I moved from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 recently as well. It takes some getting used to the new "Start" menu which is still essentially Metro, except they've renamed it to Start. There are mods that override it, however I rather get used to it now, than be forced to do so when the next OS comes out and it can no longer be overriden or whatnot.
Performance wise, I'd say everything loads up a bit faster than in Windows 7. In my case it also seemed to use less resources. I chose to go with the 64 bit version of Win8 even though I only had 2GB RAM installed at the time, but I knew I was going to upgrade. Surprisingly, it used either the same amount or less RAM than the 32 bit Windows 7.
Also, thanks for the giveaway, but I can't be asked to count the words in your post, especially under those conditions of certain things not counting as words.
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I'll have to install the 64 bit one, since I have 8GB RAM.
About the number of words, if you are lazy as me, check the puzzle again in 2 days :P
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You might like Windows 8. It's like Windows 7 but faster
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I am one of the few people I know who like windows 8.
This program isn't exclusive to win8, but it's pretty nice.
http://justgetflux.com/
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Thanks for the link. I don't know if it's going to be useful in my case, but I'll give it a try!
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+1 on this one. I love f.lux. It seems like it'd be annoying (I never liked any other color temperatures before) but you get used to it, and it really is a lot better on your eyes. And it's easy to turn off temporarily if you're doing something color-specific, or just want to watch a movie or play a game (I think it turns itself automatically off for gaming anyhow).
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is win8.1 fully compatible with "WinXP Games" like win7? nvidia physx legacy drivers works on win8? GFWL works?
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I own all but about five gfwl titles and the only one I personally couldn't run on 8 was Bioshock 2, intact several games actually ran better. Any issues are user/setup specific and not directly an OS issue.
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I only use Ribbon Disabler to get rid of that "MS Office"-like GUI in Explorer... and to suit my custom themes as well.
You might also want to disable charm hint bar when your mouse get near right to the screen -- it's distracting.
And if you are a Power User who demands full admin access, this might help. UAC in Windows 8 is a b--ch since it does not grant you admin access when turned off like in Win 7.
The downside is you can't use Metro apps, but I don't mind since I don't intend to run tablet apps on my PC.
I don't use any classic start menu program, I liked new Start menu already.
Yeah first Win 8 install might be a pain in the ass, but it will be worth it.
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This isn't a widget suggestion or anything, but more a suggestion on how I use Windows 8 (haven't tried 8.1 yet, so I can't speak on the differences there). I see it as two operating systems "smushed" together, and essentially use it as such. I have a Start Menu replacement app (I use Start8 from Stardock, but Classic Start is good too, and free), and use that for all my "desktop" apps. I go to the Start Screen for any of my Metro/Modern/whatever-buzzword-they're-using-now apps.
Oh, I do have one other suggestion. If you've never heard of Ninite, it's a very handy tool for getting started on a new computer or new OS install. It installs what you pick automatically, and bypasses all the annoying bloatware in installers nowadays (So no Ask toolbar in your Java!). And just run it again if there are updates (So still no Ask toolbar in your Java!).
Also, thanks for the giveaway.
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Good reason to go for Windows 8.1 --> http://www.steamgifts.com/forum/n5MFj/promo-giveawaystasks-for-windows-81-users-shogun-2-terraria-much-more
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yes, edited the main post, for some reason 100/8 = 8 in my mind, lol
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Don't let metro/modern ui be a dealbreaker for you. If you find it that bad, check out classic shell. I recommend a variety of other tools, depending on how you use your computer:
Some more generic windows tools:
Edit 11-29: Added OpenWith, links.
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You do know thre is a search in Windows 8, don't you? All you need to do is to start typing on Start Screen and here you go, no need for extra applications.
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If I wanted a "start screen", I would have bought a tablet. The only sane and reasonable thing for a desktop computer is to install something like Classic Shell to get rid of Metro alltogether.
But that's not the point.
Launchy has features that Windows doesn't.
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Most of these utilities are unnecessary, and tweakers, tuners and customizers are plain malicious.
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Unnecessary is an opinion. More importantly, OP didn't ask what is necessary, but what makes windows look better or easier to use. Using a tweak program is much safer than editing the registry by hand.
You are making a generalization. All of these programs have been around long enough for the security companies that provide your AV definitions to recognize any malware/viruses in them. I haven't even received a notification about any of them as PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). I have been using these programs for anywhere from a few weeks (clover) to several years (ccleaner).
