 is still flying while it's contemporaries are sitting in plane parks rotting away. Nothing wrong inn liking something, be it computers or other hardware that's old, working and your comfortable with. Just my opinion. Old is beautiful.
Santa said
11:25 AM Feb 14, 2014
Running older software is fine provided the OS supports it, however much of the older stuff is way past its use by date and will only cause you grief if you try to run it.
Some times you just have to bite the bullet and use the rubbish bin.
Kooroorinya Kelpie said
07:22 AM Feb 15, 2014
Hi all. My opinion of Windows 8 is on par with my opinion of tow balls on surf boards. Anyone looking to replace a computer and, like me and others, is more comfortable with Windows 7 should have a look at the Dell site. Dell have a refurbishment facility and offer these units with the 'good old' systems installed, warranty and, best of all, 1800 customer support. Well worth a look IMHO. Cheers.
_wombat_ said
09:10 AM Feb 15, 2014
I have two Dell laptop's and would not buy another make, I also use Classic Shell on my Win 8
Have just bought a new laptop, my second machine running Windows 8.1, have not changed my opinion, like any new operating system it takes a little getting used to.
Windows 8.1 runs well on both my machines and is no more difficult to use than XP once you learn to find you way around, not a difficult task.
dING said
08:48 AM Dec 30, 2014
For those windows 8 users who liked win 7
There is a answer download "Classic shell"
And it returns most of the features that
Win 7 users have grown used to and lurve
Tis free and not a large download and easy to install
We had to buy a new laptop (well, we thought we had to but maybe not after all!) and of course it came with Windows 8. Oh boy. Why do they make it so different to Windows 7? Has anyone else struggled with it like I am?
If you would prefer that older windows 7 desktop, then download and install "Classic shell" which is freeware, or you can pay a pittance for "start8" and you will have the best of both worlds.
I use Classic shell and it is great, but I have been told that Start8 is even better.
google them both for more info.
Hi there Ruth
As Brian told you, install the "Classic shell"
and you wont notice the difference with Windows 7 ( as much )
I would recommended it to use it as well
I'm still very happy with Win 7 here
John
Microsoft are ditching it as soon as they can get a replacement running. That must give an idea of it's popularity.
-- Edited by Delta18 on Tuesday 11th of February 2014 11:23:23 PM
enjoy
Yes for sure download classic shell if you prefer windows 7. 8 and 8.1 are designed to bridge the gap between the Android style of operating system and the PC. More and more of the stuff you can buy now runs an App style operating system, Phones ,Tablets TV's and very soon with Smart TV's you will be running everything through your TV.
Whatever Microsoft do with the next operating system it will probably be App based for sheer economic reasons. Too many phones and tablets running android/App based software. Just too big a slice of the market to ignore.
I was talking to a salesman in HN yesterday and he watches all his free to air TV through a smart TV. He doesn't watch the programs he likes when they are broadcast, with the smart TV he watches them when he wants whatever the time.
I used to love my '68 Jaguar S type but a modern Diesel Holden Cruise has better acceleration speed and fuel economy than my Jag.
It's the way of the world things change.
nearly every second windows update is a bad one...
I took delivery of a new PC running Windows 8.1 recently, have spent the past week running my old and new PC's side by side, experiencing the joys of configuring a new puter, i.e, setting up email, data transfer, loading programs, transferring bookmarks etc.
After all of the negative opinions (mostly from people who have never used the OS) must admit I was a little concerned that I may have been in for torrid time, nothing is further from the truth, it really has been a straight forward operation, most of what was there in XP is certainly still there, some things are accessed a little differently, no big deal, just takes a little getting used to.
Sure, like everything there is room for improvement, however a lot of this will come down to personal preferences and how we choose to set the machine up for our own use.
For them that's interested, it's a custom built PC.
Intel i7-4770 CPU
Gigabyte G1 B5 full size mother board
16GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM
1TB WD black HDD
LG BlueRay rewriter.
2 x 22 inch monitors (dual screen setup)
So, in answer to the question, what do people think of Windows 8? I'm impressed, setup was easy, and the OS while different is easy enough to come to terms with, not sure what all the fuss is about.
-- Edited by Santa on Thursday 13th of February 2014 10:27:36 AM
Like you Santa, I too find win8 a breeze to use.
I am constantly amazed at those who want new stuff to work just like the old one did.
That was one of the major problems that MS had in the early days, trying to make their new stuff work with the old.
Imagine if they made cars and aeroplanes where all of the old parts were still compatible with the new models.
Thanks,
Patto
Morning Patto,
Most of my old software was fine, MS Office 2007 runs without drama, I use Outlook as my email client.
FireFox is a browser and is my browser of choice, so no problems there.
A couple of older programs I have are not supported so have simply upgraded to newer versions.
Hope that helps.
The DC3 Dakota from WW2 is still flying while it's contemporaries are sitting in plane parks rotting away. Nothing wrong inn liking something, be it computers or other hardware that's old, working and your comfortable with. Just my opinion. Old is beautiful.
Running older software is fine provided the OS supports it, however much of the older stuff is way past its use by date and will only cause you grief if you try to run it.
Some times you just have to bite the bullet and use the rubbish bin.
I have two Dell laptop's and would not buy another make, I also use Classic Shell on my Win 8
http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/ FREE
http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/ $5 or $50
ah, my post has at last arrived and it's not as I wrote it the second site should have been
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
wonder if it will work this time.
Hi.You can get windows 7 put back on screen.
Have just bought a new laptop, my second machine running Windows 8.1, have not changed my opinion, like any new operating system it takes a little getting used to.
Windows 8.1 runs well on both my machines and is no more difficult to use than XP once you learn to find you way around, not a difficult task.
For those windows 8 users who liked win 7
There is a answer download "Classic shell"
And it returns most of the features that
Win 7 users have grown used to and lurve
Tis free and not a large download and easy to install
Tis highly recommended
Software is only out of date
Cause the manufactures say so
Nothing wrong with out of date
Software if it does what you want it
To do keep on using it tis only dangerous
Cause they want you to spend ya money
And buy a new one -- Actually tis prob safer
Than a new one cause all the Plicks who write
These bugs n things move on to the new version