General Chat

Has anyone seen it?

I had a quick "run-through" today. Don't like it at all!!!!!!

One BIG drawback - you won't have your provider's email! You will have to get Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc.

If you're thinking of getting a new computer, DO IT NOW! I don't think Windows 7 will be available after February.

Windows8 is a sort of schizophrenic operating system which tries both to support the traditional desktop and new mobile devices - tablets, Surface, Smartphones. One of the main design aims is to remove much of the usual fluff in Windows leaving a leaner design look. For sure lots of people are going to hate it. Most OEMs (Acer, Dell etc etc) are moving to Windows8. Some (not all) give an option to install Win7 instead, though Win8 is the default.

With a bit of effort you can have Windows8 doing whatever you wish it to do - there are already a host of add ons to put the start button back for instance. You can have as many email accounts as you want but as u say at least one on the approved list will be tied to your MS credentials. This is supposed to deter unauth use of licences ...

Right now it is possible to get an upgrade version of Win8 for £ 25 - best to get the DVD version.

Win8 - unlike VISTA - is not especially demanding on hardware.

Win8 is ideal for tablets / smartphones but is a real dogs dinner on the desktop. Given that the concept of tying the person to a fixed location rather than allowing a connexion from wherever somebody may be this is not important except for serious gamers who will in any case be moving to Linux ( Steam et al) . Domestic computing will mostly shift to the TV, smartphone and tablet.

My own take is that if you want to go on with traditional windows then the end of the line is Windows7. The latest versions of Linux Mint / Suse / Ubuntu will give you pretty much the same thing as Win7 for free. Linux will run most Windows apps using Wine.

Browsers are pretty much the same regardless of OS, though Chrome insists on running full screen on Win8. The sort of computing we have been used to since the mid 1980s is on its last legs.

By far the best bang for buck right now is the Chromebook at £ 225 but it is sold out. If you like high quality trad computing and don't mind shelling out then go for Apple.
There are some serious quality issues with certain leading Windows suppliers but you'll have to google to find the names and models...

GRU does not run very well on Smartphones / small tablets. Even if it was shrunk to size ( easy if they really knew how to use CSS ) the design is wrong for touch devices. Ancestry otoh have an excellent app.

good luck

Rollo ~ will you get it?

I'm seriously thinking of shelling out for a new computer so that I can use Windows 7!

I'm not against change..... but Windows 8 is too much of a change all at once for my aging brain cells :-(

I have windows 8 and you do have your ISP providers email.
I find it much quicker and very easy to use.
It also has IE10 which is also Ok.

Foggy

Moi ? I use Linux, though I have Win8 and the beta since some time back.

Many in the industry believe that Microsoft have this time not only shot a foot off ( ME, VISTA ) but the whole darn leg. My take is that they have got a long way ahead of the customers. Right now it is ezpc to do anything that runs in the tiles but legacy apps are a right pain. Win8 is really about the Cloud, tablets (Surface) amd mobiles. As a trad desktop OS it is pants.

Right now yr best bet is prob to rush out and get a Windows7 machine while you can.
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/clearance-deals. You can then get a £ 25 Win8 upgrade from Microsoft's web site to UG as and when and if you are ready (the cheap Win8 UG licences are not for ever).

good luck

Senor, senor, let's overturn these tables
Disconnect these cables
This place don't make sense to me no more
Can you tell me what we're waiting for, senor ?