Secunia and Piriform (CCleaner, Defraggler) are trusted companies. Process explorer is actually made by microsoft (they bought winternals ages ago). WinDirStat, cygwin, 7zip, ConEmu, and Ultracopier (a teracopy alternative) are all open source; if you don't trust the code, you can feel free to look at the code yourself.
The Windows Club (where UWT can be found) is a massive internet forum. I'm fairly sure that one of the paranoid power users in them would have noticed if UWT or one of the other (popular) tweak applications was requesting access to break out of their sandbox or access the internet.
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Hey, thanks for these names! Installed 7zip and CCleaner. I'll see if some of the others come handy in the future!
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I have win8.1 in my laptop and I enjoyed it very much.
BTW, what if I solved the puzzle?
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I'm using w8 since release, so what I can say - it's faster and a bit more stable than w7.
1) Start Menu. If you want Start menu back in it's old form - use ClassicShell (free) or Start8 (5$) from Stardock. There's also Start Menu Reviver (free), it looks good, but I didn't use it personally. It also supports well touch-enabled devices, so if you have a tablet or touch-laptop - you might consider using it.
2) Modern Apps. Call me a bit conservative in my PC usage, but I don't like all this full-screen stuff in w8 at all, it's a useless consumption of desktop space, which is actually made for <10" tablets, not 15"+ PCs. As I use sometimes ModernUI applications - I'm using ModernMix (5$) from Stardock - it forces all ModernUI applications to run in a separate window instead of full-screen. At the time I bought it I didn't see any existing free or paid alternatives at all, maybe they exist now. It doesn't force new Start Menu in a window though. If you'd like to use non-fullscreen Start Menu - use Start8 mentioned earlier, it allows you to use it with 1/3 screen size in leftbottom corner (so you still have a feeling it's context menu, not an application).
As for win8-specific utilities I thing there's noting else needed. The thing is, two most powerful utilities for win8 are made by Stardock and both are not free, you can push a maximum from win8 for 5$x2 = 10$ in total. That may seem like additional price apart from buying win8 itself, but as long as you can use free alternatives for start menu - I thing you can spare 5$ for ModernMix if you're going to use ModernUI (aka Metro) applications. Anyway, you'll not feel that bad if you use ClassicShell only, you still have your old start menu back, what else do you need? :)
3) As for win8.1 - most of its improvements are basically made for touch-enabled devices. It offers more Modern applications running in fullscreen at the same time, so except for start button there are no visible improvements for PCs. Concerning performance - I didn't notice any difference. On my current laptop win8 was pre-installed, so I got win8.1 update OTA from Store.
Attention! popular misunderstanding - win8.1 return back only Start Menu Button, not the menu itself, it's just a visual addition, this button still opens Modern Start Menu.
My opinion: there's absolutely no urgent need in using explicitly win8.1, but as a technical addict I recommend always to use latest versions of operating systems due to stability and security issues. It's like a service pack for pre-win8 OS, to some extend. Microsoft is a responsible company and they push security/stability updates for all their operating systems incl winXP, but the earlier you get to a newer one - the better. Win8.1 includes some technical features such as .NET Framework 4.5.1 and most importantly DirectX 11.2, so as it's a gaming forum and I consider people here as games - you'd like to have latest D3D on you system and thus win8.1 >> win8.
4) Small bonus about utilities. I'm using RocketDock - highly customizable shortcut dock. One may have issues with attaching icons to Steam shortcuts, so all you need is to add icons source from %Steam installation%/steam/games and manually attach icons for steam shortcuts from it. No idea how metro app shortcut icons work though.
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What I forgot to mention - about compatibility issues. Well, I personally didn't have ANY at all since I moved to win8 a year ago. By "any at all" I mean it - no issues. I didn't use any too old apps/games though. I think Diablo 2 was the oldest one. Everything ran either with no additional actions or instantly after setting compatibility mode in application to win xp/2k/98 in properties. I've heard there are problems with 16bit applications, but if I remember correctly there were issues with 16bit all the way from massively moving to WinNT core OS versions (win me, win2k, xp and so on).
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Windows 8 has definitely got some improvements in gaming performance.
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Thanks for that. It's the only one I knew I had to get, saw it in some Windows 8 thread and I liked it.
Edit: Installed it, working perfectly fine!
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Don't install it. It's useless and only hinders your experience with new OS.
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If you're not sure then by all means ignore. I don't have any particular feelings towards Moder UI or Modern Apps. But I don't share disdain many people undeservingly have for it.
Start Menu is not the greatest thing since the sliced bread, and Start Screen does everything the menu does and even exceeds it in some ways.
Regardless, what I really wanted to say is that in order to get a fair impression of a new OS one should not immediately make it look and behave exactly like the old one. Such endeavour renders the exercise completely moot.
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It is useless. It wraps pre-existing features in different cover which serves only to appease conservative users. It's advertised as an improvement to productivity and usability when in fact it takes them away.
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The crap about productivity is mostly just advertising BS, and never have I, nor have I seen anyone that is not selling it make that claim.
And no, it's not useless. It adds a feature to 8 that is not present in 8, that people want. Doesn't matter if it was in an older version or not, it's a feature want, that they do not get by default. That is considered "a use". It actually DOES add things that were not in 7, such as much more extensive customization on how start menu looks, what items are in it, and how it functions. I'm also not going to believe you when you say that the modern UI is more productive or usable without a start menu than with one, it's mostly just preference.
Again, if you don't LIKE it, or don't WANT a start menu, that is FINE. However, not everyone agrees, and find it useful. Just because it's not useful to you, doesn't mean it's not useful to anyone.
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What feature exactly does it add? I'm genuinely curious. I could have missed something, but all I see it does is combines Start Screen and Charm Bar and shrinks them into Start Menu. And another part of the program simply constricts Ribbon Bar.
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What does it add over the start screen? Customization, mostly. Not everyone likes the same layout. Some people want a start menu that's 1/20th of the screen instead of something that takes up their entire screen. I prefer it for just that reason, actually. If I want to get to get to the control panel quick, for instance, I find it's easier to have the start menu with the graphical display to get to it. Instead of having to sharp-shoot the bottom left corner with a right click that only brings up a text display. And I still have access to the start screen and everything else. I didn't disable them, I just made it so Windows boots to desktop by default, because that's what I use most often. I still have access to open the start screen through the start menu, but I rarely make use of that because aside from using the Microsoft store, I don't see much point to it. And my charm bar is still functioning like default because that is (occasionally) useful. But again, some people don't like it, they think it crowds the screen. The Modern UI is good at some things, but it is AWFUL at maximizing screen real estate. Things that could be smaller are very large. Which would be great for a touch interface, but on a non-touch device I (and quite a few others) feel that it takes up too much of the screen, requiring you go through more screens, or scroll more than is necessary with a more condensed UI, like the desktop + start menu offers.
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Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
I'll give you customization, but definitely not "screen real estate". You can fit so much more on Start Screen than you could ever dream to fit into tiny Start Menu. As for Control Panel, it's easier and faster to get there via Charm Bar, or you could simply press Win+I and then Enter.
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You... you just proved my point? The start menu is tiny... i.e. condensed to the shit I actually use. I don't need a screen full of stuff consistently, there are 5 programs I use more frequently than any other programs: Steam and chrome being the top 2 of those. I don't need something that takes up my entire screen to get to the 5 choices I want, and the rest of my screen can then be used for whatever the hell else I happen to want.
But that doesn't even matter because you've granted that it gives more customization, which qualifies as 'a use' which contradicts your earlier statement that it is 'useless' i.e. 'without use'. And since that's ALL I was trying to prove, I'm gonna go ahead and count this as a win.
And the control panel thing, yea, ok keyboard shortcuts are faster, but I never really got used to them, and prefer a mouse interface to the keyboard interface for that. Again, mostly just personal preference there and no harm in having multiple options. And unless you're one of the like 20 people that uses a DVORAK keyboard, you can't tell me to COMPLETELY compromise convenience/preference for efficiency. Efficiency is good but there's always going to be a line where you say "eh, fuck it, I'm already used to X and it would be too much of a pain in the ass to get used to Y, even if it is more efficient"
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No, I haven't. Your point (at least the one you were trying to convey) is that Start Menu offers more space to pin elements on it. Now you're saying that being small and forcing you to go through cascading menus and scrolling lists are advantages.
Customization of the menu seems to be limited to three pre-existing variants. I'm not sure how you can qualify that as a use, because changing appearance doesn't do anything in and of itself. It would be like dying your hat but keeping it in a closet.
Well, you can always use Charm Bar to open Control Panel.
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Ok, gonna start ignoring everything that doesn't directly relate to my main point, because the side arguments are becoming distracting:
YOU: classic shell has NO USE
ME: It adds a start menu back when one does not exist, this is a use
YOU: That is not a use, because I don't like/want it
ME: liking or not liking something doesn't have anything to do with whether it's useful or not
YOU: It doesn't let you customize very much
ME (current): doesn't matter... it has a use. Its use is to restore the start menu and give the user greater (not infinite) control on the display of the start menu. To use an analogy: just because both of your legs work (I assume), does not mean wheelchairs are useless. They may have no use FOR YOU, but for someone else, they are very useful. Just because classic shell has no use FOR YOU does not mean it has no use at all. I mean ffs, nearly* everything has SOME kind of use. [end real argument]
[epilogue]
And I'd maybe even argue the 'not useful for you' thing is false but that gets a lot more semantic into the real definition of 'use', so I don't really want to. Using either the specific or general definition both satisfy my argument above, so I'll just leave it at that and not press further.
*should probably just say everything, but qualified it to nearly because I don't want to debate that very much either.
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Adding Start Menu is not a use simply because it doesn't add anything. All functions that it has are rearranged pre-existing ones.
You're pretty much arguing semantics of a word "useless":
This add-on has no beneficial use.
I also would like to point out that I have not expressed my feeling towards neither Start Menu nor Start Screen.
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If you aren't willing to accept that classic shell can be used for something, I can't do anything further here. I'll just repeat the things I've already said: Customization is a use. People like customization, and reorganizing default layouts. See: Chrome and Firefox UI extensions. See also: various UI changes between linux distros. See also: building floor plans. People want something to be a different way. This enables people to make something that different way. Therefore that is its use. Can't make this any simpler. Maybe it's a more awkward layout: doesn't matter. Maybe everything can be accessed different ways without it: doesn't matter. It does a thing. Doing that thing is its use. Some people want that thing done. This makes it beneficial to them (also, quick note, before this argument I never claimed it was a beneficial use, I just said 'use'. May want to check the arguments on the table before you put words in your opponents mouth. But hell, it was implied a bit, so I'll play along anyway and argue against the claim here, one last time). If it makes someone happy, that's a benefit as far as I'm concerned.
No longer really interested in this, because it's no longer about logic, despite your clever comment about Earth logic. Doesn't matter what feelings you have for either of the subjects... at all. What matters are the logical arguments being examined. Might want to brush up on the subject yourself. I won't bother replying again unless you actually have an argument worth discussing. No hard feelings, but this is no longer entertaining or interesting, so I'm done.
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No, basically people should either adapt or not use something they don't like.
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You said: "It is useless. It wraps pre-existing features in different cover"
This is exactly what the start menu did when it first came out. there was already a program launcher/shell in existence, and people complained just as much when windows 95 came out with the start menu. The difference being, I believe that windows 95 actually had program manager still around, so you didn't actually have to use the start menu if you didn't want to.
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I'm not complaining about built-in features, I'm complaining about third party alternatives, especially when they are but a step back.
More precisely I'm complaining about the notion that third party UI tweaking programs are somehow essential and advices for newcomers to install them as soon as possible without even trying to work with the default configuration.
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I use Windows 8.1 Pro and I think it's great. I got the student price of $70, which was only available for the Pro version, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for Pro.
It runs faster than 7 did for me and I haven't had a SINGLE compatibility issue. I uninstalled most of the stuff it came with and did a few tweaks in control panel and the taskbars properties menu to fit my preferences was all. I only use the start button to search for stuff which is rare because the stuff I use most is pinned to my taskbar. I don't use Classic shell or any mods at all. My only complaint is Skype is now a metro app which has to switch to a full screen unless you're willing to put some work into it.
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Thank you, I was rather hasty when I installed it because I was in the middle of a DOTA match. needless to say I'm fixing this immediately >:(
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Hey, you can go to the Skype website, press 'downloads', then scroll down and press 'read more about desktop version' or something like that, then download the desktop version from there :)
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I thank you as well! With the combined replies of you and Chippies I can't possibly mess this up! Or so I hope.
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Ask yourself why you are leaving Windows 7 Ultimate for Windows 8?
When it's designed pretty much just as Win7 with some extra crap you probably won't use - such as Metro (good for tablet and touchscreens, else you will disable it) costs cheaper. If you want a crappy weather report, always online internet, and Microsoft Store builtin to your OS... then by all means. They where even at one point (scratch that... 3 times) giving Win 8 away for free because people refused up upgrade to it. Slightly faster start up speed? Well okay, but a Solid State Drive (SSD) can do an even better job of that.
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As a person who has used Windows 8 for 3 months, I have to say that it's actually pretty good, especially since I have a touch screen laptop, which comes in handy from time to time. Unfortunately, there are a couple of games that I can't run compared to my desktop that has Windows 7 (and vice versa).
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I have 8.1 and its great as it is, but to play some games you will have to put them in compatibility mode for windows 7. But other than that it works pretty much the same as windows 7 on the games side of things.
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I have buy Win 8 many time ago... for a long time i have wait a patch or service pack for correct many bug. Now i have 8.1 Pro x64.... and... my friends, trust me: DO NOT INSTALL THIS SHIT OS!! The best is Win 7!!
Win 8 is only a marketing strategy, not are better than Win 7!!
In the next day i will format for downgrade to Win 7... my patient with this OS is over.
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i put in some registry tweaks to do these things:
if you want to know how to do them and can't figure it out with google, i can look up how i did them for you.
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True people are afraid of change and therefore bias, but I will still have to disagree to saying just because it's newer it's better... Win 8 is a stepping stone much like Windows Vista. It's mostly to test out user reactions - find the likes and dislikes first. Microsoft pretty much does this for every second OS. They wanted to include touchscreen and tablet support and get it more into link with their game console / media side with cloud networking. If you want or use that on the PC, I agree upgrade and enjoy... however you find that most will just end up stripping it all out and ending up with something almost like Win 7 again to play games, just with a slightly faster boot time, but more compatibility issues (for the time being). Please do tell me one reason for upgrading, as I've see very few except possible new issues to tweak over? Of course over time, this will be ironed out - however most likely the fixes will be placed in a more stable Win 9 (or whatever the decide to call it). Maybe Win 8.1 is the new and improved fix required - I don't know as haven't personally tested that myself. Some believe Microsoft will also be releasing a bigger new version of Windows in the Fall of 2014, about a year after Windows 8.1. The OSG team is rethinking priorities, workflow and just about everything else when it comes to Windows, Windows Phone and the Xbox operating systems, going forward. They might not release to public till about Spring 2015, if you can hold off for that long.
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Microsoft pretty much does this for every second OS
That's a common misconception. A number of operating systems is usually omitted for this pattern to emerge, and even then there is no justifications for such hasty conclusion.
most will just end up stripping it all out and ending up with something almost like Win 7
There are enough under the hood changes for it to not to be "almost like Win 7".
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I've won a MSDN subscription in the past and tried all of them at one stage - except Win 8.1 (only 8). The entire idea of Win 8 was to merge the OS with Xbox, the Microsoft Phone, Tablet and Cloud networking... nothing else really new of interest and performance increase/memory usage will go unnoticed for those with SSD caching, etc. If you knew what they where planning with the cloud networking, you would probably not like the idea - they where planning to have all your applications/docs/games to be online only in a cloud outside the scope of your actual ownership and full control. They have already done this with Microsoft Office 360, etc. That's one of the reasons for my so-called hasty conclusion... I see what they are planning for it well in advance but see it not 100% completed as planned for by 2014.
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Not arguing that Microsoft has plans for dystopian world domination and turning us all into batteries, I highly doubt hey tell you about their plans.
As for changes, I actually meant core upgrade, security and stability.
And "hasty conclusion" part was about belief that every other OS is shitty.
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I'm not racist against any OS, I hate all equally, just some more than others... :)
I've already tweaked and modified security/stability/performance aspects of my own OS so I guess those don't apply much to me. I also question how much more secure could it possibly be with net access going through the desktop, online cloud and builtin store - It's only a matter of time to hack those and exploit more than the previous version.
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I'm not sure how or why you tweaked Windows' kernel.
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A little program I've been using for a while (in Windows 7) is WizMouse, when it's running, the mouse wheel will scroll the window under the mouse pointer, even if it doesn't have focus. It's very helpful when you need to write in one window and look for references in another.
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Well, I'm finally getting the optical fiber connecting at home, and I will be able to download whatever I want with a really really fast speed.
I will get a 100mpbs connection for free (1 month), that's like 12mb/s download speed! I thought it was a great moment to leave my Windows 7 Ultimate and move to Windows 8.1 (I don't know if it's a better OS, but I can get back to 7 if I don't like it).
I want to know what 'mods' are like... 'basic', and any other widget / tool / whatever, you use with Windows 8 (keep in mind that I'm going to install 8.1) to make it look better, or easier to use. I'm open to hearing anything you would like to share, the only condition is that it has to be completely free.
And please, avoid the usual comments saying that X OS is better than X OS, I will decide which one I will use after trying them both by myself and see advantages and disadvantages of both of them.
I'm going to bed now but I'll check every comment tomorrow. As always, a giveaway.
Edit (doesn't affect the puzzle in any way): my new internet is here! speed. Also, I already installed Windows 8.1, let's see how this works!
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